The rapper and record producer Andre Young, better known as Dr. Dre, is demanding that Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene stop using his music in her political campaigns, saying she’s wrongfully exploiting his work to promote her “divisive and hateful political agenda.”
Dre’s lawyer Howard King made the demand in a cease-and-desist letter to Greene Monday, saying he wants a written confirmation that she has complied by Jan. 11. Greene posted a video of herself in Congress Monday, with Dr. Dre’s Still D.R.E. Used as background music, without the lyrics which include numerous “n” and “f” words” and anti-police sentiments.
Young is the owner of the copyright in Still D.R.E, with the exclusive right to exploit it and he hasn’t and will “never grant” Greene permission to disseminate any of his music, King wrote.
“One might expect that, as a member of Congress, you would have a passing familiarity with the laws of our country,” King said in the letter. “It’s possible though that laws governing intellectual property are a little too arcane or insufficiently populist for you to really have spent much time on.”
Taylor Greene, first elected in 2020, has gained notoriety for trafficking in conspiracy theories, spreading antisemitic tropes and threatening violence against Democratic officials.
The post on Twitter initially had the content of the video blocked, citing a copyright complaint that was made. It was later removed, with Greene posting a part of a TMZ article, calling it “The next episode…”
Greene’s Facebook post with the video has also been deleted.
A spokesperson for Greene reiterated her statement to Dr. Dre, saying “While I appreciate the creative chord progression, I would never play your words of violence against women and police officers, and your glorification of the thug life and drugs.”
Learn how to navigate and strengthen trust in your business with The Trust Factor, a weekly newsletter examining what leaders need to succeed. Sign up here.
