mobb deepsick of it all
16:00 Tuesday, 17 October 2023
Hardcore punk outfit Sick Of It All is suing legendary hip-hop duo Mobb Deep—Kejuan Muchita, aka Havoc, and the Estate of Albert Johnson, aka Prodigy—over copyright infringement. The suit, which was filed on behalf of Sick Of It All by record label Bush Baby Zamagate, Inc., "arises out of Defendants’ improper and illegal use of a nearly identical logo mark to Plaintiff’s inherently distinctive, incontestable, and famous logo.”
The logo in question is Sick Of It All's famous dragon logo, which, according to HipHopDX, Mobb Deep has used on and off since at least 1997. The suit states that Sick Of It All has used the logo since 1987. You can see the comparison images (and the lawsuit in full) below. Clothing brand Supreme is also mentioned in the suit because of a collaboration it did with Mobb Deep earlier this year.
The suit also mentions that Sick Of It All asked Mobb Deep to stop using the logo two other times in the past and that the group agreed. Now, the label representing Sick Of It All asks that Mobb Deep and Supreme be forbidden from "using the Infringing Mark or any other mark or marks confusingly similar thereto, alone or in combination with other words, names, styles, titles, designs, or marks in connection with the provision of any goods and services.” They're also seeking compensatory damages.
As of right now, Mobb Deep has not responded to the lawsuit.