When it rains it pours.
TufAmerica Inc. has hit Jay Z and his record companies with a copyright infringement lawsuit Wednesday, claiming he illegally sampled a funky late 1960s jam without permission to jazz up the hit 2009 track “Run This Town.”
They argue Jay Z should face the music because it owns the exclusive rights to “Hook & Sling,” a 1969 number by singer Eddie Bo and producer Al Scramuzza.
“Run This Town,” which also features Rihanna and Kanye West, samples “Hook & Sling” dozens of times, the federal suit alleges.
Ironically, the catchy hip-hop hit is all about doing wrong.
Unfortunately, Hov is already under fire for his partnership with Barneys New York in the wake of multiple allegations by black shoppers that they were profiled by the high-end department store.
Tuf seeks proceeds from “Run This Town” and damages to be determined at trial, plus a court order to halt “further distribution and exploitation” of the Eddie Bo song.
The complaint names Jay Z, his Roc-A-Fella Records, LLC, Atlantic Recording Corp. and several other companies as defendants.
The suit is the third complaint filed by TufAmerica against Roc-A-Fella in Manhattan federal court this year. The parties settled both prior suits before trial.
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