Rapper Kendrick Lamar has been accused of heavily sampling a Bill Withers song without permission for his 2009 track I Do This.

Officials at Mattie Music Group, who are claiming rights to the legendary singer's 1975 song Don't You Want To Stay, have filed a copyright infringement suit against Lamar.

In legal papers obtained by editors at TMZ.com, label bosses allege Lamar's I Do This consists of "nothing more than new rap and hip hop lyrics set to the existing music of Don't You Want To Stay".

The plaintiffs are demanding damages and an injunction to stop Lamar from using the copyrighted song.

The multi Grammy-winning hip-hop star has yet to respond to the legal action.