Playboi Carti Blasts Kanye West For Sampling Song Without Permission

Playboi Carti is calling out Ye West over the unauthorized use of one of his tracks, sparking fresh tension between the two artists.

On Wednesday (May 21), Ye released his new single, “Alive,” featuring NBA YoungBoy. The track quickly gained attention—not just for its high-profile collaborators, but for prominently sampling Carti’s song “CRANK,” taken from his MUSIC album, which dropped earlier this year.

While fans initially believed the sample had Carti’s blessing — especially given their past collaborations and rumors of reconciliation — the Atlanta rapper made it clear that wasn’t the case.

Taking to social media shortly after the track’s release, Carti posted a clip of the “CRANK” music video and directly tagged Ye in a sharp rebuke.

“DIS MY SONG LIL BRA @ye,” Carti wrote in the caption, signaling clear frustration and implying Ye never sought or received permission to use the sample. Ye has yet to publicly respond to the accusation.

Meanwhile, the controversy has sparked debate among fans and commentators. Popular live streamer Sneako defended West, suggesting the track was his creation from the start. “Ye made the beat, clearly,” Sneako said. “If you listen to Carti’s version, it’s not good.”

Adding fuel to the fire, NBA YoungBoy released a solo track titled “Finest” shortly after “Alive” dropped—capitalizing on the momentum and drama surrounding the release.

Kanye West and Playboi Carti have shared a dynamic collaborative history, most notably on West’s Donda album, where Carti appeared on the fan-favorite track “Off the Grid.”

Carti’s MUSIC album, released earlier this year, marked a major commercial milestone, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and earning widespread acclaim for its experimental sound and bold production.