Famed hip-hop mogul 50 Cent made a lot of money from hois 2007 No. 1 hit 'I Get Money.' Now the rapper is being accused of wrongfully trying to cash in n a track from the song.
Atlanta rapper Tyrone Simmons, aka Caliber, filed a copyright infringement lawsuit and other claims Wednesday against the G-Unit head honcho in Brooklyn's federal court, claiming he is the original or sole license holder for the instrumental to the track. The 28-year-old MC is asserting that he solidified the deal with producer William "Apex" Stanberry.
Simmons alleges that 50 Cent and Stanberry, along with Apex Productions LLC, Universal Music Group Inc., Interscope Records, Aftermath Entertainment (founded by popular rap artist Dr. Dre), G-Unit Records and Shady Records (co-owned by rap artist Eminem), knowingly took the instrumental and used it for 'I Get Money,' which appeared on 50's third album, 'The Massacre.'
"The misappropriation of copyright-protected material is an endemic problem in the music business, and particularly in the genre of hip-hop/rap. This is one such case," said Louis D. Tambaro, an attorney at Red Bank, N.J.-based Marks & Klein LLP, one of the firms representing Simmons.
"Our client was granted exclusive rights to the 'I Get Money' instrumental and was unceremoniously cut out of the loop when the defendants realized they had a huge hit on their hands."
A spokesperson from 50 Cent's camp refused to give the Associated Press a comment regarding the legal matter.
"I get money, money is got...." Hopefully, 50, you got it legally!