The Estate of Dr. Khallid Abdul Muhammad has filed lawsuits against the labels behind songs by Tupac, Public Enemy, and D’Angelo for allegedly using Muhammad’s speeches without credit or compensation.
The suits target tracks like 2Pac’s “White Man’z World” (@2pac@deathrowrecords), D’Angelo’s “1000 Deaths” (@thedangelo@rcarecords), and Public Enemy’s “Night of the Living Baseheads” (@publicenemy@defjam), claiming decades of unauthorized use of Dr. Muhammad’s voice and message.
“These lawsuits are about accountability,” said Estate attorney Malik Zulu Shabazz. “Khallid Muhammad’s legacy was exploited just like the Black artists who featured him.”
“This is not an attack on the artists,” Shabazz added. “We respect their contributions to the culture. But the record labels and corporations behind them must be held accountable for profiting from Dr. Muhammad’s voice without credit or compensation.”
The Estate asserts that these songs, which collectively sold millions, won awards, and shaped hip-hop culture, used Dr. Muhammad’s voice without legal permission or compensation to his family.
The lawsuits seek $5 million in damages per infringement, permanent injunctions, attorneys’ fees, and the impoundment of all infringing works.
Legal letters were also sent to Ice Cube (@icecube), Common (@common) for the track “So Many People,” released even as recent as 11 months ago in 2024, and Black Thought (@blackthought), demanding licensing records for their works.
Chuck D (@mrchuckd) and Flavor Flav (@flavorflavofficial) are also under legal review as key members of Public Enemy.
Proceeds will support the Khallid Muhammad Legacy Fund to build Black-led institutions: museums, schools, youth programs, and media chronicling his life.
“The industry profited off his voice for decades,” said Shabazz.
“That ends now.”
