Gospel Songwriters File Lawsuit Over ''3 Kings''
1:00PM ET February 8th, 2013
Contributor : Martin James
A Rocky Williform Company

Rick Ross, Jay-Z and Dr. Dre are being sued over a sample on the Ross track "3 Kings." Gospel songwriters Clara Shepherd Warrick and Jimmy Lee Weary, filed the suit against the three stars, as well as producer Jake One and Universal Music Group.

Warrick and Weary filed the suit over an unlicensed sample of 1976;s "I’m So Grateful (Keep In Touch)," to which they own the rights. They also take exception to a song that doesn't represent their values.

“The video includes very graphic depictions of drug use, vulgarity, nudity, gun violence, criminal conduct, actions demeaning to women and many other items that are certainly inconsistent with Plaintiffs’ wishes for how Plaintiffs’ song would be portrayed,” the lawsuit says. “Once the Grammy Awards are broadcast, the listeners will be alerted to existence of Plaintiffs song, at which time it will be subjected worldwide to irreparable harm of being linked to defendant’s song.”

According to AllHipHop, Weary says he was not contacted for permission to sample the song nor was he compensated. Warrick and Weary are suing for copyright infringement, unfair trade practices, unfair competition by misappropriation, conversion and unjust enrichment.