The sample of Lil Uzi Vert, Young Thug, and Gunna's collaboration track "Strawberry Peels" has been convicted of stealing.
Sun City Publishing is suing Hip Hop Uzi, Thug, and Gunna for allegedly using Blackout's 1995 song "Dim Da Lights" without permission, according to TMZ. The complaint also names the rappers' companies, Atlantic and Generation Now, as well as "Strawberry Peels" producer Wheezy.
According to legal docs, Sun City never offered Uzi authorization to reproduce the music sample. Sun City seeks at least that much in damages since "Strawberry Peels" has proven to be a smash, gathering over 39 million Spotify streams, more than four million YouTube plays, and earning more than $1 million.
"Strawberry Peels" was included in Lil Uzi Vert's 2020 album Eternal Atake. The band raps regarding their regular drug use as well as excessive jewelry flexing in the song. "Dim da Lights" by Blackout appeared on the Memphis rap group's 1995 album Dreamworld.
The lawsuit is the recent legal stumbling block for Young Thug and Gunna, who were indicted last year in a huge RICO case against their Young Slime Life (YSL) collective, which authorities believe is a "criminal street gang" responsible for a string of violent crimes in and around Atlanta.
On December 14, Gunna gained his freedom by pleading guilty to a racketeering conspiracy charge and was consequently released from jail. He was sentenced to five years in prison, with one year suspended, to account for the time he'd spent behind bars since his arrest in May.