Snoop Dogg gets sued for copyright infringement over ‘BODR’ tracks

Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jnr, popularly known as Snoop Dogg, has been sued by popular drummer and producer Trevor Lawrence Jr. over alleged copyright infringement.

The suit, which was filed in a Federal Court in Los Angeles on Monday, July 15, 2024, also names Snoop Dogg’s record company, Death Row Records, as a defendant.

Trevor Lawrence Jr., who boasts credits from Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys, and Bruno Mars, amongst others, accuses the hitmaker of denying him financial credit for his contributions to the latter’s BODR (Bacc On Death Row) album released in 2022.

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More details on Snoop Dogg’s lawsuit by Trevor Lawrence Jr.

According to Billboard, the veteran producer claims that Snoop Dogg used two of his backing tracks without due payment. Lawrence alleges that he had allowed the veteran rapper to "experiment with the tracks in-studio” but clarified that he’d expect an upfront fee and royalties if the songs were to be released commercially.

Snoop Dogg enters the ring during Night Two at Lincoln Financial Field on April 07, 2024 (Image via Getty)

The backing tracks were said to be used in Pop Pop and Get This Dick from Snoop’s BODR (Bacc On Death Row) album of 2022. Lawrence’s attorneys have alleged that there wasn’t an actual licensing agreement between the parties involved and that he has yet to receive any financial compensation for his contributions.

“To date, defendants have refused to properly license the Lawrence tracks or compensate Lawrence for their use in the Broadus tracks,” the lawsuit alleges.

Lawrence Jr. claims that he regularly creates tracks to shop around to popular artists under the assumption that a proper licensing agreement would be drawn up should the tracks be used commercially.

Lawrence Jr. further alleges that he agreed on a $10k fee in addition to 50% interest in the musical composition, which was said to have been agreed to by Snoop’s representative at the time.

The songs were released a month later, and the producer alleges he never got any offer until two years after their release. Lawrence Jr. and his attorney argue that the songs have managed to bring in tens of millions of dollars as Non Fungible Tokens (NFTs).

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The BODR (Bacc On Death Row) album

Bacc On Death Row is Snoop's fifth studio album, released on February 11, 2022. The album was released via the rapper’s Death Row Records and is the third studio album after the 26-year hiatus since Tha Doggfather in 1996.

The album features Nas, TI, Nate Dogg, Sleepy Brown, and Wiz Khalifa, amongst others. The album, which contains tracks like Still Smokin, Gun Smoke, Pop Pop, and Get This Dick, amongst others, debuted at number 104 on the US Billboard 200 as Snoop’s 27th entry on the chart.

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