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Kendrick Lamar Sued For Sampling Classic Track Without Permission

Staff Writer

The rapper may not be able to use this song anymore.

More Kendrick Lamar Kendrick Lamar Profile

He's just performed a series of stellar shows, as well as a headlining slot at Bluesfest in Australia last month, but Kendrick Lamar looks to be in some trouble as the US rapper is being sued for allegedly ripping off a classic song.

As TMZ reports, the 28-year-old hip hop artist is being sued by Mattie Music Group, the music company believed to own the rights to veteran singer Bill Withers' song Don't You Want To Stay, who allege that the 1975 track has been sampled in Lamar's 2009-released I Do This without permission. 

According to legal documents, Mattie Music Group claim that Lamar's song is a complete replica of Withers', insisting that it "consists of nothing more than new rap and hip hop lyrics set to the existing music of Don't You Want To Stay."

The music company are seeking damages and are requesting that Lamar cease using the song in question. 

Listen to both tracks below.

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