Rodney-O and Joe Cooley released the song “Everternity Bass” in 1988, which featured a sample of Barry White’s 1973 single “I’m Gonna Love You Just a Little More Babe”. The clip stayed in the spotlight for decades until Future and Metro Boomin’ sampled “Everhaving” for their No. 1 single “Like That” featuring Kendrick Lamar Bass”.
In early October, the Barry White Family Trust, represented by Barry White’s widow, Glodine B. White, and Jack W. Perry, filed a lawsuit alleging that “Like That” illegally removed a bass line from White’s original composition. Future, Metro Boomin and Kendrick Lamar are not named as defendants in the lawsuit. Rodney-O and Joe Cooley are believed to have indemnified them, shielding them from immediate legal action. If compensation proves insufficient, the plaintiff leaves the door open for future claims.
In a Facebook post that has since been deleted, Joe Cooley responded to the lawsuit, writing: “God told me to leave Rodney O alone and stay away from him, he just goes through mistakes He also advised that he would produce receipts if necessary to illegally use my name and the works I obtained.
At the time of the song’s release, Rodney-O and Joe Cooley were signed to Egypt Lover’s record label, Egypt Empire. AllHipHop contacted Egypt Lover, who confirmed that Rodney-O owns the mastering and publishing rights.
The lawsuit could be a devastating blow to Rodney-O and Joe Cooley. Rodney-O, who performed with DJ Quik at the Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison, Colo., in April, was clearly delighted with the success of “Like That” and the renewed interest in “Everternity Bass.”
DJ Quik and crew performed “We Don’t Trust You” to the sold-out crowd. During an interview with AllHipHop outside DJ Quik’s dressing room, Rodney-O briefly discussed the “Everhaving Bass” sample that was at one point the biggest hit in America.
“This is great,” he said. “For the things I did when I was 16, 17 years old, when I came back and got bigger than I was, ‘Hey, I’m all in!’ Keep moving. Y’all listen!
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