Travis Scott, SZA and Future Hit With "Telekinesis" Copyright Lawsuit

Travis Scott, SZA, and Future have been hit with a copyright lawsuit.

According to legal documents reviewed by Billboard and AllHipHop, the trio is being sued for allegedly ripping off lyrics for “Telekinesis,” their collaborative track from Scott’s 2023 album, Utopia. The plaintiff was identified Victory Boyd, a singer-songwriter signed to Jay-Z’s Roc Nation record label. Boyd claims Scott, SZA, and Future lifted elements from her 2019 song “Like the Way It Sounds” and incorporated them into “Telekinesis,” which peaked at No. 26 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Boyd said she initially shared her song with her former collaborator Ye, also know as Kanye West, who then recorded his own version. She claimed Ye, who is not listed among the defendants, presented his track to Scott, SZA, and Future, who then allegedly used her “Like the Way It Sounds” lyrics and melodies without authorization.

“Scott gained access to the studio plaintiff left the original work in and began creating the infringing work,” Boyd’s attorneys wrote. “In May of 2023, Scott, SZA and Future agreed to create the infringing work by copying plaintiff’s original work.”

Boyd’s legal team also argues that the defendants have acknowledged using Boyd’s work, as she was listed as the song’s co-writer streaming metadata. The lawyers also claim Boyd was offered an 8 percent writing credit in an attempt to resolve the copyright dispute; however, Boyd insisted she never permitted the defendants to use portions of her song, as she intended to release her completed version through Roc Nation.

The trio’s co-defendants include Scott’s imprint Cactus Jack Records, producer Jahaan Sweet, Sony Music Entertainment, and luxury watchmaker Audemars Piguet. The latter is being sued for using “ “Telekinesis” in an advertising campaign without securing a licensing agreement with Boyd.

“The defendants and AP partnered to publish and commercially release an advertising campaign broadcasting the infringing work over the plaintiff’s objection,” the suit read.

Boyd is reportedly demanding all plaintiffs to “recall and destroy” all copies of music derived from her original work. She’s also seeking a payment amount “to be determined at trial in actual damages and profits, plus interest.”

Representatives for Scott, SZA, and Future have not commented on the filing.