Stop us if you’ve heard this one before: popular artist samples little known song from the ’70s, the new song becomes a runaway hit, after a couple of years the artists of the original song decide they deserve a cut of the profits from the new song and file a lawsuit.
Same script, different cast indeed and the stars of this particular episode are none other than Justin Timberlake and Jay Z.
The pair are being sued by fellow recording artist Sly, Slick and Wicked, whose 1973 song “Sho Nuff” was sampled for JT and Hov’s massive 2013 hit “Suit & Tie.” In a lawsuit that also names Universal Music Group, two members of the Cleveland based soul band claim they deserve royalties for their vocal performance as sampled in the song.
Additionally, the suit also names Anheuser-Busch, along with the track’s producers and publishers, for failing to pay them when the song was licensed out for a popular Bud Light commercial.
Sly, Slick, and Wicked are seeking an undisclosed amount in punitive damages.
“Suit & Tie” served as the lead single for Timberlake’s third studio album, The 20/20 Experience, which went on to sell almost four million copies worldwide and set a record as the fastest selling album in the history of iTunes. The single also won a 2013 Grammy for Best Music Video.
