The verdict
Documented Sampling History
Confirmed songwriters of record — including Bill Withers via the “Grandma’s Hands” sample (also this batch). No formal dispute over this song’s own rights.
Quick Facts
Released1996
AlbumAnother Level
GenreR&B, Hip-Hop, New Jack Swing
LabelInterscope Records
ProducerTeddy Riley
More infoWikipedia → · Discogs →
Who you need to ask
The songwriters of record — Teddy Riley, Dr. Dre, Queen Pen, Bill Withers (sample) & others
Wikipedia → · checked Jul 2026
The current administrator — Not confirmed — originally Interscope; needs a Songview/Discogs lookup
Unknown · checked Jul 2026
Has it been reused?
It is itself sample-based — built on Bill Withers’ “Grandma’s Hands” (this batch) — and a much-covered #1 R&B/hip-hop landmark.
Do they allow reuse?
No standalone policy found; confirmed songwriters of record and no dispute over its own rights.
Related Songs
Same album, answer records, and songs worth knowing about
Its direct sample source (this batch)
Who Owns It
Licenses explained →The two permissions you need, and who holds them
The song itself (the writing)Teddy Riley, Andre Young (Dr. Dre), Lynise Walters (Queen Pen), William Stewart, Bill Withers (via the sample), Richard Vick & Chauncey Hannibal
The recording (current administrator)Not confirmed
Receipts
Every public mention of terms, policy, or past deals we've found
Nobody in the band wanted to sing it
Teddy Riley has candidly recalled that none of the other Blackstreet members liked the song, which is why he sang the first verse himself — comparing it to “pushing the little one out there to see if it tastes good,” and noting the others regretted it once it became a massive hit. It had first been offered to the group Guy, whose Aaron Hall refused it. No lyrics reproduced.
Story of Song · read it →
A separate, tangential legal note
Upon release, 2Pac and Death Row released a diss track targeting Dr. Dre; Blackstreet’s label Interscope reportedly obtained a cease-and-desist against that diss track for copyright infringement — a separate track, not a dispute over “No Diggity”’s own ownership.
Rolling Stone India · read it →
Can You Use It for Free?
How to check PD →Is it public domain?No
Sample History
—
Times sampled
A #1 R&B/hip-hop landmark built on “Grandma’s Hands”
Covers
—
First flip
Who to Contact
ND
Teddy Riley et al. (Interscope)
The confirmed songwriters of record
What they'll chargeNobody's shared numbers yet
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Page history · 2 updates
Jul 2026Page created — full research (Research Queue Batch 15)
Jul 2026BPM/Key pending the automated GetSongBPM/Deezer pass