The Poet Whose Lawsuit Couldn't Stop The Party

Abiodun Oyewole v. Rita Ora et al. Case # 1:16-cv-01912

- Joe Nocera

In case you’re curious, here’s an excerpt of the lyrics from How We Do (Party): “I wanna party and bullshit … // ’Cause when the sun sets baby / On the avenue / I get that drunk sex feeling/Yeah, when I’m with you / So put your arms around me, baby / We’re tearing up the town / ’Cause that’s just how we do.”

Christopher Wallace, aka the Notorious B.I.G., was given a songwriting credit on Ora’s single. So was Motown Records founder Berry Gordy Jr. Each was among the 14 co-defendants named in Oyewole’s suit, alongside the Roc Nation music label and several music publishing companies.