Pharrell Explains Why He Didn’t Need Kelis’ Permission To Clear Controversial ‘Milkshake’ Sample For Beyoncé’s ‘Renaissance’ Album

Kelis, Pharrell, Beyoncé

Pharrell Explains Why He Didn’t Need Kelis’ Permission To Clear Controversial ‘Milkshake’ Sample For Beyoncé’s ‘Renaissance’ Album

Hip-hop veteran Pharrell is clearing the air about the 2022 “Milkshake” sample drama between Kelis and Beyoncé.

During a recent interview, the producer shared that he hadn’t spoken to Kelis about the ordeal, but it was well within his rights to sell the song.

Pharrell

Pharrell repeatedly answered “no” to questions regarding whether or not he and Kelis have had a chance to talk through things after the songstress called him and Beyoncé out for allegedly mishandling business with her in an Instagram post back in 2022. When questioned specifically about who ultimately had the right to clear a sample from the 2003 hit, written by Pharrell and performed by Kelis, Pharrell stated:

“I wish her the absolute best. But I wrote this song.”

After being asked if he needs Kelis‘ approval to lease out samples of the record at all, he added:

“Not on ‘Milkshake.’ It was me and Chad [who] produced it.”

If you recall, Kelis aired out her professional frustrations with Beyoncé and Pharell after the former released her “Renaissance” album, which initially featured an interpolation of “Milkshake” for her song “Energy.” Kelis argued that it was “ignorant” and “disrespectful” of Beyoncé to not reach out to her before adding the sample to her project, and accused Pharrell of stealing the publishing rights to the song among other things. Ultimately, Beyoncé quietly removed the sample altogether without publicly addressing Kelis‘ grievances.

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