Rick Ross Sued By Gospel Group For Uncleared “3 Kings” Sample

A pair of gospel songwriters are suing Rick Ross, Jay-Z and Dr. Dre for copyright infringement on their big collaboration “3 Kings,” off Rozay’s latest album. Clara Shepherd Warrick and Jimmy Lee Weary have filed the suit (which also names producer Jake One), saying that the track uses an unauthorized sample from their 1976 song “I’m So Grateful (Keep In Touch)” (hear a side-by-side comparison here). According to AllHipHop, the lawsuit claims Weary is listed in God Forgives, I Don’t as one of the writers of “3 Kings,” but that he was never contacted regarding permission or compensation.

Apparently money isn’t the only motivating factor for the lawsuit — considering that Warrick and Weary are gospel musicians, it makes sense that the pair cites the song’s ( and accompanying video’s) profanity and depictions of drugs, violence, sex and misogyny as “inconsistent with Plaintiffs’ wishes for how Plaintiffs’ song would be portrayed.” This would seem to bolster the argument that they never cleared the sample in the first place. Although maybe they were expecting a different finished product — after all, “God” was in the album title.

In addition to copyright infringement, the plaintiffs are seeking unspecified damage for unfair trade practices, unfair competition by misappropriation, conversion and unjust enrichment.