2005-09-30 ::
Lil Jon sues Hustler Video
 
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While the media is driven by lawsuits these days, it's not often that you get a lawsuit that involves a pornography film.

Lil Jon, a rapper from Atlanta, Georgia, who's recent burst into becoming a house-hold name was due to the fact that he was being impersonated by Dave Chapelle on the Dave Chapelle Show, is suing Hustler Video.

Lil Jon performed a concert in New Orleans in February of 2004, footage was acquired that contained both backstage and onstage shots. A third party company, Category 5, was hired to shoot the footage, which would ultimately be used for future productions.

Category 5 used the footage that was shot from the concert, but did not clear it with TVT Records, as they were supposed to. This was a breach in contract, and the lawsuit has asked for $75,000 due to this breach.

A pornography film that used the footage of Lil Jon that Category 5 shot was released earlier this year, surprised Lil Jon, whom was completely unaware of the video.

The video, called “Phat Tuesday”, uses the rapper's likeness in the film, as well as on the cover, without his consent.

The cover of the video portrays Lil Jon with an actress as a composite photo, as well as the words, “Featuring Lil Jon, King of Crunk”.

The surprising aspect of the reason for the lawsuit, however, is that it was not induced because of Lil Jon being concerned about his image, but because he plans on releasing some contraversial videos himself, but “Phat Tuesday” has only “glutted the market”.

Later this year, Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz planned to release a video called, “Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz Vivid Vegas Party”.

Our Thoughts

We don't know what's worse – having your likeness used without your permission, or caring more about the fact that the video is now competition to your own videos.