A lawyer representing Lil’ Joe Wein Music has filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against 50 Cent for using the line “Go shorty, it’s your birthday” at the beginning of the rapper’s 2003 hit, “In Da Club.”
In the lawsuit filed in Miami federal court last week, Richard C. Wolfe claims the line was lifted from Luther Campbell’s 1994 anthem “It’s Your Birthday,” of which Lil’ Joe Wein Music holds the copyright.
“It’s the melody, it’s the pace, the style — everything about that one line is the same,” Wolfe said. “We’re entitled to a portion of the profits.”
Wolfe’s lawsuit also claims Campbell’s song “I Like It, I Love It” can also be heard on 50’s 2003 DVD “50 Cent — The New Breed.”
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages, plus attorneys’ fees and other legal costs. In 1994, Wolfe won a $2.3 million judgment against Campbell for another rapper who claimed Campbell withheld royalties.
Campbell told Allhiphop.com, “Let the record reflect that Joe Weinberger and Richard Wolfe are the individuals who are suing 50. They are not suing on behalf of me or any member of the 2 Live Crew. These guys, that’s all they do is go around suing people and use our names. When they do sue people and make money on that catalogue, neither me nor any of the 2 Live Crew members receive any money from that.”
“They stole that catalogue from the members and me and we don’t make money from it,” Campbell added. “When you read my book, My Life and Freaky Times, you’ll get the full entire story surrounding these two crooks and that catalogue.”