Mike Tyson sued in Las Vegas over unauthorized use of Jay-Z, DMX, Ja Rule song in Jake Paul fight promo
Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson faces a copyright infringement lawsuit filed in Las Vegas federal court over his use of the 1998 hip-hop track “Murdergram” in an Instagram video promoting his November 2024 fight against Jake Paul.
Producer claims unauthorized use
Music producer Tyrone Fyffe, professionally known as Sugarless, filed the lawsuit on August 7 through attorneys Scott Zarin and Nathan Lawrence. Fyffe co-wrote and produced “Murdergram,” which features hip-hop legends Jay-Z, DMX, and Ja Rule, for the 1998 film “Streets Is Watching.”
According to the complaint, Tyson posted a 33-second training video on Instagram on November 8, 2024, with “Murdergram” playing as the dominant audio component. The since-deleted post was captioned “You know what time it is #PaulTyson.”
“The song is synchronized to, and the dominant sound component of, the Video,” the lawsuit states. “Indeed, other than the vocals of the song, the only words spoken in the video are by Defendant Tyson, who sings along with the vocals the words ‘Murder Motherf——-.'”
Allegations of misleading endorsement
Fyffe’s attorneys argue that Tyson’s use of the song went beyond simple copyright infringement, claiming it created a false impression of endorsement.
“Neither plaintiff nor any of his representatives granted defendant Tyson permission to use the song title ‘Murdergram’ to promote his boxing match with Jake Paul,” the complaint reads. The lawsuit further alleges that “by listing the song title ‘Murdergram’ on his Instagram post, defendant Tyson misled viewers to believe that plaintiff endorsed, or was affiliated or associated with, him and/or his participation in the match.”
The suit claims Tyson caused Fyffe to suffer “irreparable injury to his reputation and goodwill as well as economic losses.”
Connection to record-breaking viewership
The lawsuit draws a direct connection between the promotional video and the fight’s massive success. The Paul vs. Tyson bout, which took place on November 15, 2024, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, became Netflix’s most-streamed sporting event ever.
According to Netflix’s official data:
- 108 million viewers watched globally from opening to closing bell
- The event peaked at 65 million concurrent streams
- 60 million households tuned in worldwide
- The gate revenue exceeded $18 million, doubling the previous Texas record for combat sports
Fyffe’s attorneys argue that the Instagram video featuring “Murdergram” helped generate interest in the fight, which ultimately saw Paul defeat the 58-year-old Tyson by unanimous decision after eight rounds.
Financial stakes and demands
The lawsuit notes that Tyson reportedly earned more than $20 million for participating in the fight, making the copyright claim potentially significant. Fyffe is seeking:
- A portion of Tyson’s profits from the bout
- Royalties for the unauthorized use of “Murdergram”
- A court order blocking Tyson from using the song again
- Damages for economic losses and reputational harm
“Defendant Tyson’s conduct was intentional, willful and with full knowledge of plaintiff’s copyright in the song,” the lawsuit states. “As a consequence of defendant Tyson’s infringement, plaintiff has suffered, and will continue to suffer, economic losses and damage to his copyright in the song.”
Song’s hip-hop legacy
“Murdergram” holds a significant place in hip-hop history, featuring three of the genre’s most influential artists at the height of their careers in 1998. The track was recorded by the short-lived supergroup Murder Inc. and featured in Jay-Z’s directorial debut “Streets Is Watching.” A version on YouTube has garnered more than 955,000 views.
Notably, Jay-Z, DMX, and Ja Rule are not parties to the lawsuit, which focuses solely on Fyffe’s producer and co-writer rights to the track.
No response from Tyson’s camp
As of Monday, lawyers and a publicist who have recently represented Tyson had not responded to requests for comment about the lawsuit. The complaint includes screenshots of the now-deleted Instagram post as evidence.
The case adds to the legal complexities surrounding social media promotion in the digital age, particularly as fighters and promoters increasingly rely on platforms like Instagram to build hype for major events. With the fight generating over 100 million viewers and breaking streaming records, the stakes of promotional content—and the music used within it—have never been higher.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada, awaits Tyson’s formal response and could set precedents for how fighters use copyrighted music in their social media promotions.
Category: Local News
Subcategory: Legal Affairs
Date: 08/20/2025
