Copyright infringement asserted against Ludacris

Rap star Ludacris testified May 25 at a copyright infringement trial in SDNY that he never heard an expression (straight like that) that he allegedly swiped to create his 2003 hit "Stand Up." Ludacris, whose real name is Chris Bridges, also said he never received copies of a disk containing the song "Straight Like That" by the East Orange, N.J., group I.O.F.

Ludacris co-wrote "Stand Up" with Kanye West, who was also in court Thursday and expected to testify before the one-week trial ends.


"Straight Like That" never made it beyond some play time on college radio after copies of it were released in September 2001. [internet?] "Stand Up" was released in the fall of 2003 on Ludacris' album "Chicken and Beer," and became a huge hit.