“Uptown Baby, Uptown Baby, we get down baby, up for the crown baby.”
The Journey of “Déjà Vu (Uptown Baby)” and Peter Gunz
When “Déjà Vu (Uptown Baby)” was first released, I had no clue where Uptown was or how to get there, but you would’ve never known by the way I belted the lyrics each time the song came on the radio.
From the Midwest to the Beloved Boroughs
Growing up in the Midwest, my only exposure to the song’s beloved boroughs was courtesy of television episodes of “New York Undercover.”
A Hit on the Charts
But my love for the song ran deep. And apparently, I was not alone. The Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz hit peaked at #9 on the Billboard 100 charts and sold over 1 million copies. That was 1998.
Reality TV and Peter Gunz
Now it’s 2013, and music videos have been replaced by reality shows for one member of the rap duo, Peter Gunz.
Last week, the 4th season of “Love and Hip-Hop New York” premiered on Vh1 with Peter Gunz as one of the central characters. Cameras showcased Peter Gunz’s love triangle between his children’s-mother-roommate and singer-songwriter-protégée-girlfriend-wife.
A Surprising Choice
Just when you thought reality television had reached its sensational peak. Although Peter Gunz was never crowned the King of Rap or the King of Hip-Hop, he had a respectable-enough career that one had to wonder what would prompt him to sign on for a Vh1 reality show?
The Impact of Copyright Law
In his recent interviews, Gunz freely admits that not only was he three months behind on rent when he was first approached about signing on to “Love and Hip-Hop New York,” but, unbeknownst to most of us, he had been living on a shoestring budget for quite some time. So, how does an artist go from selling one million records to avoiding collection agency calls? Two words – Copyright Law.
The Consequences of Sampling
Few may know that “Déjà Vu” is a sample of Steely Dan’s “Black Cow.” Tariq and Gunz sampled “Black Cow” without first obtaining Steely Dan’s permission. Therefore, Steely Dan took legal action and was awarded a six-figure settlement.
Not only were Tariq and Gunz required to pay a settlement, but Steely Dan took all of their publishing rights and 90% royalties for the song. Even someone ill-equipped with a calculator could see how this equation would leave an artist in the red.
The Importance of Copyrights
Sampling music is nothing new, especially in hip-hop. However, under the law, artists are required to obtain two types of copyrights prior to sampling a song – a sound recording copyright (owned by a record label) and a musical composition copyright (owned by the songwriter or publishing company).
The fees for such licenses vary tremendously, often depending on factors such as how much of the sampled song will be used. Unfortunately, many artists try to escape the law and sample another artist’s music without permission. A word of caution: DON’T. Sooner or later, it’ll catch up to you, so it’s best to get things done the right way the first time around. Don’t believe me? Love and Hip-Hop comes on every Monday. Check your local listings.
Jaia A. Thomas Jaia A. Thomas is a bi-coastal sports and entertainment attorney. For more information:www.jathomaslaw.com or @jaiathomaslaw.
About Peter Gunz
Peter Gunz, whose real name is Peter Pankey Sr., is an American rapper, reality TV personality, and record producer. He gained fame in the late 1990s as a member of the hip-hop duo Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz, best known for their hit single “Deja Vu (Uptown Baby).”
Born on January 6, 1969, in The Bronx, New York, Peter Gunz has had a career in the music industry spanning several decades. In recent years, he has become known for his appearances on reality TV shows such as “Love & Hip Hop: New York,” where his personal life and relationships have been featured prominently.
