Famous

Sister Nancy has directly confirmed she now receives 50% of royalties whenever “Bam Bam” is sampled (Westbury Music, administering Winston Riley’s catalog, holds the other 50%). She notes she isn’t personally consulted before each individual use, collecting her share through the publishing structure. See the updated Bam Bam page.

The opening lyric referencing Taylor Swift sparked major controversy. West claimed he called Swift for approval and she found it funny; Swift’s team denied this, saying she was only asked about releasing the song on her own social media and had warned against a strongly misogynistic message. A 2016 edited call recording released by Kim Kardashian seemed to partially contradict Swift; a fuller 2020 version reportedly vindicated Swift’s specific claim about a word she said she never approved. This is a lyric-consent matter about a real person — NOT a sample-clearance question. No lyrics reproduced here.

The video depicted wax figures of numerous real public figures sleeping nude in a shared bed, inspired by Vincent Desiderio’s 2008 painting “Sleep” — a polarizing reception.

Beyond the “Bam Bam” sample, “Famous” also sampled Nina Simone’s recording of Jimmy Webb’s “Do What You Gotta Do.” Per a direct interview, Webb says Kanye used it WITHOUT permission; Webb and “no fewer than 16 other songwriters” were later given formal credit on the finished track — a striking count reflecting the song’s layered sampling. (See the new Do What You Gotta Do page.)