Sean “Diddy” Combs, Snoop Dogg and the estates of The Notorious B.I.G. and Angie Stone have been named in a copyright lawsuit over two well-known songs released more than 20 years ago.
Songwriters David Bravo and Jean Albert Renaud claim “Nasty Girl” and “I Wanna Thank Ya” used pieces of their 1980 composition “Skatin’” without permission. Brazilian musician Eumir Deodato performed the original song.
According to the complaint, the later recordings relied on “harmonic, rhythmic, and melodic” elements from “Skatin’” as a foundation for new vocals and rap performances.
Diddy, Biggie’s estate and Nelly are named in connection with the 2005 track “Nasty Girl.” Snoop Dogg and Stone’s estate are tied to the 2004 song “I Wanna Thank Ya.” Producer Jazze Pha, who received credits on both recordings, is also listed as a defendant.
Bravo and Renaud say musicologist and producer Thomas Z. Shepard reviewed the tracks and found similarities between them.
Sony Music Publishing is also accused of failing to protect the writers’ interests. “Sony Publishing deliberately turned a blind eye to the unauthorized use of Plaintiffs’ four-bar foundational backing track,” the filing alleges.
The plaintiffs claim they did not learn about the alleged use until May 2024.