M.O.P.: They’re Back, And They’re Lawyered Up

Dan Gibson | October 28, 2008 4:00 am
The idea that the WWE, America’s premier source for wrestling-based entertainment, would plagiarize a moderately popular rap track borders on the absurd, but that’s the claim the Brooklyn hip-hop duo M.O.P. is making in Federal court this week.

M.O.P. claim that the entrance music used by aspiring MC John Cena unlawfully jacks the 2000 hit “Ante Up,” and that while the WWE did seek permission to use portions of the song, Vince McMahon and his cronies only received a signature from a receptionist–and not the license holders–in response to the request. Mysteriously, according to TMZ, most of the trouble revolves around the phrase “BRRR Abado.” I don’t know what that means, but I’m sure the lawyers will figure it out.

No word as of yet on the legal status of the most prominent cover of the track:

Cena Rumbles with Rappers Over Theme Music [TMZ]