Lil Uzi Vert is facing a new lawsuit accusing them of stealing their hit “Just Wanna Rock.” A federal suit filed in Rochester, New York, claims Uzi copied the 2022 song from artist Rief Rawyal, who says his track “Pain and Pleasure” was the original source. Rawyal alleges Uzi’s song copies his hook, melody, and theme—particularly the chant “When I rock ah ah.” A forensic musicologist’s report attached to the case claims the songs share striking similarities in drum pattern, tempo, and lyrics.
Rawyal says he released “Pain and Pleasure” on August 15, 2022, while Uzi dropped “Just Wanna Rock” on October 17 of that year. He claims that after Uzi’s song exploded on TikTok, Fortnite, and in the Blue Beetle trailer, his own uploads were muted or removed from Facebook and Instagram. Rawyal also alleges that when he sent a cease-and-desist notice in June, Uzi’s label, Atlantic Records, retaliated by having Lizzo post a parody version of his track online.
The lawsuit argues that Uzi and Atlantic had access to Rawyal’s music because he’d been in contact with the label’s president of Hip-Hop, R&B and Global Music, Lanre Gaba, since 2012. By sharing his work with Gaba, Rawyal claims his unreleased songs may have circulated within the label and reached Uzi and their producers.
Rawyal seeks over $110 million in damages and a retroactive publishing credit, partial ownership of “Just Wanna Rock,” and an injunction to stop its further use. The lawsuit names Uzi, Atlantic Records, Roc Nation, Generation Now, and Warner Music Group as defendants.
This case follows another recent legal issue for Uzi that was dismissed—a former assistant, Jane Doe, had accused them of harassment and emotional distress during a tour, alleging unwanted advances and hostile behavior. Her attorney withdrew the case without prejudice on November 6.
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