Rising gospel artist Victory Boyd, a former collaborator of Ye (Kanye West), has filed a copyright lawsuit against Travis Scott, SZA, and Future, accusing the trio of using her creative material without permission on their 2023 hit “Telekinesis.”
Boyd alleges that the lyrics and creative elements from an unreleased track she co-wrote with Ye were repurposed for Scott’s Utopia album without her involvement or credit. The lawsuit, filed earlier this year, claims the disputed song originated as a demo titled “Ultrasounds” before evolving into “Telekinesis.”
According to Boyd, she wrote significant portions of the lyrics—then under the working title “Like The Way It Sounds”—and was not consulted when the song was finalized and distributed.
Travis Scott’s Legal Team Seeks Dismissal
Attorneys for Scott, SZA, and Future are pushing back. In a motion filed by McPherson LLP, the defense argues that Ye, credited with creating the beat and melody, had full authority as a co-author to authorize the track’s release.
“The evidence will show that defendants’ usage of the LTWIS work was properly sanctioned by Mr. West, a joint author, who possesses the right to grant such permission,” the motion states.
The filing also challenges whether Boyd has a valid copyright registration for the disputed lyrics, raising questions about whether they can be protected separately from the overall musical composition.
“Without a valid registration, plaintiffs cannot pursue or sustain a claim for infringement,” the defense added.
Boyd’s Legal Team Fires Back
In a statement to Billboard on July 15, Boyd’s attorney, Keith White, dismissed the dismissal request as a stalling tactic.
“This is a transparent attempt to avoid straightforward questions of copyright ownership and accounting,” White said.
White confirmed that formal opposition papers would be filed within two weeks, expressing confidence that the court will allow the case to proceed.
“We believe the motion will be swiftly denied,” he added.
Why “Telekinesis” Is at the Center of the Dispute
“Telekinesis” was one of the standout tracks on Travis Scott’s Utopia album, featuring haunting vocals from SZA and Future over atmospheric production. The song quickly became a fan favorite and sparked conversations about Ye’s contributions to the project.
Boyd alleges that her work was used without proper credit or compensation—an issue that has plagued the music industry in recent years as disputes over songwriting credits have become more public.
Timing of the Lawsuit
The legal battle comes as Travis Scott promotes his latest compilation album, JackBoys 2, under his Cactus Jack Records label. The project includes features from Don Toliver, Sheck Wes, SoFaygo, and Wallie the Sensei, and was accompanied by music videos for “Dumbo” and “Kick Out.”
SZA, meanwhile, is on a global tour supporting her critically acclaimed SOS album, while Future is gearing up for a collaborative project with Metro Boomin.
A Broader Industry Conversation
This case highlights ongoing conversations about intellectual property and collaboration in the music industry, especially when multiple artists contribute to a track’s evolution over time.
Whether Boyd’s claim will survive the motion to dismiss remains to be seen, but the outcome could have ripple effects for how songwriting contributions are documented and credited moving forward.
???? Key Takeaways:
✅ Victory Boyd claims “Telekinesis” reused lyrics from her Ye collab “Ultrasounds.”
✅ Travis Scott’s lawyers say Ye had the authority to approve the song’s release.
✅ Boyd’s attorney insists the lawsuit will survive the dismissal attempt.
