Denise Belfon, the legendary Trinidadian soca artist behind the iconic 1998 hit “Work,” has revealed that she is finally receiving royalties for the song after nearly 30 years, thanks to Drake’s legal team during the clearance process for his 2026 track “BBW.” Belfon says producer Pupa Nas-T had refused to approve her royalty payments for decades, despite her vocals becoming one of the most recognisable elements of the song and being sampled thousands of times across dance, hip-hop and pop music. Drake’s team insisted all relevant parties be recognised before clearing the sample, leading to an agreement that Belfon will now receive payment for all future uses of Work. However, she is still pursuing legal action to recover nearly three decades of unpaid royalties, alongside the song’s primary songwriter, Harkness Taitt.
Work has become one of soca’s most influential songs, spawning countless remixes and samples by artists including Shenseea, Leigh-Anne, Major Lazer and MOLIY, while remaining a staple in global dance music. Belfon believes her contribution to the record has long gone unrecognised, despite helping shape Caribbean music’s influence worldwide. Now splitting her time between New York and Trinidad, she is preparing to release her long-awaited debut album, Come Back, which she has self-funded and will release independently, marking a new chapter in a career that continues to inspire artists across multiple genres.
https://www.billboard.com/pro/denise-belfon-drake-work-bbw-maid-of-honour-sample-soca/
