The estate of the late hip-hop icon 2Pac is facing a $5 million lawsuit over the rapper’s use of a speech by the former Nation of Islam minister Khalid Abdul Muhammad in the posthumous track “White Man’z World,” featured on the album The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, released in 1996.
Khalid Abdul Muhammad, who passed away in 2001, delivered a notable speech in 1993 that included critical commentary on societal issues. The estate claims that 2Pac utilized a portion of this speech without proper licensing or attribution. The specific excerpt used in “White Man’z World” addresses the disconnect between the mainstream and the struggles faced by marginalized communities, stating, “You’re out of touch with reality! There are a few of you in a few smoke-filled rooms… while the masses of the people… are suffering in this nation.”
The lawsuit targets not only 2Pac’s estate but also former Death Row Records head Suge Knight, the label’s distributors Interscope and Universal, and the song’s credited producer, Darryl “Big D” Harper. The complaint alleges that 2Pac did not seek permission to use the speech, nor did he compensate Muhammad’s estate for its inclusion in the song.
Muhammad’s estate is seeking $5 million in damages, with attorney Malik Z. Shabazz emphasizing the significance of Muhammad’s presence on the track. He stated, “His presence on ‘White Manz World’ reinforces Tupac Shakur’s role as not just an artist, but as a voice for Black empowerment and resistance against oppression.” Shabazz argues that the inclusion of Muhammad’s message elevated the song beyond mere music into a powerful statement against racial injustice.
As of now, 2Pac’s estate and the other defendants have not publicly responded to the lawsuit. Khalid Abdul Muhammad, during his lifetime, made appearances on various high-profile hip-hop albums and was known for his controversial statements, which have sparked discussions about race and identity within the genre.
This lawsuit marks another chapter in the ongoing dialogue about artistic expression and the complexities of intellectual property rights in hip-hop. As the case unfolds, it will be interesting to see how it impacts the legacy of 2Pac and the broader hip-hop community. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
