SAMPLE SUIT: No question that the music...

SAMPLE SUIT: No question that the music of George Clinton’s Parliament-Funkadelic combine in the ‘70s is among the most “sampled” in contemporary rap and hip-hop. Every act, it seems, features snippets of Clinton’s old records. But there is a dispute over who should be collecting the licensing fees for the use of that music.

Several former Clinton associates have filed suit in U.S. District Court in Fresno against Bridgeport Music, a Detroit company that has been soliciting licensing royalties from record companies releasing songs using P-Funk samples.

The suit claims that Bridgeport has legitimate rights only to the early-’70s Parliament and Funkadelic albums on the Westbound label, and not to any of the many later hits that continue to be popular with rap producers. The suit was initiated by former Clinton business manager Nene Montes after hearing earlier this year that Bridgeport had itself filed suit against Def Jam Records for the use of a P-Funk sample in a Public Enemy song.

Illustrating the pervasiveness of P-Funk in hip-hop, the suit names as defendants virtually every record label that has released rap music, as well as dozens of rappers, including Ice-T, Run-DMC, Digital Underground and Ice Cube. A Bridgeport representative had no comment on the suit.

The most curious thing, though, may be the absence of Clinton from the litigation. In fact, Clinton has purposely distanced himself from the action, even though Montes says that he will be distributing any funds collected to Clinton and others with rights to the songs.

“I don’t think (Montes and associates) have a moral claim to the royalties, and I don’t think their motives are in the best interest of the music or the musicians that created it,” says Clinton’s manager, Archie Ivy.

In fact, Clinton--who is working on his second album for Prince’s Paisley Park label--is not entirely opposed to rappers’ using samples as they please.

“We have never tried to sue an artist (for using P-Funk samples) because what they’re doing is an art form,” Ivy says, though he does believe that record companies have a responsibility to take care of proper licensing of samples on records they release. “It’s a shame that people like George sit home and listen to (their own music) and are not getting anything from it.”