MANHATTAN (CN) - A songwriter and producer who work with Lil' Wayne say filmmakers used three of their songs on a documentary about the rapper without permission. Darius Harrison, pka Deezle, says he wrote Lil' Wayne's No. 1 single "Lollipop." But in a separate complaint in Philadelphia, another man claims Deezle and Lil' Wayne based "Lollipop" on his "beat," "Grindin' Like a Goon."
Lil' Wayne, whose name is Dwayne Carter, is not a party to the lawsuit in Manhattan Federal Court, but he is a defendant in Philadelphia.
In Manhattan, co-plaintiff Lavell Crump, pka David Banner, says he wrote the song "La La," which Carter performed on his chart-topping album "Tha Carter III."
Crump says he also wrote "Pussy Monster," which Carter performed and released on a mix tape - a kind of unofficial record common in the hip-hop genre.
Crump and Harrison say QD3 Entertainment and Virgil Films Entertainment released "The Carter," a "behind the scenes" documentary about the rapper, using their songs without permission.
The documentary had its premier at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival. After cooperating with its production, Carter fought the release, claiming it too strongly emphasized his drug use.
Carter is serving a 1-year sentence on Rikers Island for gun possession.
Crump and Harrison demand up to $150,000 for each infringement. They are represented in Manhattan by Anthony Motta.In Philadelphia, Dirahn Gilliams sued Lil' Wayne, Deezle, James Scheffer pka Jim Jonsin, Cash Money Records, Universal Music Group, Young Money Entertainment and Rex Zamor. He wants an accounting and damages for copyright infringement, "misappropriation of ideas," and other charges. He is represented by Robert Vance Jr.
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