Soca Legend Denise Belfon Credits Drake Ending Royalties Standoff Over Classic Hit ‘Work’

Post By DJ Longers
August 7, 2026

‘He Forced Their Hand’: Soca Legend Denise Belfon Credits Drake With Ending 28-Year Royalties Standoff Over Classic Hit ‘Work’

LONDON — Trinidadian soca icon Denise "Saucy Wow" Belfon has revealed how Canadian superstar Drake unlocked a nearly 30-year financial stalemate, allowing her to receive songwriting royalties for her iconic 1998 anthem Work (Put Yuh Back In It) for the very first time.

The 57-year-old Caribbean artist’s vocals were featured on the track BBW, a standout cut from Drake’s surprise triple-album release Maid of Honour, Iceman, and Habibti.

However, behind the high-profile sample lay a decades-long legal dispute between Belfon and the track's original producer, Pupa Nas-T, over the allocation of mechanical royalties and master credits.

A 28-Year Battle Resolved by a Megastar

Despite Work enjoying global success since its release nearly three decades ago, spawning thousands of club remixes, house re-imaginings, and samples by artists including Megan Thee Stallion and David Guetta, Belfon had never received formal royalty payouts due to unresolved rights clearances dating back to the late 1990s.

When Drake’s legal representatives sought to clear the sample for BBW, the five-time Grammy winner’s legal team insisted that all legacy rights issues surrounding the underlying composition be formally resolved before the release could proceed.

In a recent interview with Billboard, Belfon explained that the demand from Drake’s camp provided the exact leverage required to settle the long-running feud:

"Because of Drake's team, the producer of 'Work' was forced to say 'yes,'" Belfon shared. "For 28 years, he had refused to sign off on my receiving my royalties. With Drake adding my vocals on 'BBW', he agreed that, moving forward, I would receive my appropriate payment."

From a One-Take Vocal to a Global Classic

Belfon originally recorded Work in a single studio take in 1998 following a live performance. The track quickly transformed from a local Trinidadian carnival hit into an international dance floor staple, aided by an influential 2000 house remix by production duo Masters at Work.

Over the years, the song’s unmistakable "Put yuh back in it" hook cemented itself in popular culture, going viral across social media platforms and being sampled across hip-hop, electronic, and dancehall genres.

"I recorded that hit song in the studio in just one take when I was just being free, creative and happy," Belfon recalled. "And now this 28-year-old song is still living on... It's so uplifting to be a part of projects like these to see other artistes respect and admire my work."

A Historic Crossover Moment

Table: Key Milestones — Denise Belfon's 'Work'

Timeline / Event	Details & Cultural Impact
1998	Recorded in a single studio take; quickly becomes a Caribbean carnival staple.
2000	Remixed by Masters at Work, crossing over into global house & EDM circuits.
2022	Hook sampled by Megan Thee Stallion and Shenseea on the single Lick.
May 2026	Drake samples vocals on BBW (Maid of Honour album), prompting global clearance.
August 2026	Belfon confirms legal resolution securing retroactive and ongoing royalty payments.

Industry legal experts note that the situation highlights the crucial role major studio clearances can play in rectifying historic contractual imbalances for veteran Caribbean and African artists whose early works were distributed under opaque agreements.

With her publishing rights secured and BBW continuing to accumulate millions of streams worldwide, Belfon expressed gratitude to Drake and his team for honoring her legacy while ensuring she finally received her fair share.