Rapper Kendrick Lamar accused of cribbing Bill Withers song

Rapper Kendrick Lamar/ REUTERS

A copyright infringement lawsuit probably isn't music to rapper Kendrick Lamar's ears.

Mr. Lamar and his record label, Top Dawg Music, are being sued for sampling the 1975 Bill Withers song “Don't You Want to Stay” for his song “I Do This” from his 2013 Kendrick Lamar EP.

The lawsuit filed on Thursday by Golden Withers Music and Musidex Music, said that they hold the copyright to “Don't You Want to Stay.” The song was sung and co-written by Mr. Withers and appears on his album “Making Music,” Reuters reported.

The complaint filed in Los Angeles federal court claims that Mr. Lamar added original lyrics to a “direct and complete copy” of Mr. Withers' music, Reuters reported.

The complaint also states that Mr. Lamar has openly admitted that his song “I Do This” copies the music of “Don't You Want to Stay” “with a thumb to the nose, catch me if you can attitude,” Billboard reports.

The lawsuit seeks a halt to the alleged infringement and unspecified damages, according to Reuters.