Jay-Z has been forced to put his lawyers to work in Australia after two children's book authors refused to remove his lyrics from their book A B to Jay-Z.
The author, Jessica Chiha, has been embroiled in controversy since 2017 when she initially released the book which features repurposed rap lyrics edited to make them child-friendly. When customers discovered that Chiha and her husband were white Australians and were promoting the book heavily using the word n***a, people spoke out on Twitter and Facebook.
In 2017, Chiha created The Little Homie, a book publisher and fashion store, through a Kickstarter effort that raised $8,000. The store now sells pop culture-inspired clothing and sells the children's book, which uses photos of famous rappers and rap lyrics to teach children the alphabet.
The entire situation took a strange turn in July 2017 when Twitter user @sweetfacedinero, whose real name is Erica, saw the book and asked if the authors were Black.
Have y'all seen this kids book called A B to Jay-Z? I asked was it black owned. Look at the response. Before I asked I knew the answer pic.twitter.com/c8r4Q8ole1
— ☿ s͎a͎v͎i͎o͎r͎s͎e͎l͎f͎ ⚓️???? (@sweetfacedinero) July 3, 2017
Here's the chick who would be making ???? from this. god damn right people should know who is making $ from our culture. See: Kendall Kylie pic.twitter.com/tnfhQwUY1G
— ☿ s͎a͎v͎i͎o͎r͎s͎e͎l͎f͎ ⚓️???? (@sweetfacedinero) July 3, 2017
Chiha initially said it didn't matter that she was white but tried to apologize when she realized a social media storm was brewing. Erica then discovered photos of Chiha's husband, Danny, in blackface.
Here is the authors husband and their friends. This is why we need to take all measures to protect our culture. This shit RIGHT HERE pic.twitter.com/CnRYKrvJwk
— ☿ s͎a͎v͎i͎o͎r͎s͎e͎l͎f͎ ⚓️???? (@sweetfacedinero) July 4, 2017
Jessica and Danny Chiha… pic.twitter.com/tpExD3pQGx
— ☿ s͎a͎v͎i͎o͎r͎s͎e͎l͎f͎ ⚓️???? (@sweetfacedinero) July 4, 2017
Danny later contacted Erica on Facebook to apologize, but the damage was already done.
A petition was created to force stores to stop selling the book, and The Little Homie turned all of their social media accounts private.
The author's husband has contacted me. Here's what he said::: My response to follow… pic.twitter.com/Sn18hD4meT
— ☿ s͎a͎v͎i͎o͎r͎s͎e͎l͎f͎ ⚓️???? (@sweetfacedinero) July 10, 2017
The company still sells the book on their website, even offering American buyers a Black Friday discount price of $14.98.
According to Jay-Z and his lawyers, Chiha and The Little Homie continue to market and sell the book despite the controversy around her.
Jay-Z's lawyers at the Australian firm King & Wood Mallesons said he asked the company to stop selling the books in March 2018, yet they refused, Sydney Morning Herald reported. Jay-Z has reportedly continued to negotiate with them but has yet to reach an agreement.
The lawsuit states Jay-Z's lyrics and photo were used in a "flagrant, glaring" way.
The rapper claims the association with the book and the author is hurting his brand, and that is why he wants financial compensation and to end book sales.
Amazon continues to sell the book along with the company's other major title, First 50 Words with 50 Cent.
The trial will be held on December 6.
