Lil Wayne Sues ‘Lollipop’ Producer Jim Jonsin
Although copyright infringement lawsuits are nothing new for hip-hop, rapper Lil Wayne has flipped the script by suing his producer Jim Jonsin for sampling a folk artist's song without permission.
The song in question, 'Once,' by Karma-Ann Swanepoel, was sampled by Jonsin on Wayne's mixtape track 'I Feel Like Dying.'
An attorney for the Swanepoel's publisher filed suit against Weezy last year, claiming that the New Orleans rapper did not receive permission to use the song. They also claimed that by performing 'I Feel Like Dying' live and allowing fans to download it for free on his website, Swanepoel's music was illegally used to promote Wayne's platinum-selling album, 'The Carter III.'
Lil Wayne Pictures
Lil Wayne performs during the 2008 Powerhouse concert at IZOD Center on October 28, 2008 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Johnny Nunez, WireImage
Lil Wayne (L) and Birdman perform at the 11th Annual BMI Atlanta Unsigned Artist Showcase on April 24, 2008 in Atlanta, GA.
Ben Rose, WireImage
Kid Rock and Lil Wayne perform "All Summer Long" on stage during the 42nd Annual CMA Awards at the Sommet Center on November 12, 2008 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Rick Diamond, WireImage
Lil Wayne poses in the Awards Portrait Gallery during the BET Hip Hop Awards 2007 at the Atlanta Civic Center on October 13, 2007 in Atlanta, GA.
Arnold Turner, WireImage
Lil Wayne attends the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards held at Paramount Pictures Studios on September 7, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.
Frank Micelott, Getty Images for MTV
Lil Wayne performs in concert at the Travis County Expo Center on July 10, 2008 in Austin, Texas.
Jay West, WireImage
Lil Wayne performs onstage at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards on the Paramount Studios lot on September 7, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.
Kevin Winter, Getty Images
Lil Wayne and Bow Wow enjoy the Miami Heat game against the Charlotte Bobcats on December 8, 2008 at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida.
Victor Baldizon, NBAE via Getty Images
Lil Wayne visits MTV's "TRL" on June 10, 2008 at MTV Studios in New York.Lil Wayne, Tyga, Colby O'Donis, Gym Class Heroes and Akon Visit MTV's
Jamie McCarthy, WireImage
Rap recording artist Lil Wayne watches the Miami Heat play the Atlanta Hawks in Game 4 of their NBA Eastern Conference playoff series in Miami, Florida April 27, 2009. REUTERS/Hans Deryk (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL HEADSHOT)
Reuters
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Weezy responded last week by filing suit against Jonsin, the Florida-based producer responsible for Wayne's mega-hit 'Lollipop' and T.I.'s 'Whatever You Like,' claiming that the producer was responsible for obtaining the licensing agreements for the usage of Swanepoel's song.
Jonsin has neither responded to the suit, nor named his legal representation in court records. The phone number listed for his company, Rebel Rock, has been disconnected.
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