Snoop Dogg, Biggie estate, Diddy and others named in new copyright suit over samples on ‘Nasty Girl’ and ‘I Wanna Thank Ya’

A new copyright lawsuit filed in federal court names Snoop Dogg, the estate of The Notorious B.I.G., Sean “Diddy” Combs and other parties over allegations tied to samples used in two hip-hop songs, including “Nasty Girl” and “I Wanna Thank Ya,” Billboard reported on July 15, 2026.

According to the report, the suit claims the tracks infringe a 1980 funk song, arguing that copyrighted elements were used without authorization in the later releases. The filing frames the matter as a rights-and-permissions dispute under U.S. copyright law, rather than a dispute about performance or record label operations.

The case places multiple high-profile music figures and estates in the same proceeding, reflecting how sampling can pull together performers, rights holders, and music business entities across different eras of catalog ownership. For defendants, the key questions typically center on whether the sampled portions are protected expression, whether a license exists for the uses at issue, and whether the claims are limited by any statutory defenses or limitations.

The lawsuit also highlights the continuing legal scrutiny of sample clearance in hip-hop and related genres, where producers have long drawn on funk, soul and other earlier catalogs. Even when a track is transformative in sound or lyrics, copyright litigation often turns on the exact portions used and whether they were properly licensed or otherwise authorized.

Because the case is at an early stage, the next procedural steps will likely include formal responses by the named defendants and preliminary motions that can narrow the claims. If the matter proceeds, the parties could also seek discovery into licensing history, production credits, and the specific audio elements identified as infringing.

For listeners and the wider music industry, outcomes in sample cases can affect catalog licensing costs and the way rights holders handle approvals for older material and re-releases. If infringement is found, potential remedies may include damages and injunctive relief, which can have downstream effects on streaming availability and future uses of the recordings at issue.