Song Clearance Sheet
3 sources citedHell of a Life
Hip-Hop2010s177BPM
G♯ majKey
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The verdict
Documented Sampling History
This song’s own Black Sabbath “Iron Man” sample (already in this catalog) was properly cleared from the outset — credited to all four members on the 2010 liner notes. The 2024 Osbourne cease-and-desist concerned a DIFFERENT, later Kanye song (“Carnival”), not this one; it lives in the Receipts as current related context, carefully separated from this song’s clean clearance.
Used by independents?
Unconfirmed — the page doesn't yet document enough sampler detail to tell.
Quick Facts
Released2010
AlbumMy Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
GenreHip-Hop
LabelRoc-A-Fella Records
ProducerKanye West · Mike Caren · No I.D. · Mike Dean
More infoWikipedia → · Discogs →
Who you need to ask
The songwriters of record — Kanye West, Mike Caren, Mike Dean + the four Black Sabbath members (via the cleared Iron Man sample)
Wikipedia → · checked Jul 2026
The current administrator — Not confirmed — needs a Songview/Discogs lookup
Wikipedia → · checked Jul 2026
Has it been reused?
Yes — RIAA Gold (July 2022); featured in West’s 35-minute short film “Runaway.” Notably, West later re-sampled THIS already-cleared song to legitimately carry the Black Sabbath credit onto a 2024 track (see Receipts).
Do they allow reuse?
No standalone policy found; this song’s own Iron Man sample was cleared in 2010. A separate 2024 Osbourne refusal concerned a DIFFERENT song — see the Receipts.
Related Songs
Same album, answer records, and songs worth knowing about
The Black Sabbath hook/melody sampled here — credited to all four members on the 2010 liner notes (already in this catalog)
Who Owns It
Licenses explained →The two permissions you need, and who holds them
The song itself (the writing)Kanye West, Mike Caren, Mike Dean + Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Ozzy Osbourne & Bill Ward (via “Iron Man”), plus Sylvester Stewart (Sly Stone) and Tony Joe White
This song’s sample was properly cleared (2010)The Iron Man sample is officially and properly credited on the album’s own 2010 liner notes to all four Black Sabbath members (Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Ozzy Osbourne, Bill Ward) — cleared from the outset. This is distinct from the separate 2024 dispute over a different song (see Receipts).
The recording (current administrator)Not confirmed
Receipts
Every public mention of terms, policy, or past deals we've found
IMPORTANT: the 2024 Osbourne dispute was over a DIFFERENT song, not this one
In February 2024, Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne issued a cease-and-desist after West used a 1983 live “Iron Man” performance without permission on a different, later song (“Carnival,” from “Vultures”) — Osbourne had explicitly refused given West’s public antisemitic controversy. West reportedly used it anyway at a listening party, then removed it and replaced it by instead sampling his own earlier, already-cleared 2010 song “Hell of a Life” — this very song — since it legitimately carries the Black Sabbath writing credit from its original clearance.
Hello Rayo (Planet Rock) · read it →
The album’s only solely-West vocal track
Lyrically drawn from West’s real relationship with model Amber Rose; unique on “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” as the only track with vocals solely from West himself, with backing vocals from Teyana Taylor. No lyrics reproduced here.
Kanye West Wiki · read it →
Can You Use It for Free?
How to check PD →Is it public domain?No
Sample History
—
Times sampled
Samples Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man”
Covers
—
First flip
Who to Contact
HL
Kanye West + co-writers (Roc-A-Fella)
The confirmed songwriters of record; the Iron Man sample was cleared in 2010
What they'll chargeNobody's shared numbers yet
Don't Want the Hassle?
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Page history · 2 updates
Jul 2026Page created — full research (Research Queue Batch 5)
Jul 2026BPM/Key pending the automated GetSongBPM/Deezer pass