Jay-Z is claiming that he was unaware regarding the use of an unauthorised sample in his 1999 track “Big Pimpin”, produced by Timbaland. Both Jay-Z and Timbaland are being sued by Osama Fahmy, who is arguing that the pair made use of his uncle’s – late composer Baligh Hamdi – work. Fahmy is claiming that the song samples the Hamdi-penned 1960 track “Khosara Khosara”, which you can listen to below.
Speaking in court, Jay-Z said: “I didn’t think there was a sample in it…Timbaland presented me with a track. I didn’t even think about there being a sample”. Timbaland’s attorney, Christine Lepera stated that the producer originally used Hamdi’s work under the impression that it was royalty-free, before paying $100,000 to EMI Arabia, who claimed ownership of the sample.
Fahmy’s lawyer, Keith Wesley, spoke to the Guardian, “They used it with a song that…is very vulgar and base. That’s really why this is so significant to my client. They not only took music without paying. They’re using it in a song that is, frankly, disgusting”.
Check out ‘Big Pimpin’ down below.
#Peace.Love.BigPimpin
