Suit Alleges Funky 4+1 Sample Wasn't Cleared
6:00AM ET December 28th, 2012
Contributor : Chris G.
A Rocky Williform Company

Hip hop group Naughty By Nature's 1991 hit "Uptown Anthem" is at the center of a lawsuit filed against Warner-Chappell Music. Warner-Chappell claims that it is co-owner of the song's copyright of the track; but the song features a sample of the Funky 4 Plus 1's iconic early hip hop hit "It's the Joint" that was allegedly never cleared.

Naughty's song samples the phrase "We gonna..." from the original track a total of 41 times in the song's hook, according to the suit. Sugarhill Music filed the suit and is reportedly seeking accounting of all profits made from Naughty By Nature's song.

According to AllHipHop, Sugarhill is also seeking to compensated for losses "sustained as a consequence of defendants infringement of plaintiffs copyright and to account for and pay to plaintiff all gains, profits and advantages derived by defendants from such infringement of plaintiffs copyright.”