Jay-Z Sample Copyright Trial

Jay Z made a splash in 2000 with the release of his single “Big Pimpin‘”, from his fourth album, Vol. 3…Life and Times of S. Carter featuring UGK.

The pair is facing a lawsuit for violating the rights and misusing music from a popular 1950s love ballad by Egyptian composer Baligh Hamdi called “Khosara Khosara”.

It was previously reported that Jay Z wanted his financial details and criminal history to be hidden from court proceedings.

He is scheduled to testify on Wednesday.

His lawyer Andrew Bart argued the explicit lyrics of the song should not be discussed during the trial as they could be branded “vulgar” and “disgusting” and therefore prejudice the jury against the rapper.

Shawn Carter, famously known as Jay Z, is an American rapper and entrepreneur who had been accused of copying melody of an Egyptian musician in his hit 1999 song “Big Pimpin”.

Ross told the court: “You have to go to the composer himself, or his heirs, play the work, and get his approval”.

The lawsuit follows another high-profile musical copyright case.

Gaye’s family was initially awarded 7.4 million dollars (£4.8 million) but a judge later trimmed the verdict to 5.3 million dollars (£3.4 million). Lepera responded by saying Fahmy’s attempt to seek remuneration was “an effort to get an undeserved income”.

Image caption Big Pimpin’ appears on Jay Z’s album Vol. 3…

Lepera said Timbaland used Hamdy’s 1957 Egyptian tune “Khosara, Khosara” as a chorus loop for “Big Pimpin'” without realizing it was owned by EMI Music Arabia. Despite the fact that producers later paid $100,000 to the record label to acquire rights, Fahmy continued to argue that it didn’t matter, and the only people who could approve the use of his uncle’s music are his heirs.