LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Tracy Chapman is suing Nicki Minaj in Los Angeles for allegedly sampling a song without permission, according to court papers obtained today. According to the lawsuit, filed Monday in Los Angeles federal court, Chapman alleges that Minaj's online-only track ``Sorry'' illegally borrows lyrics and melody from her 1988 single ``Baby Can I Hold You.''
The Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter, best known for her hits ``Fast Car'' and ``Give Me One Reason,'' alleges in her court papers that she turned down numerous requests to sample the song for Minaj's fourth album, ``Queen."
The song, featuring a cameo from rapper Nas, never made the album but is available on YouTube.
Chapman's suit seeks unspecified damages and asks a federal judge to stop rapper-model Minaj from releasing ``Sorry" commercially.