Rick Ross is suing LMFAO for copyright infringement.
As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, it seems Ricky Rozay & Jermaine “Mayne Zayne” Jackson (half of the producer duo The Runners) are suing Pop/EDM duo LMFAO for copyright infringement concerning their 2010 single “Party Rock Anthem.” A lawsuit filed in a Florida federal court states that the chorus of the track includes “a direct interpolation” of the hook from Ross’ 2006 single “Hustlin'”, that being the lyric “every day I’m shufflin'”. There’s also the fact that LMFAO launched a profitable clothing line called Party Rock Clothing after the success of the track, which features the lyric in question on several items.
“The use of ‘Hustlin” in ‘Party Rock Anthem’ is readily apparent, despite the slight change from ‘every day I’m hustlin” to ‘every day I’m shufflin”, and constitutes [among other things] the creation of an unauthorized derivative work,” reads the lawsuit. It also states that the lyric is “performed in a manner to sound like Ross”, and is described as “an obvious attempt to capitalize on the fame and success of “Hustlin'”.
Kobalt Music Group (LMFAO’s publishers) and Kia Motors America are also listed as defendants, Kia having licensed “Party Rock Anthem” for commercial use. After attempting to contact them to no avail, the Bauce is now seeking the absolute maximum in damages.
Listen to both tracks below. Think Rozay has a case here?
