MARY J. BLIGE SUED IN SONG ROW!

R&B star MARY J. BLIGE has been accused of stealing songs from a California hip-hop label in a new lawsuit filed on Wednesday (06Aug08). Drama Family Entertainment bosses claim Blige's hit single Work That was taken from their catalogue of songs. It is alleged they hired producer Theron Feemster to record hits for their own artists - but instead he gave tracks to Blige.

The production company and record label executives claim Feemster's song Pull 1 Rough, created during his time with Drama Family, very closely resembles Blige's single from her 2007 album Growing Pains - featured in an Apple iPod commercial. The company's lawyer Brian Caplan adds, "The music is identical." The singer's bosses at Interscope Geffen - which has also been named in the suit - have refused to comment, insisting they never discuss pending litigation.Lawyers for Blige and Feemster did not return calls for comment.