Over the years Jay-Z‘s gauntlet of lawyers have been fighting back the predators that want a piece of ‘The Roc”.  Many of the lawsuits brought against him or any successful business man for that matter are often thrown out.  (Shout to Highbrid Nation’s own, Cass for helping him win that 40/40 Employment Discrimination suit a few year’s back.)  This time however, Jay Z will head to trial over allegations his hit single “Big Pimpin’” infringes the copyright of an Egyptian song released in 1957 and on the surface this might be one he may not win.

Osama Ahmed Fahmy who co-owns the rights to his uncle Baligh Hamdy’s composition “Khosara, Khosara,” and initially sued Jigga in 2007, claiming the Timbaland track was an obvious rip of the Egyptian song.  At the time, Jay Z’s record label EMI successfully argued that the 50+ year old track is not protected as per the 1909 Copyright Act, which only allows works to only fall under copyright jurisdiction for 28 years from the date of release. However, U.S. District Judge Christina Snyder subsequently decided Fahmy could still claim damages.

I personally missed this suit when it first came out (or more likely didn’t care.) But after hearing the original track I kind of lose a lot of respect for Timbo.  Come on son.  You’re better than that.  Did you not think at the time the track would be as popular as it became?  This is a classic rip.  Hip Hop has made its roots on sampling but there’s one thing to use a short loop, flip and bounce it like my man DJ Premier has made famous but this is a whole other thing.  Listen.