Who Was Dr. Khalid Muhammad?
Dr. Khalid Abdul Muhammad was a fiery and influential Black activist, minister, and orator whose words resonated across American civil rights movements in the late 20th century. Born Harold Moore Jr. in Houston, Texas, in 1948, Muhammad rose to national prominence in the late 1980s and 1990s as a top spokesman for the Nation of Islam under Minister Louis Farrakhan. He later became the national chairman of the New Black Panther Party.
Credit: Azim Thomas photo
Known for his uncompromising rhetoric on racial justice, Black empowerment, and criticism of institutional racism, Muhammad’s speeches were both celebrated and controversial—drawing applause from supporters for their candor and condemnation from critics for incendiary tone. Even after his passing in 2001, his legacy endures in activist circles, student groups, and, as the current lawsuit underscores, the musical world.
Lawsuit: Why the Estate is Suing Hip-Hop Legends
In a landmark case, the estate of Dr. Khalid Muhammad—represented by his sister, Gloria Valson, and attorney Malik Zulu Shabazz—has filed multiple federal lawsuits against hip-hop icons 2Pac (Tupac Shakur), Public Enemy, and D’Angelo. The lawsuits also name associated music publishers and major record labels, alleging these parties used Muhammad’s distinctive speeches and vocal performances in several acclaimed tracks without legal permission or financial compensation.
According to the estate, Muhammad’s words and voice weren’t just included as background flavor: they formed signature hooks, intros, or bridges on songs that have become cultural touchstones in the late 1990s and early 2000s. These works include:
- 2Pac’s “White Man’z World” (from 1996’s “The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory”)
- D’Angelo’s “1000 Deaths” (from 2014’s “Black Messiah”)
- Noted Public Enemy tracks (such as “Night of the Living Baseheads” and others)
The estate’s legal team claims forensic audio experts have matched distinct portions of Muhammad’s public speeches and interviews—known for their impassioned style and militant edge—with those appearing in the tracks. Filed documents detail near-identical phrasing and cadence, supporting the assertion that Muhammad’s words were sampled nearly verbatim, without negotiation or payment.
What Does the Estate Want?
The lawsuits seek at least $5 million per infringement, aiming not just to recover lost revenue but, according to the family, to honor Dr. Muhammad’s intellectual property and support future educational and cultural projects in his name. The estate also requests injunctions to prevent future unauthorized use of his speeches. Representatives state their priority is not to punish artists, but to hold industry gatekeepers accountable for profiting from Muhammad’s legacy without consent.
Impact: An Unprecedented Legal Battle With Broader Implications
Lawyers and industry insiders see this as a potential turning point for how speech samples are treated in music. Unlike sampling a musical riff, appropriating the spoken words of historic Black leaders invokes questions of cultural respect, ownership, and fair use. If the estate prevails, labels may be required to conduct deeper reviews of both catalog and new releases for speech samples, possibly leading to more settlements, higher clearance costs, and changing the economics of sample-heavy genres like hip-hop.
The suit has also reignited debate within the creative community: some argue that fair compensation and consent must be standard, especially when the voices in question come from civil rights leaders whose work shaped music and politics. Others warn that too much restriction could stifle the sampling artform central to hip-hop’s DNA.
What’s Next in the Legal Process?
As the case moves toward the discovery phase, legal teams for the artists and industry defendants are expected to file responses. Music fans, copyright experts, and cultural critics alike are watching closely; the results could reshape sample clearance and the handling of historic voices in the streaming age.
For now, Dr. Khalid Muhammad’s legacy—once amplified from pulpits and protest rallies—takes center stage again, as a debate over respect, rights, and recognition echoes through U.S. courts and the music world.
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