Sharon man filed Wiz Khalifa suit

January 7, 2012 at 12:00a.m.

By GUY D’ASTOLFO

Max Gregory Warren of Sharon, Pa., whose family owns the Quaker Steak & Lube restaurant chain, is the songwriter who sued rapper Wiz Khalifa this week over allegations that he stole the concept for the hit song “Black and Yellow.”

Warren, who performs under the name Maxamillion, claims that Khalifa lifted elements from his song “Pink N Yellow.” Warren said he copyrighted “Pink N Yellow” in 2008, and Khalifa copyrighted “Black and Yellow” in 2011.

A woman who answered the phone at Warren’s house Friday referred all comment to Warren’s lawyer, Jim Crosby of Philadelphia.

When reached by the Associated Press Thursday, Warren’s lawyer declined comment.

Warren’s lawsuit, dated Dec. 30, was filed in federal court in Philadelphia and seeks at least $2.3 million in damages. It names as defendants Cameron Jibril Thomaz, which is Wiz Khalifa’s real name; Rostrum Records, Atlantic Records, Warner Music Group, WEA International (the foreign arm of Warner) and songwriters/producers Mikkel Storleer Eriksen and Tor Erik Hermansen.

Khalifa performed at Youngstown’s Covelli Centre Sept. 28. “Black and Yellow” rocketed the Pittsburgh native to stardom last year, with the song becoming a theme song for Steelers fans.

Prior to filing the suit, Warren removed his Internet presence, but the song “Pink N Yellow” can be found on Youtube.com. In the song, the singer chants twice in rapid succession “pink and yellow pink and yellow” several times.

Khalifa’s song repeats “Black and yellow” numerous times but that appears to be the only similarity between the songs.

A spokesman for Khalifa at Atlantic Records did not respond to an Associated Press request for comment this week.

Khalifa co-stars with Snoop Dogg in the upcoming movie “Mac and Devin Go to High School.”