Ye’s unreleased song “Highs and Lows” sparked controversy after French singer protested the sampling
A segment of an unreleased song by Kanye West, bearing the temporary title “Highs and Lows,” recently caused controversy when French singer Pomme (Claire Pommet) openly protested the sampling of her song “soleil soleil” for the unreleased track.
Pomme took to social media Monday (January 6) to express her disapproval of it for unauthorized sampling, saying she is at odds with West politically.
“I don’t know where this video and audio circulating these days came from, but I never gave that person permission to use this sample,” Pomme wrote. “For reasons that seem obvious to me, being in deep disagreement with the political positions of this artist that I have, however, admired in the past.”
The snippet, which emerged as a video shot in Switzerland showing West playing the track, sounds like he has blended his early soul-sampling sound with gospel influences. Fans conjectured that the track forms part of his forthcoming album, Bully.
The controversy that surrounds the infringement of an unauthorized sample with Pomme’s voice in disapproval could jeopardize the release of the controversial song. Pomme underlined her principle by insisting that, “Sometimes it is difficult to let go of certain opportunities, but I try to stay true to what I believe in.”
As the story unfolds, so does the uncertainty of the future of the piece.
