The cover of Doggy's Angels' Pleeezbaleevit triggered a copyright infringement lawsuit from Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. due to its depiction of the three silhouetted Angels, Big Chan, Coniyac and Kola, striking a pose before a flaming background, akin to that of Charlie's Angels. The suit was filed against TVT Records, TeeVee Toons, Inc. and Doggystyle Records on Nov. 29 in U.S. District Court in California. The plaintiffs claim that the image used on the cover, as well as in other art used to promote the album, is the property of the television program and film, Charlie's Angels.

"We feel the name and imagery of Doggy's Angels clearly pokes fun at a classic of American pop culture, but does not confuse the public with the real thing," read a statement in response to the suit from TVT Records. "The girls in the group are as far away from Farrah Fawcett and Jaclyn Smith as can be. In the end, Doggy's Angels will succeed based on their music and their music alone. The new single, 'Baby If You're Ready,' has been the No. 1 selling hip-hop single three weeks running because hip-hop fans love the song -- end of story."

ANDREW DANSBY
(December 9, 2000)