Hip-Hopper Says Tupac Ripped His Rap

SAN FRANCISCO (CN) - Hip-hop singer-songwriter Joseph "The Governor" Flowers claims Interscope Records used his tune, "Po' Nigga Bluez," as the basis of a remix on the late Tupac Shakur's posthumous album "Loyal to the Game."

Flowers says he wrote "Po' Nigga Bluez" in 1990 and included it on his 1995 album, "Floss Mode," with Shakur performing in the background.

Shakur's version is called "Po' Nigga Blues-Scott Storch Remix featuring Ron Isley." Flowers says he became aware of it in March 2008, nearly four years after its release. He demands statutory and punitive damages from Interscope Records and Universal Music, and wants their version taken off the market.

Flowers is represented in Federal Court by William Weiss.

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