Recently, another up-and-coming rap artist was sentenced to seventeen years in federal prison after being ensnared with drugs. Boss G, a well-known South Carolina hip hop artist whose name is Darnell Mealing, was caught up as a “middle man” in the Folk Nation gang. In his sentencing, U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie referenced Boss G’s notorious lifestyle of violence (and his ranking position) in order to carry out drug deals. His position in Folk Nation gave him access to 30 to 50 “foot soldiers”; by using their services, Boss G was able to carry out the directives of the high level dealer, Pearish Perry. In exchange for protecting Perry and distributing his drugs, Boss G received Perry’s financial backing to support his music career.
Boss G, having appeared in dozens of videos, including the popular “The South Carolina Rap,” received no favors in court when the AUSA used one of Boss G’s videos against him. The AUSA reflected that Boss G’s videos portrayed the notorious and violent lifestyle that he lived.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Wiz Khalifa Sued for Alleged Copyright Infringement
Wiz Khalifa charted a huge hit when he released “Black and Yellow” in 2011. That record is now under siege. In January 2012, songwriter Max Gregory Warren, who goes by the stage name Maxamillion, alleged in a lawsuit that Khalifa’s top song is, in reality, stolen from Maxamillion’s own lyrics. Maxamillion is suing Khalifa for $2.3 million in damages, including fraud and deceit, copyright infringement, civil conspiracy and unjust enrichment.
Maxamillion claims that in 2007 he wrote a song called “Pink N Yellow,” and that before he was able to officially copyright it in 2008, Khalifa took that song and morphed it into his hit single releasing it as “Black and Yellow,” rather than “Pink N Yellow.” Maxamillion claims that Khalifa and his producers heard “Pink N Yellow and then “engaged in a scheme to defraud plaintiff out of the fruits of his copyright of the Subject song.” Also named in the lawsuit are Khalifa’s publishing company PGH Sound, EMI Music Publishing, Rostrum Records, Warner Music Group and Atlantic Recording Corporation.
Maxamillion claims that in 2007 he wrote a song called “Pink N Yellow,” and that before he was able to officially copyright it in 2008, Khalifa took that song and morphed it into his hit single releasing it as “Black and Yellow,” rather than “Pink N Yellow.” Maxamillion claims that Khalifa and his producers heard “Pink N Yellow and then “engaged in a scheme to defraud plaintiff out of the fruits of his copyright of the Subject song.” Also named in the lawsuit are Khalifa’s publishing company PGH Sound, EMI Music Publishing, Rostrum Records, Warner Music Group and Atlantic Recording Corporation.
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