Lenora Antoinette Stines is accusing Beyoncé and Jay-Z of not giving her proper credit for her contribution to their single "Black Effect."
The Jamaican artist, who says she's renowned in Jamaica for "her artistry and wisdom," filed a lawsuit against the couple on Tuesday (June 17) to be compensated for copyright infringement, right of publicity and unjust enrichment" over the use of her voice on the track, which is featured on the couple's joint 2018 album, Everything is Love.
In the suit, which was obtained by CNN, Lenora says Bey and Jay approached her in Jamaica in March 2018 to help them obtain dancers for a video meant to promote their album and tour. After that, she claims they also asked her to record her views on love for a video that was supposed to be used "for promotional purposes" only, which she agreed to.
However, according to Lenora, on the day of the video shoot, she was told she "must sign" an agreement in order to participate. "When Dr. Stines inquired into the terms of the agreement, she was told that the agreement 'was just a standard document that everyone had to sign,'" the suit states, per CNN. "She was then told not to 'worry, because the agreement was only going to be utilized so that her voice could be used in the Video.'"
She claims that she was explicitly told that the recording "would only be used in the video" that was said to be for promotional purposes, which is why she was "shocked" when the album came out in June 2018 and heard her voice featured in the first minute of "Black Effect."
"To the shock, horror and chagrin of Dr. Stines, the Project featured the unauthorized exploitation of her vocals on a song known as 'Black Effect' (the 'Recording')," the suit states. "This discovery left Dr. Stines feeling violated."
She is now seeking damages, legal fees, a portion of the publishing rights and a writer's credit for the single, CNN reports.
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