(AllHipHop News) The rights to two of the best known songs in Hip-Hop history were granted to soul music legend Al Bell, the former head of Stax Records, once home to acts like Otis Redding, The Staple Singers, Isaac Hayes and others.
Last week, a judge granted Al Bell the rights to the hit singles “Whoomp! (There It Is)” by Tag Team and “Dazzey Duks,” by Duice, ending a 10-year battle over the songs.
After Al Bell’s association with Stax Records ended in the mid-1970s, the executive fell on hard times, until he launched Bellmark Records.
Bellmark Records released three hit singles: Tag Team’s “Whoomp! (There It Is),” Duice’s “Dazzey Duks” and Prince’s “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World.”
But Bellmark Records also fell into financial trouble and filed for Chapter 7 in 1997.
DM Records acquired the assets of Bellmark Records and began licensing the two songs in question.
Al Bell disputed the ownership of the songs, claiming his publishing company Alvert Music, which never filed for bankruptcy, owned the rights to “Whoomp! (There It Is),” “Dazzey Duks.”
A judge sided with Bellmark Records and awarded Al Bell $2.5 million in damages.