Rap artist DeAndre Cortez Way, who performs under the stage name Soulja Boy, is facing probable legal hassles after being sued by another comparatively less known rapper, Willie Lyons. The latter has to say that he had already used the stage name ‘Souljah Boy’ before Cortez Way.
The matter first came under the media glare when gossip blogger Perez Hilton was sent a letter by the legal representative of Willie Lyons. The letter mentioned that Lyons has already been using the pseudonym ‘Souljah Boy’ for more than 12 years. The entire letter, received by Hilton, says,
I am writing on behalf of the law firm of Alexander, Odunze & Kang LLP to give you a heads up re: the attached complaint, which was filed in federal court this afternoon on behalf of Willie Lyons p/k/a Souljah Boy. By way of background (and as you may already know), Mr. Lyons, known in commerce as Souljah Boy for over twelve years, is suing artist Soulja Boy (birth name: DeAndre Way), his record label, attorney & manager in connection with his blatant infringement of Mr. Lyons’ trademark.
There has been no response thus far to this allegation from Soulja Boy or his representatives. The singer has lately been kept busy with the shooting of a music video for his third single ‘Yahhh!’ (featuring Arab) with Dale ‘Rage’ Resteghini as the director.
Soulja Boy’s case is another evidence of the complicacies that the usage of stage names can pose for the celebrities who are actually using them.
