Tiny Harris Recalls Cypress Hill Suing Xscape Over Debut Album Title

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Tiny Harris, Xscape, Cypress Hill, Jermaine Dupri, Lawsuit, Hummin' Comin' At Ya, How I Could Just Kill a Man
"Hummin' Comin' At Cha" was a hit, but the rap group wanted to be paid because it was a line in one of their most famous songs.

Their debut album is a celebrated classic among R&B circles and earned them a platinum plaque, but Xscape's Hummin' Comin' At Cha landed the group in legal trouble. For those that may not know, the record's title is actually a lyric from Cypress Hill's classic single "How I Could Just Kill a Man." Tiny revealed that the rap group ended up taking them to court back in the 1990s over the use of their line.

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"It was definitely Jermaine [Dupri's] idea," Tiny told VladTV. "He had this idea of what he wanted us to be like and look like, so on and so on. He felt like, you know, us looking like little rappers and coming out singing like we sung was gonna be like a shocker, more so." The idea for the title of their debut was straight from Dupri's desk, but Cypress Hill ended up suing them. "We had to pay up."

Tiny explained that Dupri wanted to use the phrase Hummin' Comin' At Cha because they were "like hummingbirds." She added, "I get what he was thinking. It wasn't necessarily what they were talking about" on the original Cypress Hill track. Tiny added that they got sued a few times and couldn't remember how much they ended up paying the legendary rap group. Watch her discuss the title and lawsuit below.


About The Author
Erika Marie is a seasoned journalist, editor, and ghostwriter who works predominantly in the fields of music, spirituality, mental health advocacy, and social activism. The Los Angeles editor, storyteller, and activist has been involved in the behind-the-scenes workings of the entertainment industry for nearly two decades. E.M. attempts to write stories that are compelling while remaining informative and respectful. She's an advocate of lyrical witticism & the power of the pen. Favorites: Motown, New Jack Swing, '90s R&B, Hip Hop, Indie Rock, & Punk; Funk, Soul, Harlem Renaissance Jazz greats, and artists who innovate, not simply replicate.
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