Song Clearance Sheet
3 sources citedSupersonic
Hip-Hop1980s132BPM
G majKey
More around 130 BPM → · More in G major → · More “Cleared After Dispute” →
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The verdict
Cleared After Dispute
A real, out-of-court-settled dispute — producer Arabian Prince (a 20% rights holder) sued Ruthless over the “Fergalicious” clearance. Built on Beside’s “Change the Beat” (already in this catalog); its Kraftwerk-like “click” was an independently invented 808 trick, not a sample.
Quick Facts
Released1987
AlbumSupersonic - The Album
GenreHip-Hop, Electro
LabelRuthless / Dream Team Records
ProducerDr. Dre · DJ Yella · Arabian Prince
More infoWikipedia → · Discogs →
Who you need to ask
The songwriters of record — J.J. Fad (Shaheed, Nazel, Burns, Lee, Birks)
Wikipedia → · checked Jul 2026
The rights holders — Ruthless Records (majority) + Arabian Prince (20%)
Wikipedia → · checked Jul 2026
Has it been reused?
Yes — famously the basis of Fergie’s “Fergalicious” (2006); the beatbox intro was later sampled by MF DOOM (“Hoe Cakes,” 2004). #10 Hot Dance/Club Play, RIAA Gold, a 1989 Grammy nomination (first all-female rap group nominated).
Do they allow reuse?
The Fergalicious clearance drew a real lawsuit that settled out of court — see Rights Status.
Related Songs
Same album, answer records, and songs worth knowing about
Sampled within Supersonic (already in this catalog)
Stylistic influence (the 808 “click”), NOT a literal sample — see the correction (this batch)
Who Owns It
Licenses explained →The two permissions you need, and who holds them
The song itself (the writing)Fatima Shaheed (O.G. Rocker), Kim Nazel, Juana Burns, Juanita Lee & Dania Maria Birks (per Discogs credits)
Correction: the Kraftwerk “click” was an 808 trick, not a sampleContrary to a “based on Kraftwerk’s Numbers” framing, Arabian Prince has directly explained the distinctive Kraftwerk-like “click” was created independently with a Roland TR-808 trick (removing its sync pulse and running it through a mixer) — a genuine stylistic influence, not a literal sample of Kraftwerk’s recording.
The recording (current administrator)Ruthless Records (majority), with Arabian Prince holding a 20% stake
Receipts
Every public mention of terms, policy, or past deals we've found
A real, settled lawsuit over the Fergalicious clearance
When will.i.am used this song for “Fergalicious,” Arabian Prince — a 20% rights holder — sued Ruthless, arguing he should have been consulted and was owed his proportional cut; it settled out of court, though he has said (2016) he still doesn’t believe he got his full due. He separately credited will.i.am with proactively securing publishing/royalties for the original writers once the sample was identified.
Wikipedia (citing HipHopDX) · read it →
The 808 “click,” in Arabian Prince’s own words
Arabian Prince has directly explained the Kraftwerk-like click was an independently invented 808 trick — not a sample of Kraftwerk — best understood as stylistic influence.
Red Bull Music Academy Daily · read it →
Can You Use It for Free?
How to check PD →Is it public domain?No
Sample History
—
Times sampled
The basis of Fergie’s “Fergalicious”
Covers
2006
First flip
Big names who used itFergie · MF DOOM
Who to Contact
SO
J.J. Fad / Ruthless Records + Arabian Prince
The confirmed writers and rights holders
What they'll chargeNobody's shared numbers yet
Don't Want the Hassle?
Sample something pre-cleared insteadCheck Tracklib →
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References
Every source cited on this page — 3 in total
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Page history · 2 updates
Jul 2026Page created — full research (Research Queue Batch 7)
Jul 2026BPM/Key pending the automated GetSongBPM/Deezer pass