Features
Jay Z Testifies In Copyright Trial
Jay Z testified in an Los Angeles federal court that he believes he has a valid license to use the Egyptian music featured on his 1999 hit “Big Pimpin’” that is the subject of a copyright infringement trial.
Photo: AP Photo/Rick Taber, File
Jay Z appears outside a Los Angeles court where he testified Oct. 13 in a copyright infringement suit that he believes he had a valid license to use Arabic music featured on his 1999 song, “Big Pimpin’.”
The rap superstar and entrepreneur said he has never asked music producer Timbaland about the origins of the music, which includes elements of the 1957 Egyptian hit “Khosara Khosara.”
Jay Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, says his belief that he has valid rights to the music is supported by the liner notes in a CD that contains the song, which credit “Khosara Khosara.”
Jay Z and Timbaland are being sued by the heir of Egyptian composer Baligh Hamdi, who say the artists don’t have the rights to include “Khosara Khosara” on “Big Pimpin’.”