This story has been developing over the Bank Holiday weekend, and it would appear at this point that both Jay-Z and producer Timbaland are once again being sued, this time for a sum of $5,000,000, arising from a dispute over samples used in the 2000 hit single “Big Pimpin”.
For those close to the industry, it may be possible to recall the original lawsuit which came to light, and was subsequently dismissed, in 2007. The controversy surrounds a sample of “Khosera”, an Egyptian composition first penned by composer Baligh Hamdi in the 50s and originally recorded by the famous Egyptian vocalist Abdel Halim Hafez during the same period. It is alleged that Timbaland’s production team used the sample without securing suitable clearance for the piece of music.
This case returned to the spotlight in May of this year, when a federal judge ruled that Baligh Hamdi’s children would be allowed to re-commence the dismissed case. As a result, Ahab Joseph Nafal last week filed a $5 million lawsuit.
This story is likely to evolve over the coming months and we will keep you up to date on all developments. With Def Jam, Roc-A-Fella, Jay Z and Timbaland all named in this lawsuit, it is likely that a long and bitter dispute will ensue.
