Future, Metro Boomin, and Kendrick Lamar are facing a lawsuit over unpaid royalties related to the use of a sample in their hit song “Like That,” which is known as a Drake diss track. The lawsuit was filed by Rodney O, whose song “Everlasting Bass” was sampled in “Like That.” Additionally, Rodney O is suing the estate of Barry White, whose music was sampled in the remix of “Like That” released by Kanye West.

Rodney O claims that he has not been paid royalties from “Like That” and that a proper release for the sample was never secured. He also criticized being excluded from the songwriting credits when the song was submitted for the Grammy Awards and stated that he was never given the version of the track that included Kendrick Lamar’s verse, which was particularly inflammatory.

A representative for Metro Boomin responded by telling TMZ that they did obtain the rights to the sample and paid Rodney O $50,000 for it. The representative suggested that Rodney O’s real issue lies with the estate of Barry White, which may be delaying royalty payments due to their relationship with Epic Records, the label distributing the song. The Barry White estate has not yet commented on the lawsuit.

Rodney O expressed surprise at Kendrick Lamar’s involvement in the track, saying he only found out about Lamar’s verse a day before the song’s release. He stated that Epic Records had only sent him the version of the song featuring Future, not the full version with Kendrick Lamar. Rodney O said he would have appreciated the chance to approve or deny the use of the sample in the version that sparked the rap beef. He lamented that despite being the rights holder to “Everlasting Bass,” he was not allowed to hear the full song before its release.

Rodney O also shared in a previous interview with Vibe that he thought the sample was “totally demolished” in “Like That” and acknowledged the song’s success, but his current legal action underscores his dissatisfaction with how the sample clearance and royalties were handled.

The legal dispute is further complicated by an earlier copyright infringement lawsuit filed by the Barry White estate in October 2024. That suit alleged that “Everlasting Bass” itself infringed on Barry White’s 1973 track “I’m Gonna Love You Just a Little More Baby,” and since “Like That” samples “Everlasting Bass,” it is indirectly involved. However, Kendrick Lamar, Future, and Metro Boomin were not named in that lawsuit, which claimed Rodney O and Joe Cooley (co-creators of “Everlasting Bass”) had agreed to handle any legal issues when clearing the sample.

Meanwhile, “Like That” achieved significant commercial success, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and fueling a high-profile rap feud between Kendrick Lamar and Drake. Despite the track’s popularity, Rodney O expressed that it “pains” him to hear the song because he has not received his rightful royalties and feels disrespected as an old-school artist.

In summary, the lawsuit centers on unpaid royalties for the sample of Rodney O’s “Everlasting Bass” used in “Like That,” issues with songwriting credits, and complications involving the Barry White estate’s related copyright claims. Metro Boomin claims to have paid for the sample clearance, but Rodney O disputes the completeness and fairness of the process, particularly regarding Kendrick Lamar’s contribution to the track.