Dogg sued over words in rap track

At least the lawsuit already has the benefit of a catchy title: Los Angeles Superior Court case No. BC 292790 is labeled “John Doe vs. Snoop Dogg.”

The well-known rapper was sued this week by a Compton man who, citing safety concerns, has opted to keep his name out of court documents. The man claims that he is a victim of emotional distress after a message he left on a phone answering machine in October 2002 was used as a closing snippet in a rap track called “Pimp Slapp’d” -- a song that is a blistering lyrical attack on Marion “Suge” Knight, the music executive and convicted felon who has feuded in recent years with Snoop Dogg. The rapper was a former star on Knight’s hugely successful Death Row Records but their relationship soured Snoop Dogg’s defection.

The suit characterizes the phone message as a statement of support for Snoop Dogg in his ongoing row with Knight and also includes the plaintiff’s identification of himself through his nickname, “Jim Bob.” The result, the suit says, is that the plaintiff has been taunted and threatened, and now worries that Knight or those sympathetic to him will lash out.

The suit, which also names Priority Records, Capitol Records and Doggy Style Records, seeks unspecified damages. Snoop Dogg could not be reached Thursday for comment, and a spokesman for Priority declined to comment.