Mike Tyson Faces Federal Lawsuit Over Unauthorized Use of Jay-Z Hip-Hop Classic in Netflix Fight Promotion

The Track’s Hip-Hop Legacy

“Murdergram,” originally released by Murder Inc. Records, carries significant weight in Hip-Hop history. The track, which featured collaborations with Jay-Z, DMX, and Ja Rule, was prominently featured in Jay-Z’s film “Streets Is Watching” and represents a cornerstone of late 1990s Hip-Hop production. Fyffe co-produced the track during an era when these artists were establishing themselves as industry titans.

The song’s cultural significance adds another layer to the legal dispute, as Fyffe argues that Tyson’s use of both the track and its title as caption branding created false implications of official partnership or endorsement from the Hip-Hop community.

Legal Framework and Claims

The federal lawsuit presents two primary legal theories: copyright infringement and false designation of origin. The copyright infringement claim centers on Tyson’s alleged unauthorized use of the protected musical work, while the false designation of origin allegation focuses on the misleading nature of crediting Fyffe in the social media post.