<body><div><p>Several <a href="https://www.nba.com/">NBA</a> teams are being sued for using specific rap songs in social media posts without permission.</p><h2>14 NBA Teams Face Litigation for Copyright Infringement</h2><p>On July 18, Kobalt Music Publishing, Artist Publishing Group and others fired off multiple lawsuits in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, which accuse 14 teams in the NBA of copyright infringement including the <a href="https://www.nba.com/knicks/">New York Knicks</a>, <a href="https://www.nba.com/magic/">Orlando Magic</a>, <a href="https://www.nba.com/cavaliers/">Cleveland Cavaliers</a> and <a href="https://www.nba.com/pacers/">Indiana Pacers</a>. Other teams facing litigation are the Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat, New Orleans Pelicans, Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings and San Antonio Spurs.</p><p>According to the suits, obtained by <i>XXL</i> on Monday (July 22), the plaintiffs are accusing the NBA squads of "exploiting the copyrights by synchronizing the works with the videos, which are intended to promote Defendants’ commercial activities, and then exploiting the videos on variety of consumer-facing platforms. Defendants did not obtain Plaintiffs’ license, authorization, or consent to synchronize the works with the videos."</p><p>The songs listed in the lawsuits cross genres but include hip-hop tracks like <a href="https://www.xxlmag.com/tags/busta-rhymes/">Busta Rhymes</a>' "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See," <a href="https://www.xxlmag.com/tags/shaquille-oneal/">Shaq</a>'s "I Know I Got (Skills)," <a href="https://www.xxlmag.com/tags/a-boogie-wit-da-hoodie/">A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie</a>'s "Look Back at It," <a href="https://www.xxlmag.com/tags/dj-khaled/">DJ Khaled</a>'s "All I Do Is Win" and others.</p><p>The lawsuits seek $150,000 for each infraction. As of press time, many of the videos in question have been removed from the team accounts.</p><p><i>XXL</i> has reached out to the NBA for comment.</p><p>Rappers are mostly on the wrong end of copyright infringement lawsuits. Recently, there have been instances of rhymers and the companies that own their content fighting back against their music being used unlawfully. Last April, Universal Music Group <a href="https://www.xxlmag.com/universal-music-group-a-i/">took a hard stance</a> against its artists' music being manipulated using A.I. On a smaller scale, <a href="https://x.com/XXL/status/1814355193888202786">Boosie BadAzz recently won a $21,000</a> lawsuit against Celcius Nightclub in Fort Myers, Fla. for playing his music without an ASCAP license.</p><h2><b>Best</b> <b><i>Space Jam</i></b> <b>References in Hip-Hop</b></h2><p>Which one is your favorite?</p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4cEhKk_0uZt6WJY00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4cEhKk_0uZt6WJY00" width="980" height="1187" ><figcaption>Rapper Future performs on the Coachella Stage during day 2 of the Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival (Weekend 1) at the Empire Polo Club on April 15, 2017 in Indio, California</figcaption></figure><h2>Future</h2><p><b>Song:</b> "Dem"</p><p><b>Lyrics:</b> "You keep fuckin' ’round and you gon' get a monster coupe/I'm talking <i>Space Jam</i> ballin', play no games with you"</p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2XdFxW_0uZt6WJY00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2XdFxW_0uZt6WJY00" width="980" height="1472" ><figcaption>J. Cole headlines the main stage on Day 1 of Wireless Festival 2018 at Finsbury Park on July 6, 2018 in London, England</figcaption></figure><h2>J. Cole</h2><p><b>Song:</b> Drake's "Jodeci Freestyle" Featuring J. Cole</p><p><b>Lyrics: "</b>No false gods, young Mike playin' against the Monstars/Tappin' into ’94 Nas"—J. Cole</p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=49hf2x_0uZt6WJY00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=49hf2x_0uZt6WJY00" width="980" height="784" ><figcaption>Lil Wayne performs at the 2019 Governors Ball Festival at Randall's Island on May 31, 2019 in New York City</figcaption></figure><h2>Lil Wayne</h2><p><b>Song:</b> "Watch My Shoes"</p><p><b>Lyrics:</b> "We are not the same, I am a Martian, this is <i>Space Jam</i>/No Ceilings, R.I.P., amen"</p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4X2wxX_0uZt6WJY00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4X2wxX_0uZt6WJY00" width="980" height="1232" ><figcaption>Chance the Rapper performs onstage during the 2019 iHeartRadio Music Festival at T-Mobile Arena on September 21, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada</figcaption></figure><h2>Chance The Rapper</h2><p><b>Song: "</b>Finish Line / Drown" Featuring Noname, Eryn Allen Kane, T-Pain and Kirk Franklin</p><p><b>Lyrics: "</b>Gimme the water, gimme the water, I need the kind from <i>Space Jam/</i>Get this money, get this budget, K.O.K. to day camp"—Chance The Rapper</p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1tkPEw_0uZt6WJY00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1tkPEw_0uZt6WJY00" width="980" height="632" ><figcaption>Rapper Wale performs on the Sahara stage during day 3 of the Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival (Weekend 1) at the Empire Polo Club on April 16, 2017 in Indio, California</figcaption></figure><h2>Wale</h2><p><b>Song:</b> "88"</p><p><b>Lyrics:</b> "This is no <i>Space Jam</i>, I'm out the globe, stuntin'/I'm a one-man band, I prolly Jordan 1 ’em "</p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3ezqXE_0uZt6WJY00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3ezqXE_0uZt6WJY00" width="980" height="1181" ><figcaption>Recording artist The Game performs onstage with Ice Cube during day 2 of the 2016 Coachella Valley Music &amp; Arts Festival Weekend 2 at the Empire Polo Club on April 23, 2016 in Indio, California</figcaption></figure><h2>The Game</h2><p><b>Song:</b> "Cross on Jesus Back" Featuring D Smoke</p><p><b>Lyrics:</b> "Inglewood to Compton, Space Jams on, shot it out with Monstars/Thirteen to your back, Tristan Thompson"—The Game</p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0DSygm_0uZt6WJY00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0DSygm_0uZt6WJY00" width="980" height="1470" ><figcaption>Vic Mensa attends Palm Angels: The Shows during New York Fashion Week on February 09, 2020 in New York City</figcaption></figure><h2>Vic Mensa</h2><p><b>Song:</b> "Magic" Featuring Jesse Boykins III</p><p><b>Lyrics:</b> "Jumpin' out the gym like <i>Space Jam</i>/I used to breakdance in Nico's basement"—Vic Mensa</p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3V3lMu_0uZt6WJY00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3V3lMu_0uZt6WJY00" width="980" height="1181" ><figcaption>Rapper Cyhi The Prynce attends Compound Saturday Nights at Compound on October 17, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia.</figcaption></figure><h2>CyHi The Prynce</h2><p><b>Song:</b> "Hear Me Out"</p><p><b>Lyrics:</b> "I seen it all through my Ray Bans/You niggas couldn't walk through the mall in my Space Jams/Niggas praying on my downfall, but when you finish, make sure you say, 'Amen'/Ran through like 8 grand in a day's span"</p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4XWBrF_0uZt6WJY00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4XWBrF_0uZt6WJY00" width="980" height="620" ><figcaption>Juice Wrld performs onstage during the 2019 iHeartRadio Music Festival and Daytime Stage at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds on September 21, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada</figcaption></figure><h2>Juice Wrld </h2><p><b>Song:</b> Kodak Black's "MoshPit" Featuring Juice Wrld</p><p><b>Lyrics: "</b><i>Space Jam</i> jumpin', they askin' who let the Monstars in here"—Juice Wrld</p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2fG1ia_0uZt6WJY00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2fG1ia_0uZt6WJY00" width="980" height="1331" ><figcaption>Rapper Young Dolph performs on stage during the Parking Lot Concert series at Gateway Center Arena on August 23, 2020 in College Park, Georgia.</figcaption></figure><h2>Young Dolph</h2><p><b>Song:</b> Young Dolph's "Space Jam"</p><p><b>Lyrics:</b> "Pull up in a spaceship like I'm in <i>Space Jam</i> (Skkrt)/I just put 400 pounds on a Greyhound (Hey, come here)/Fuck her from the back and made lil' mama lay it down (A huh)"</p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4SkS8i_0uZt6WJY00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4SkS8i_0uZt6WJY00" width="979" height="783" ><figcaption>Lil B The Basedgod performs at Georgia Theatre during the 2016 Slingshot Festival on April 1, 2016 in Athens, Georgia</figcaption></figure><h2>Lil B</h2><p><b>Song: "</b>Based Jam"</p><p><b>Lyrics: "</b>Shit real, when you really see my face, man/The whole world waiting on me like it's <i>Space Jam</i>"</p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3OGbTM_0uZt6WJY00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3OGbTM_0uZt6WJY00" width="980" height="653" ><figcaption>Rapper Fabolous performs during week one of the BIG3 three on three basketball league at Barclays Center on June 25, 2017 in New York City</figcaption></figure><h2>Fabolous</h2><p><b>Song:</b> "Why Wouldn’t I" Featuring Paul Cain</p><p><b>Lyrics:</b> "Only reason you in my face, ma'am/Is ’cause I got the same Nikes that Jordan had on in <i>Space Jam</i>"—Fabolous</p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4KParY_0uZt6WJY00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4KParY_0uZt6WJY00" width="980" height="681" ><figcaption>Childish Gambino performs onstage during the 2018 iHeartRadio Music Festival at T-Mobile Arena on September 21, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada</figcaption></figure><h2>Childish Gambino</h2><p><b>Song:</b> "Late Night in Kauai" Featuring Jaden Smith</p><p><b>Lyrics:</b> "Nigga, I'm a monster, fuck it, I'm a Monstar/Man, I got this beat I'm going ham like a cop car"—Childish Gambino</p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1BpRlm_0uZt6WJY00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1BpRlm_0uZt6WJY00" width="980" height="1470" ><figcaption>Marlon Craft attends YBN Cordae's "The Lost Boy" album listening party at Lightbox on July 23, 2019 in New York City</figcaption></figure><h2>Marlon Craft</h2><p><b>Song:</b> "Dead Presidents Craftstyle"</p><p><b>Lyrics: "</b>And this is what you want the kids to be, you getting played, fam/And I'm a monster on the mic and this ain't <i>Space Jam</i>"</p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4XGvTV_0uZt6WJY00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4XGvTV_0uZt6WJY00" width="980" height="673" ><figcaption>Kevin Abstract of Brockhampton performs onstage during the 2018 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Field on April 21, 2018 in Indio, California</figcaption></figure><h2>Kevin Abstract</h2><p><b>Song:</b> Brockhampton's "Follow"</p><p><b>Lyrics: "</b>I remember being younger watching <i>Space Jam/T</i>old my mama that I wanna be the bald man"—Kevin Abstract</p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0ui56E_0uZt6WJY00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0ui56E_0uZt6WJY00" width="980" height="1208" ><figcaption>Maxo Kream attends Savage X Fenty Show Presented By Amazon Prime Video - Arrivals at Barclays Center on September 10, 2019 in Brooklyn, New York</figcaption></figure><h2>Maxo Kream</h2><p><b>Song:</b> "G3"</p><p><b>Lyrics:</b> "Eight double Gs, I've been walking on Mars/<i>Space Jam</i> money, busting juggs in the car"</p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2JLYh8_0uZt6WJY00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2JLYh8_0uZt6WJY00" width="980" height="653" ><figcaption>Nessly performs at the Republic Records We Got Now Showcase at Highline Ballroom on May 9, 2018 in New York City</figcaption></figure><h2>Nessly</h2><p><b>Song:</b> K Camp's "What's Next" Featuring Nessly and ​iAmTheGENIUS</p><p><b>Lyrics:</b> "Yeah, ballin' like Michael/Sippin' on cups of that <i>Space Jam</i>/Lit with about 50 bitches from Instagram, like an alien invasion"—Nessly</p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1MnsAZ_0uZt6WJY00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1MnsAZ_0uZt6WJY00" width="980" height="1271" ><figcaption>Tyga performs at the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards, broadcast on Sunday, August 30, 2020 in New York City.</figcaption></figure><h2>Tyga</h2><p><b>Song:</b> "Cartoonz"</p><p><b>Lyrics:</b> "Meet me, the Looney tune, 17, from the CPT/Ed, Edd n Eddy couldn't beat me in more Ds/Roll 22s on the whip, they call ’em Fantastic Fours and sh-/Whoa, I'm sick, introducing, Billy the kid/Space Jammin' with Bananas in Pajamas"</p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4D38JY_0uZt6WJY00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4D38JY_0uZt6WJY00" width="980" height="535" ><figcaption>asher roth chuck inglish sweat shorts music video</figcaption></figure><h2>Asher Roth</h2><p><b>Song:</b> Chuck Inglish's "Sweat Shorts" featuring Asher Roth and Helios Hussain</p><p><b>Lyrics:</b> "I'm canvas, son, painted strange of the land from Space Jam slam, hope you caught that on your camera/Don't understand me, think I might move up to Canada/Root for Vancouver, Shareef Abdur, medulla oblongata and burrata/If you got a problem, holler"—Asher Roth</p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1VB2Je_0uZt6WJY00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1VB2Je_0uZt6WJY00" width="980" height="1742" ><figcaption>Joe Budden attends the REVOLT X AT&amp;T 3-Day Summit In Los Angeles - Day 1 at Magic Box on October 25, 2019 in Los Angeles, California</figcaption></figure><h2>Joe Budden</h2><p><b>Song:</b> Kxng Crooked's <b>"</b>Monsters In My Head" Featuring Slaughterhouse </p><p><b>Lyrics:</b> "With faith I stand peaceful, I know every man’s equal/So I’m playing with the monsters like a <i>Space Jam</i> sequel"—Joe Budden</p></div></body>

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Several NBA Teams Sued for Using Specific Rap Songs in Social Media Posts

Several NBA teams are being sued for using specific rap songs in social media posts without permission. 14 NBA Teams Face Litigation for Copyright Infringement. On July 18, Kobalt Music Publishing, Artist Publishing Group and others fired off multiple lawsuits in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, which accuse 14 teams in the NBA of copyright infringement including the New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, Cleveland Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers. Other teams facing litigation are the Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat, New Orleans Pelicans, Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings and San Antonio Spurs.