A record label has filed a lawsuit in United
States Court, Southern District of New York, alleging that Ludacris and Kanye
West took the hook for the hit single "Stand Up" from their single.
BMS Entertainment/Heat Music claims they handed
a demo of their group I.O.F. (Its Only Family) to Ludacris on four different
occasions between August 2002 and May of 2003. Court documents say the demo
was also personally handed to Kanye West in May of 2003.
The Demo contained their song "Straight
Like That" which they allege Ludacris stole.
"The industry has systems set up for artist
to get paid for their work," says Jeff Billingsley, CEO of BMS Entertainment/Heat
Music LLC. "In entertainment, many unsigned artists and producers have
had this problem; it’s nothing new."
Billingsley said that he was not attempting a
get rich scheme, but had a legitimate gripe against Ludacris and West, since
the song helped fuel the platinum success of the album Chicken and Beer.
"We are not trying to do a get rich quick
scheme," Billingsley said. "They [I.O.F.] have their own buzz on the
streets and throughout the industry. We don’t do business like that and no one
will take from us without being confronted. I.O.F. feel that they have been
done a disservice and want to take it through the proper channels and let the
courts decide."
The group is currently featured on the Spike
Lee "Home Invaders" soundtrack and have opened up for such acts as
50 Cent and NORE.
