Kendrick Lamar sued for using Bill Withers' music without permission

Compton rapper Kendrick Lamar is facing a lawsuit for using 70s legend Bill Withers' music without permission.

Lamar, according to TMZ, simply pasted his 'I Do This' rap lyrics on the soul maestro's song ' Don't You Want to Stay' which was released in 1975. And the problem would cost the rapper since using somebody's work without permission is equivalent to copyright infringement.

Mattie Music Group, a music company claiming ownership of the copyright to the Bill Withers composition filed the suit. MMG alleges that K. Dot's 2009 track is a complete replica and is nothing more than rap and hip-hop lyrics set to an already existing musical material to the disadvantage of the writer and copyright owner.

As reported by Pitchfork, the lawsuit alleges that Lamar has " admitted" to using the song with "thumb on the nose, catch me if you can attitude." Top Dawg Entertainment and a Warner Music publishing arm, along with Lamar, were named defendants in the case. The suit is asking for damages and for Lamar to cease using the Withers song.

One reason that may have prompted the action is the fact that the track was used by the 28-year old, not once but twice, according to Mail Online.'I Do This' was one of the tracks on the rapper's 2009 release, Kendrick Lamar EP. It was remixed and re-released in 2010 on his album 'Overly Dedicated.'

'Don't You Want to Stay,' written by Bill Withers with Melvin Dunlap and Raymond Jackson, was a track from the 1975 album 'Making Music.'The lawsuit could turn out to be a generational battle as Lamar is currently one of the hottest stars in rap, and has seven Grammy awards and two platinum albums to his name.

But his accomplishment pales in comparison to Withers' resume. The 77-year-old is responsible for a string of major hits, including 'Lean on Me', 'Ain't No Sunshine', 'Just the Two of Us' and 'Use Me.' He was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of fame in 2015 by fellow music legend Stevie Wonder.

Tags

rap, kendrik lamar, copyright, copyright infringement, music

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