According to a report by CBS Chicago, Rap superstar Travis Scott sampled a song from Chicago industrial act Pixel Grip (new album review here), without permission for his new album, JackBoys 2 (Cactus Jack/Epic Records). According to the group, Travis Scott failed to credit, compensate, or clear the sample. The song makes clear use of the song, not just a second of music, but track is fully build on the Pixel Grip song “Pursuit,” which the band provided video evidence going back to 2018 from its creation.  Pixel Grip said they got a message from Scott’s co-producer, Sean Momberger, telling them, “Hey the label should be reaching out to clear the sample soon.” Momberger said the song wasn’t cleared prior to release, and added that he loved “Pursuit” and “knew it was special right when [he] heard it.” Momberger was also behind what was arguably last year’s biggest rap hit — Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us.” Read a quote from the band on the controversy and we will update this story as it develops. Continue reading →