Rod Wave’s “Long Journey” song has sparked a serious publishing dispute after Boosie Badazz said the song used his work without proper permission or compensation. Buckle up for the breakdown.

Released on September 15, 2023, Rod’s recording appears on his chart topping album Nostalgia. The song interpolates material from “Long Journey,” the Boosie and Webbie collaboration released in 2010 on Boosie’s Incarcerated album. Because Rod recreated recognizable lyrical and melodic elements instead of inserting the original recording, interpolation is the more accurate description. Translation: he sang it himself, instead of sampling.

Here’s Rod Wave’s version:

And here is the Boosie version, the original:

At first, I said, “These songs do not sound alike.” And then I got to the hook. And there it is.

The disagreement became public in November 2023. Boosie said he appreciated younger performers showing respect to his catalog, but said that admiration does not replace authorization, songwriting credit or payment. He basically wants that cheddar cheese. He threatened legal action against Rod and other artists he believed had used his material without the matching business.

READ ALSO: Boosie Badazz Says He’s Suing Rod Wave For “Everything” After Negotiations Collapsed

Rod responded that litigation was unnecessary and offered to pay Boosie directly. According to Boosie, negotiations followed, but the two sides could not agree on terms. Boosie later claimed he requested $200,000 and a 25 percent share of future earnings. He also alleged that Rod’s side countered with $150,000. Those figures represent Boosie’s public account. In a rant, The Wave said the money was $100k cash.

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The ownership question added another wrinkle. Boosie acknowledged that he does not own the song outright, but maintained that he controls a percentage through his songwriting or publishing interest. That matters. Ownership of a master recording is separate from ownership of the underlying lyrics and composition. An artist can lack complete control of a master while retaining a financial interest in the songwriting.

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Credits for Boosie and Webbie’s recording identify Torence Hatch and Webster Gradney as songwriters. Rod’s recording has appeared on some platforms without Boosie and Webbie listed among its writers, although digital credits are not always complete or current.

Despite repeated lawsuit threats, no reliable public court record has surfaced confirming that Boosie filed a copyright case against Rod over “Long Journey.” The verified story remains a stalled compensation dispute involving an interpolation, competing ownership claims and an unsuccessful private negotiation.

In Hip-Hop, paying homage may earn applause. Clearing the paperwork keeps that applause from becoming legal correspondence.

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