Ye’s copyright trial briefly turned into the kind of viral moment that follows him almost anywhere.

The rapper, formerly known as Kanye West, took the stand this week in a federal copyright trial tied to the rollout of his 2021 album DONDA. The case centers on claims that Ye used elements of a track called “MSD PT2” without proper clearance in early versions of “Hurricane” and “Moon.” The lawsuit was filed by Artist Revenue Advocates on behalf of producers DJ Khalil, Sam Barsh, Dan Seeff, and Josh Mease.

The courtroom moment getting the most attention came while Ye’s attorney was walking through his career achievements. When the lawyer referred to Ye and JAY-Z’s Grammy-winning track “N****s in Paris” by the softened title “Brothers in Paris,” Ye stopped him and asked, “What’s the real name?” The exchange reportedly drew laughter in the courtroom before testimony returned to the copyright dispute.

The joke gave the hearing a strange flash of levity, but the case itself remains focused on a narrower legal question. The producers claim their work appeared in material connected to Ye’s DONDA rollout without proper permission. Ye, however, testified that his team followed the usual process and said he believes in giving people what they are owed.

According to HOT 97, the producers are now seeking compensation connected to the Atlanta DONDA listening event, rather than broader royalties from the commercial releases of “Hurricane” or “Moon.” A wider royalties claim related to those records was previously dismissed.

The trial arrives during another unpredictable stretch for Ye, whose public life has often moved between music, controversy, and legal fights. This time, though, the viral clip is only one piece of a larger dispute over sampling, credit, and how unfinished music from a blockbuster album rollout was used.