Wow, I hope these guys feel like jerks! Although at the end of the day, their money is their money and what’s rightfully owed to them should be given. Let’s just hope this is a legitimate lawsuit! Details below.

Marisa Mendez

The case is actually pretty interesting … TufAmerica claims MCA, Mike D and Ad-Rock ripped off the ’80s band Trouble Funk … and illegally sampled their music on multiple songs featured on the albums “Licensed to Ill” and “Paul’s Boutique.”

In the lawsuit, filed in federal court in NY on May 3, TufAmerica claims the Beastie’s sampled a famous drum beat from the Trouble Funk hit “Drop the Bomb” on the 1986 hit “The New Style.”

TufAmerica also claims the Beatie’s stole riffs from the song on “Car Thief” and “Hold It Now Hit It” … and also ripped off the Trouble Funk track “Say What” on the song “Shadrack.”

So why sue now? TufAmerica claims the Beasties have been re-releasing and distributing the tracks … and are not paying for the rights to sample Trouble Funk.

In fact, TufAmerica claims it has “never received royalties or payment” for any of the songs … ever.

So far, no comment from the Beastie Boys … probably because they have more important matters to tend to at the moment.

tmz