The Beastie Boys are being hit with a lawsuit over four of their tracks, two from their critically-acclaimed album, Licensed to Ill, and two from Paul's Boutique, AllHipHop.Com reports.
A hip-hop and R&B label called Tuf America filed the suit on May 3rd, just a day before Adam Yauch, aka MCA, passed away. The suit was filed in United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. The lawsuit claims that the Beastie Boys illegally sampled Trouble Funk's songs "Say What" and "Drop the Bomb."
Reportedly they used portions of "Drop the Bomb" on both Licensed to Ill and Paul's Boutique.
Tuf America claims portions of the song were used on Beastie Boys' hit from 1986 "Hold It Now Hit It," as well as "The New Style" off Licensed to Ill.
The drums found on Trouble Funks' "Drop the Bomb" were supposedly also used on "Car Thief," from Paul's Boutique.
The other song named in the suit, "Say What," Tuf America claims was illegally sampled on the Beastie Boys' "Shadrach," also on Paul's Boutique.
Tuf America says they did a thorough analysis of the records in questions and concluded the Beastie Boys' incorporated elements of Trouble Funks' songs without their permission.
On top of this, they are saying that Captiol Records and the Beastie Boys continue to profit from these songs, with the commemorative releases of Licensed to Ill and Paul's Boutique. Capitol Records is named as a defendant in the suit.
Tuf America is asking to go to trial to determine the amount of punitive and exemplary damages, if any.
You can check out pages from the lawsuit over here.
