New York Daily News
September 27, 2016
Wiz Khalifa sampled track in ‘iSay’ without permission: lawsuit
Victoria Bekiempis, NY Daily News
Wiz Khalifa sampled track in ‘iSay’ without permission: lawsuit
Wiz Khalifa ripped off a New York City musician by sampling his song in the hit “iSay” without paying him, a new lawsuit alleges. Yury Merman claims he went to ID Labs recording studio in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in November 2011 for help editing a song, which he called “La Plafond.”
Wiz Khalifa ripped off a New York City musician by sampling his song in the hit “iSay” without paying him, a new lawsuit alleges.
Yury Merman claims he went to ID Labs recording studio in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in November 2011 for help editing a song, which he called “La Plafond.”
One of ID Labs’ producers helped him and saved the track on his laptop computer, according to the lawsuit, which was filed Monday in Manhattan federal court.
ID Labs and several of its producers have credits on “many” Wiz Khalifa songs. Khalifa, whose real name is Cameron Thomaz, is a “frequent patron of ID Labs,” the suit says.
Merman claims ID Labs producers used a significant clip of his song for “iSay” without his permission.
When Merman found out, he texted the producer he had worked with — who then promised Merman would get paid.
Nearly a year has passed and Yury hasn’t seen any money — or credit — for his song, the suit says.
“What the Wiz Khalifa team did is nothing short of outrageous,” said Richard Roth, Merman’s lawyer. “As alleged, they stole our client’s work. ”
Merman is seeking unspecified damages.
Reps for Wiz Khalifa, ID Labs and Khalifa’s label, Atlantic Records, could not immediately be reached.
