Lizzo is making bold arguments about the roots and consequences of the sampling laws that govern much of modern music. In a recent appearance on Million Dollaz Worth of Game, she called the origins of U.S. sampling laws “racially charged,” asserting that they have long been used to police Black artistry.
According to Lizzo, while sampling is now almost always treated like theft in legal circles, it wasn’t always this way. She pointed out that many early music pioneers—especially Black artists—were denied the freedom to build on existing sounds, unlike their non-Black counterparts who could draw from musical traditions with far fewer legal restrictions.
She also argued that sampling has always been a crucial component of Black culture—music rooted in remix, reinterpretation, intertextuality—and that tightening laws have stifled innovation rather than protecting it. For Lizzo, it’s not just about creative expression; it’s about justice, historical recognition, and structural fairness in how laws treat different artists.
Her comments add fuel to ongoing debates about copyright, artistic borrowing, and who gets to define originality. In an era where even short snippets can trigger lawsuits, Lizzo’s voice reminds us that creativity doesn’t start in a vacuum—and that the law’s shape matters.
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