This incident involving Ready To Die is not the first time that The Notorious B.I.G. and his record label have been sued over the unauthorized use of a sample. In 1998, Public Enemy's Chuck D sued the estate of The Notorious B.I.G. as well as Bad Boy Records, Arista Records, and the music publishing companies involved regarding the unauthorized use of a sample of Public Enemy's song "Shut 'Em Down." The sample, a vocal of Chuck D counting from 1-10, was used on the song "Ten Crack Commandments." The case was later settled out-of-court.
The album Ready To Die is considered a hip-hop classic in many circles and featured the hit singles "Juicy," "Big Poppa," and "One More Chance." The album's ending track "Suicidal Thoughts" was used in the creation of the song "Hold Ya Head" for The Notorious B.I.G.'s most recent posthumous release, Duets: The Final Chapter.
Bad Boy Entertainment, Bad Boy LLC, Justin Combs Publishing, and Universal Records plan to appeal the decision.
Article comments
1 - BIGGIE
thank you
2 - shanik
Kudos to the Ohio Players for suing; until these lame hip-hop "musicians" gather the discipline to pick up an instrument and learn it--they SHOULD absolutely pay for every single sampled note.
3 - Q.Rock639
whoa!!....great story Sterfish! I would comment on comment #2 but why waste my time...some people will never get it anyway.....
"..In 1998, Public Enemy's Chuck D sued the estate of The Notorious B.I.G. as well as Bad Boy Records, Arista Records, and the music publishing companies involved regarding the unauthorized use of a sample of Public Enemy's song "Shut 'Em Down." The sample, a vocal of Chuck D counting from 1-10, was used on the song "Ten Crack Commandments." ....
I never knew that, but considering how Chuck D is the champion of "positive" hip-hop and Biggie used his voice for "The Ten Crack Commandments", I can see the conflict of interest. I think that $4 million in punitive and direct damages is a bit much though.
Keep us posted!!
4 - blah
this whole shit is white people not understandin
and i know who the ohio players are and all that, doesn't change the fact that you palefaced savages don't get it
5 - patso`
im white and i understand just fine, blah. [Personal attack deleted]
6 - hardraysnight
is there nothing original left in this world??
7 - Palefaced Savage
Blah is right. I don't get it. Puff Diddy is a no talent hack. Smallie Bigs was a fat cross-eyed slob. Who cares. I hope all rappers get A.I.D.S.
8 - son of Jor-El
Good reading, I didnt know that about Chuck D either. Thats some real talk.
I remember the whole thing with The Turtles/De La Soul... *showing my age*
9 - Steve C.
Seems odd that Chuck D would sue someone over a sample, or have we all forgotten "Caught! Can I Get a Witness?"...
10 - Tragedy Styles
I need to buy these CDs again.
11 - Geza
EIve always been a fan of REAL Hip Hop [especially early nineties hip hop and underground]. I remember for my tenth birthday my parents bought me this CD and i played it until my dad got mad and took it from me. I have always considered this among the best records of hip hop. The Ohio Players have killed a piece of hip hop history, simply for their own greed. If you even think banning this record is a good thing it shows you are not open minded whatsoever, this record is a piece of history, much as is pink floyds dark side of the moon to rock music, and Louie Armstrong to blues. Would you ever "ban" them?