The Black Eyed Peas are yet again being accused of plagiarism.
Funk legend George Clinton has filed a multi-million dollar copyright infringement lawsuit over a remix of the group’s 2003 Billboard hit “Shut Up,” which sold over 8.5 million copies.
The suit, which was filed December 10th, states that the pop group stole portions of Clinton’s classic single “(Not Just) Knee Deep,” and used it in the “Shut Up” remix without permission from the Funk legend.
The suit claims BEP was banking big bucks at his expense, releasing the record on vinyl, in digital formats and on DVD’s (Live From Sydney to Vegas).
In 2009, affiliated producers of Black Eyed Peas had contacted Clinton about licensing a sample off the same single, before Clinton was even aware the group had already sampled the hit.
Someone had been accused of forging Clinton’s signature in the midst of trying to get the sample cleared. The legend states he did not sign any contracts, nor did he receive any financial compensation for the sample.
The group also re-released the remix on the deluxe version of The E.N.D. without the resolving the sampling issues.
Other Hip-Hop pioneers have sampled the record as well such as De La Soul, Tupac and Snoop Dogg.
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