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Max Martin: Why a Pop-Hit Songwriter and Producer Created a Musical

March 31, 2023

Even if you don’t know who Max Martin is, you’ve definitely heard his songs. Hit-pop songs are kind of his thing after all. Martin first stepped into the music world in 1985 as a frontman for....

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MANILA GREY: Vancouver's Rising R&B Duo

March 18, 2023

The Filipino-Canadian duo from Vancouver has been releasing new tracks left and right, and they are known for their most streamed songs on Spotify, “Timezones,” and “Silver Skies.” Previously .......

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How did Miley Cyrus’ Heartbreak Song “Flowers” Break the Spotify Record?

March 17, 2023

The singer, songwriter, and actress Miley Cyrus has recently released a record-breaking song called “Flowers” in January 2023. This song recites her 10-year long relationship with her ex-husband....

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Men I Trust: Canada’s DIY Indie Band That Could Be Your New Favourite

March 4, 2023

Men I Trust is a Canadian indie pop band known for their dreamy and mellow sound. Their music is laid back, incorporating elements of funk, disco, and R&B to create a smooth and groovy vibe that is

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Basics For Building an At-Home Recording Studio

March 3, 2023

Artists like Kaytranada have proved that you don’t need access to a professional recording studio to create well-produced music. As technology and social media have advanced, it is now easier than eve

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Facing the Music: Legal Challenges With AI and Copyright Laws

February 25, 2023

People draw inspiration from others when forming their ideas, it’s a fact of life. Sampling in music is no exception - and artists do it for a variety of reasons. Traditionally, copyright laws and

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Tobias Jesso Jr.: GRAMMY-Winning Canadian Sells His Song Rights

February 23, 2023

Tobias Jesso Jr. You may know his name from his 2015 solo album Goon. Or maybe from his work on various popular songs, such as “When We Were Young” by Adele and “Alive” by Sia. Or even from his rece

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How Popular TV Shows and Movies Resurrect Classic Songs

February 23, 2023

HBO’s The Last of Us is arguably the hottest show out right now, receiving near universal acclaim from viewers and critics alike. This holds especially true for episode three: “Long, Long Time”.

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Ginalina: Bringing Her Taiwan Roots Into Her Latest Album

February 21, 2023

Folk singer. Songwriter. Canadian. Polyglot. All of these titles belong to Gina Lam, also known by her stage name Ginalina. In November 2022, she released her latest album titled Going Back: Remembe

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Rihanna’s Super Bowl Performance

February 21, 2023

Rihanna is an illustrious artist. She is among the best selling female artists of all time, and was one of the greatest hitmakers of the 2000s and 2010s. She has since grown to become the richest...

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How do Streaming Platforms Pay Artists - Is It Fair?

February 20, 2023

Streaming is now the driving force of the music industry, making up 84% of the industry revenue in the U.S. While streaming is much more convenient for listeners, many artists argue that it is near im

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Why Jay-Z Was Named The #1 Rapper Of All Time

February 23, 2023

Who is the greatest rapper of all time? Is it even possible to crown just one person? Well, Billboard and Vibe did exactly that. And, according to them, that person is Jay-Z. In honor of Hip-Hop’s

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The Role of Vory in Drake's "Mob Ties" Controversy

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The hip-hop community is abuzz with renewed allegations that Drake uses ghostwriters, spurred by the recent leak of a reference track for his song "Mob Ties." This time, the spotlight has turned to Vory, a rising artist and songwriter, whose involvement in the creation of "Mob Ties" has ignited debates about authorship and authenticity in hip-hop.

The leak of the "Mob Ties" reference track has raised questions about the extent of Vory's contributions to the song. In the world of hip-hop, the use of reference tracks is not uncommon; they serve as a blueprint for the final recording, often including contributions from other writers to help shape the song’s final form. The revelation that Vory may have provided significant input to "Mob Ties" challenges the traditional understanding of sole authorship in rap music and complicates Drake’s artistic persona.

For Drake, allegations of using ghostwriters are not new, but the involvement of Vory in this specific instance highlights the collaborative nature of music production. While some fans express disappointment or feel misled, others accept collaboration as a part of the creative process in modern music production. For Vory, the controversy might serve as a double-edged sword—raising his profile as a talented writer while also thrusting him into a contentious debate about credibility in hip-hop.

This incident has sparked a broader conversation within the industry about the transparency of creative contributions. Critics and fans are discussing the necessity of clearer credits in music production to appropriately acknowledge the roles of various contributors. This could lead to more explicit acknowledgment of the collaborative efforts that go into crafting hits in the music industry.

Emerging artists can learn from this controversy the importance of clear communication and transparency in songwriting and production credits. Understanding the industry’s expectations and the value of openly acknowledging contributions can help navigate potential pitfalls related to copyright and creative recognition.

The ongoing discussions surrounding Drake, Vory, and the use of ghostwriters in hip-hop are likely to influence how upcoming artists and producers approach collaboration. It underscores the importance of maintaining integrity while fostering creativity through partnerships and could lead to shifts in how contributions are credited in the music business.

The controversy over the ghostwriting allegations in Drake's "Mob Ties" featuring Vory’s contributions serves as a reminder of the complexities of music production in the hip-hop industry. It highlights the evolving nature of artistic creation and the importance of acknowledging collaborative efforts in the creation of music. As the industry continues to grapple with these issues, the outcome will likely have lasting effects on how artists, producers, and labels handle transparency and credit sharing in the future.