Spotted on NME:
Rick Ross is suing defunct pop duo LMFAO over their use of the phrase “Everyday I’m shufflin'” in their hit single ‘Party Rock Anthem’.
The rapper believes that LMFAO’s 2010 single, which has sold over 7.5m copies, contravenes his 2006 track ‘Hustlin”, which features the line “Everyday I’m hustlin’.” The Hollywood Reporter states that Ross, along with Jermaine Jackson, has filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against the Los Angeles-based electropop duo of Stefan Kendal Gordy (Redfoo) and Skyler Austen Gordy (SkyBlu).
According to a lawsuit filed in Florida federal court, “The use of ‘Hustlin’ in ‘Party Rock Anthem’ is readily apparent, despite the slight change from ‘Everyday I’m hustlin’ …’ to ‘Everyday I’m shufflin’ …’ and constitutes, inter alia, the creation of an unauthorized derivative work.” Ross, who is now seeking an injunction and maximum statutory damages, also claims that the phrase is “performed in a manner to sound like” Ross’ own, and “is an obvious attempt to capitalize on the fame and success of Hustlin’.
“The phrase is so important to the success of ‘Party Rock Anthem,’ that LMFAO launched a highly successful clothing line, Party Rock Clothing, that features the phrase on T-shirts and other clothing items,” says the lawsuit.
