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The recent news of having the eight-year “Big Pimpin’” lawsuit dismissed just means Egyptian composer Baligh Hamdi was the latest to find Jay Z does indeed know how to move in a room full of vultures (aka lawyers).

Hit the jump and check out a timeline of 12 Jay Z lawsuits, and you’ll be equally convinced that Hov is equally adept at brushing dirt and legal trouble off his shoulders.


Photo: YouTube Screen Capture

1996: Jay Z’s Vague “Legal Trouble”

With a well-chronicled transition from the dope game to the Rap game, Jay Z was purposely vague about the “legal trouble” he faced during the recording and promotion of Reasonable Doubt. There is such a thing as a statute of limitations.

Lance "Un" Rivera

photo: WENN

2001: Jay Z Pleads Guilty To Assault

More accurately, Jay Z admitted to stabbing Lance “Un” Rivera in December of 1999 at a release party for Q-Tip’s Amplified album. Rivera also filed a civil suit against Jay Z, but it was settled out of court. The knife poke earned Jay three years probation and a third-degree assault charge.

2004: R. Kelly And Jay Z Sue Each Other

After getting his face (pepper) sprayed like the young woman he allegedly gave a golden shower, Kellz attempted to sue Jay for $75 million. After two meh joint albums and their aborted tours, who knows what really happened between Jay Z and R. Kelly?

Diamond Dallas Page

photo: Daniel Padilla / WENN

2005: Diamond Dallas Page Wants A Cut

Before a judge’s gavel hit the sound block, Jigga cashed out pro wrestler Diamond Dallas Page for jacking his trademark “diamond cutter” hand gesture. Both parties agreed to settle for an undisclosed amount after Page’s team provided proof he’d been using the gesture since the early ‘90s.

Jay-Z and Kanye West

photo: WENN

2012: Syl Johnson Cashes Out

Kanye West reportedly tried to clear the sample of Syl Johnson’s “Different Strokes” that was ultimately used on the Watch The Throne bonus song “The Joy.” But Johnson was never formally credited or compensated before the release of WTT, and he ended up settling with West and Jay Z after suing the pair.

2013: HoodLove, LLC vs. Roc-A-Wear

Jay Z (allegedly) stole an idea? Clutch the pearls! When Roc-A-Wear shirts emblazoned with “Hood Love” started popping up, HoodLove, LLC called their lawyers, since they’ve reportedly owned the trademarked phrase since 2006. Much like Jigga’s use of the “Diamond Cutter” sign, the production of the shirts came to a screeching halt.

2014: Jay Z vs. Chauncey Mahan

For the record, Jay Z wasn’t legally claiming Chauncey Mahan didn’t co-write up to 45 (!!) songs dating back to “Big Pimpin’.” Hov merely claimed he waited too long to collect by illegally holding his master recordings hostage. #ChessNotCheckers.

2014: The One-Syllable Lawsuit

TufAmerica alleged Jay Z interpolated the word, “Oh,” from the three-second mark of Eddie Bo’s obscure ‘90s single “Hook & Sling.” The syllable sample was allegedly used on “Run This Town.” Since you can’t have a monopoly on the word “oh,” the suit was tossed.

2014: Mitsou’s “Drunk In Love” Lawsuit

You might not have ever heard “Bajba, Bajba Pélem,” but Mitsou alleges you and anyone else who heard “Drunk In Love” heard her vocals from the aforementioned song get jacked. As such, she filed a suit against Beyonce, Timbaland, and Jay Z.

Beyonce and Jay Z

photo: WENN.com

2015: The “Versus” Lawsuit

Seventy-nine-year-old Swiss Jazz musician Bruno Spoerri walked away with a cool 50% of Jay Z’s publishing for “Versus” after the Swizz Beatz and Timbaland produced track failed to clear a sample of Spoerri’s 1978 song “On The Way.”

2015: Birdman Sues TIDAL For $50 Million

This wasn’t the first time Jay allegedly tried to pry Lil Wayne from the stingy hands of YMCMB. Cash Money sued Jay Z and TIDAL for $50 million as damages for tortuous interference with contract, unfair competition, and other allegations. After the whole Dame and Rachel Roy thing, you’d think Jigga would know better than to interfere in a messy divorce, right?

2015: The Never-Ending “Big Pimpin’” Suit

Some eight years after it was originally brought to court, a lawsuit accusing Jay Z and Timbaland of copyright infringement was tossed in District Court. Chalk up another victory for Jay Z.

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