Hip-Hop Pioneer Goes After Fox's "Empire" Show, Unloads Multi-Million Dollar Lawsuit

Rap pioneer Doug E. Fresh has lawyered up and gone after Fox’s hit “Empire” TV series. New reports claim Fresh and his team have sued the must-watch series over copyright infringement.

According to a media press release, Fresh wants millions in return for the show sampling one of his songs in season two.

Publishing mogul and CEO of Wonderboy Entertainment, Rasheed Rahan Wonder has teamed up with Doug E. Fresh and songwriter Unique Mecca Hall to officially file a Multi-Million Dollar lawsuit against Fox’s top-rated show, “Empire”. The lawsuit contends that during season two of Empire, the show sampled the 1993 Doug E. Fresh hit song, “I-Ight” (Alright). The track was illegally sampled and used in the song “No Doubt About It,” which was performed on episode 3 by Pitbull and Jussie Smollett, as well as featured on Empire: Original Soundtrack from Season 2 Volume 1. The song was produced for the show by Timbaland, who was recently replaced as the musical director of Empire after two seasons. (Press Release)

A few weeks ago, buzz developed about “Empire” landing actress Nia Long for a role in its current season.

Long is set to appear on the third season of “Empire” as a recurring character named Giuliana (Guisi). Guisi is a queenpin who runs a club in Las Vegas. She is not above making unscrupulous back room deals to keep the club to get ahead. In season 3, she’s working to secure a deal with Empire Records. In working with Lucious and Cookie she is forced to reckon with her own past. (Madame Noire)

Last month, rapper French Montana flexed the impact his presence on “Empire” had.