Ed Sheeran Says JAY-Z Was 'Probably Right' to Turn Down a Guest Verse on 'Shape of You'

etonline.com:

Ed Sheeran has had many musical collaborations over the course of his career, but one wasn't meant to be. In a recent interview with , the singer revealed that JAY-Z turned down an offer to feature on the 2017 megahit «Shape of You.»«We were in touch,» Sheeran told the magazine. «I sent him the song, and he said, 'I don't think the song needs a rap verse.'»Sheeran added that the rapper was «probably right» to turn down the offer, adding, «he's got a very, very good ear.

He usually gets things right. It was a very natural, respectful pass.»While the single went on to win the 32-year-old a GRAMMY for Best Pop Solo Performance and spent 12 weeks at No.

1 on the Hot 100 list, it also led the singer into a plagiarism lawsuit. In March 2022, Sheeran faced songwriters Sami Chokri and Ross O'Donoghue during a hearing in London's High Court after the pair accused Sheeran of copying the melody for «Shape of You» from their 2015 song, «Oh Why,» which was released under the name Sami Switch.

The duo claimed that Sheeran «borrows ideas and throws them into his songs, sometimes he will acknowledge it but sometimes he won't,» per the BBC.