Kendrick Lamar is facing a lawsuit for more than $1 million from Willie Jones III and Eric Reed who played piano for the 1990’s band the Black Note over the TDE rapper’s “Rigamortis” song.
In their lawsuit, Eric Reed and Willie Jones III claim that the 2011 selection from the TDE rapper’s Section.80 project unlawfully used their 2010 song “The Thorn.”
Reed and Jones III say that the Compton, California rapper never paid them for using the song and did not give them credit and are seeking $1 million, any profits from the sale of the song, and all rights to the song because the two jazz musicians following claims of plagiarism.
The former bandmates allege that Willie B, one of the track’s producers and a nephew of trumpeter Clifford Brown, contacted Reed a few months after Section.80‘s release, asking via Facebook: “I need to ask you a question about sampling. ..Like if I were to sample your work for a hip-hop record… What would your feelings be about that?” Reed claims he never gave consent.
The camp for Lamar, who appears on new Flying Lotus track “Never Catch Me,” has yet to address the reports publicly.