Jay Z has been hit with a copyright lawsuit by a New York City record label, who claims the rap mogul used an unlicensed sample for his 2009 hit “Run This Town,” which features Rihanna and Kanye West.
TufAmerica filed the a copyright infringement lawsuit in Manhattan court on Wednesday (November 6), claiming Jay Z sampled "Hook & Sling", a 1969 tune by singer Eddie Bo and producer Al Scramuzza, without their permission. The company is seek monetary proceeds and wants further distribution of “Run This Town” halted.
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You may know Jay Z as a music mogul and entrepreneur, but now he’s making headlines for a different reason. The rapper has been hit with a lawsuit over his 2009 hit song ‘Run This Town,’which featured Rihanna and Kanye West.
The lawsuit alleges that Jay Z and his team unlawfully sampled the instrumental portion of the song from an obscure 1960s track without permission. The plaintiffs in the case are two musicians who claim to own the rights to the original sample used in ‘Run This Town.’
They allege that Jay Z’s team never sought permission or paid royalties for using their work in the song, despite its prominent use throughout. As a result, they are seeking damages for copyright infringement and unlawful appropriation of their intellectual property.
If successful, this could lead to significant financial consequences for Jay Z and his record label.
The Allegations Against Jay Z and His Team
Jay Z’s team is being accused of using unauthorized samples in ‘Run This Town’ according to the lawsuit.
The plaintiff, TufAmerica, claims that Jay Z and his team used a sample from the song “Hook & Sling – Part 1” by Eddie Bo without permission.
Tufamerica also alleges that they had licensed the sample to Roc-A-Fella Records for another track but not for ‘Run This Town’.
TufAmerica further argues that the use of this sample has caused them significant financial harm as it was not properly licensed.
They claim that Jay Z and his team have made millions off ‘Run This Town’ while they have received nothing.
The lawsuit seeks damages from Jay Z and other parties involved in producing and distributing the song.
This is not the first time that Jay Z has been sued for copyright infringement.
In 2018, he was sued by Raynard Herbert over allegations of stealing parts of a song called “Paper Chase”.
It remains to be seen how this latest lawsuit will play out, but it highlights the importance of obtaining proper licenses when using samples in music production.
The Potential Consequences of the Lawsuit
You might be wondering what impact this legal dispute could have on the future of that popular collaboration track featuring another well-known artist.
Well, if Jay Z loses the lawsuit, he may have to pay out a significant amount of money in damages. This could potentially put a dent in his financial status and reputation.
Moreover, there’s also a possibility that ‘Run This Town’ may have to be removed from all streaming platforms and radio airplay if the lawsuit is successful. This wouldn’t only affect Jay Z’s brand image but also Rihanna’s as she was featured on the track.
The outcome of this legal battle could also set a precedent for future copyright infringement cases in the music industry. It remains to be seen how this will all play out, but one thing’s for sure – it will definitely shake up things in the world of music business.
Conclusion
So now you know all about the lawsuit filed against Jay Z over his hit song “Run This Town”featuring Rihanna. You’ve learned about the allegations made by Raynard Herbert. He claims that Jay Z and his team used an uncleared sample from a song he wrote called “Hook & Sling Pt. 1”.
You’ve also read about the potential consequences of this lawsuit. If found guilty, it could result in significant financial damages for Jay Z. While it remains to be seen how this lawsuit will play out in court, one thing is for sure. It serves as a reminder of the importance of obtaining proper clearance for any samples used in music.
Aspiring artists and producers should take note of this case and ensure that they are following all legal guidelines when creating their own music. For now, we’ll have to wait and see what happens next with this high-profile case involving one of hip hop’s biggest names.
Founder and Creator of Singersroom.com and IncredibleWork.com. Follow me on Instagram at @gary.gentles.
