J Dilla passed away almost 15 years ago but that isn’t stopping him from being sued. According to Rolling Stone, the late producer is facing a lawsuit over an allegedly unauthorized sample on his acclaimed album Donuts.
The song under scrutiny is “Workinonit,” which is the first full-length track on the LP. The cut samples British rock band 10cc’s “The Worst Band in the World” from the 1974 album Sheet Music.
Music Sales Corporation, a New York-based company in control of the administration rights for “The Worst Band in the World,” has filed the complaint. The company claims Dilla didn’t obtain permission to use the song on “Workinonit” despite legally sampling 10cc’s work on a different Donuts track, “Waves.”
Stones Throw Records, Universal Music and E.P.H.C.Y. Publishing are named as defendants in the Dilla suit. The complaint says publishing company Man-Ken Music, Ltd, which previously owned the rights to “The Worst Band in the World” before entering an agreement with Music Sales Corp, previously raised concerns about the alleged copyright infringement around 2014.
Music Sales Corp is seeking compensatory damages and all “Workinonit” profits from a minimum of the last three years. It also wants costs such as attorney fees to be covered.
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Dilla, who suffered from lupus, died in February 2006. His work has been heavily admired by star producers such as Kanye West, Pharrell and Madlib as well as new school Hip Hop notables Joey Bada$$ and Kenny Beats.
Over the course of his storied career, Dilla a.k.a. Jay Dee produced songs for a multitude of legendary artists. A Tribe Called Quest, Busta Rhymes, Erykah Badu, The Roots, Ghostface Killah, De La Soul and his own group Slum Village are just a few of the names featured in his discography.
Donuts, an instrumental LP, was released just a few days before his death. It’s been reissued on several occasions, including a 10th-anniversary edition in 2016. “Workinonit” was also licensed for use in the intro of Dave Chappelle’s Netflix specials Deep in the Heart of Texas and The Age of Spin, which premiered on the streaming service in 2017.
Revisit Dilla’s “Workinonit” above and the entire Donuts LP below.
Under copyright law this is transformative and should be considered fair use.
I hope so. Ain’t no glory suing a person that’s passed away.
It’s dope, but it won’t fall under fair use. The Dilla track jacks a huge chunk of the song, as far as I can tell it’s just sped up with some effects added. It’s weird that they cleared the other sample, which would have been tough to spot and not this one, which is glaringly obvious.
Maybe they didn’t clear it. Remember what happened to Jaylib’s The Red? We can only hope the history will not repeat itself. Fortunately I got my donuts og vinyl, the 10th anniversary vinyl and the 45 box set just in case the song gets deleted
That’s great news. I’m tired of black people going around stealing people shit and getting away with it.
White people stole blacks from the great African continent. Suck a dick ho’
Africas a dump. You all pretend its wakanda meanwhile the very cool “customs” there lead to ebola and aids outbreaks
Africa was great at one time. Many things originated there. Learn your history son. And there are plenty of nice places there today. Beautiful women. You need to get out more.
Then you may be upset, once you find out how many rock bands featuring white rockers that lifted lyrics from blues artists (one can make the argument that they were paying respect, while others may claim that they were stealing), way back when. From The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, to The Doors. Shit happens lol.
One of the most influential hip hop albums of all time! if you use Music created by somebody Else you got to Pay tho.
Workinonit is my 6 Year old Grandson’s FAVE Song in My iPod, so I bought Him the DONUTS Album for His Birthday, and a Record Player as well!!!
Best comment I read on this site
Rip.dilla great promotion keep his name and music alive how u gonna sue a dead man everybody go buy Dilla song on platforms .
The Season by Nas and Dilla the greatest shit ever
I get my donuts from dunkin fuck ya’ll bitches!!!!
Round up these racist fools and kick them off the site. How sad its 2020 not the dark ages you sad people.
Rip Dilla.
I just listened to Donuts sometime like last week.