Jamie xx, English producer and member of band The xx, has been accused of not getting permission to sample The Persuasions’ 1972 hit “Good Times” in his new track “I Know There’s Gonna Be (Good Times),” featuring Young Thug and Popcaan.
Jimmy Hayes, an original member of The Persuasions, said a friend told him that he had heard a song sampling one of their tracks. Hayes said that another member of his group had been contacted by Jamie xx’s representatives years ago regarding permission to use a sample, but that there had been no recent contact.
“I like the idea of the younger artists going back in time and dealing with what they call ‘old-school,’ he said. “It doesn’t bother me that they wanted to sample, but the thing is we have to sit down with management and make sure that everything is recognized and on the up-and-up.”
Pitchfork updated the story with news that Hayes has now retracted his claim, saying that he’d been told about it but had forgotten. Despite all of this, Hayes had even said he wanted to meet Jamie xx and possibly perform his part of the track live.
“I Know There’s Gonna Be (Good Times)” appears on Jamie xx’s forthcoming album In Colour, which will be out in June 2015. In 2014 he released a video of an hour-long rooftop performance he did at the Young Turks headquarters in London.