Ozzy Osbourne Rebukes Kanye West Over Uncleared Sample: “I Want No Association With This Man!”

Ozzy Osbourne condemned Kanye West for sampling the rock star’s classic single “War Pigs” without permission on Friday (February 9). Ozzy said he rejected Kanye’s request to sample a live performance of the song. The Black Sabbath frontman was outraged after finding out Ye used the sample anyway at the Vultures listening experience in Chicago.

“@KAYNEWEST ASKED PERMISSION TO SAMPLE A SECTION OF A 1983 LIVE PERFORMANCE OF ‘WAR PIG’ FROM THE US FESTIVAL WITHOUT VOCALS & WAS REFUSED PERMISSION BECAUSE HE IS AN ANTISEMITE AND HAS CAUSED UNTOLD HEARTACHE TO MANY,” Ozzy wrote on Instagram. “HE WENT AHEAD AND USED THE SAMPLE ANYWAY AT HIS ALBUM LISTENING PARTY LAST NIGHT. I WANT NO ASSOCIATION WITH THIS MAN!”

Kanye and Ty Dolla $ign did not drop their Vultures album on Friday (February 9), adding to Ye’s string of missed release dates over the years. The controversial rapper/producer’s album releases have become crapshoots, often leaving fans empty-handed due to unforeseen delays.

Ye and Ty Dolla $ign’s Vultures release date already changed several times in recent months. The two finally settled on February 9 for the first volume of the album. A second volume was due out on March 8 with a third arriving on April 5. Those plans appear to be in flux, to say the least.

Ozzy’s condemnation of Kanye was a stark contrast to the singer’s praise of T-Pain, who covered Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” on 2023’s On Top of the Covers album.

Last year, T-Pain performed his version of “War Pigs” at The Sun Rose in West Hollywood. A video of the live performance caught the attention of Ozzy in January.

“This is the best cover of ‘War Pigs’ ever,” Ozzy wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter).

T-Pain thanked Ozzy and said the rocker’s endorsement was “the greatest form of validation.”