Rappers Lil Wayne and Birdman are facing a legal battle with a man who alleges they used his voice without permission on album tracks.

Thomas Marasciullo is suing the rappers for copyright infringement, claiming he created some "Italian-styled spoken word recordings" for them in 2006, but did not give the pair permission to use them.

Marasciullo alleges the recordings were used on a number of songs on the rappers' joint album Like Father, Like Son as well as on some tracks on Birdman's CD 5 (Star) Stunna.

The alleged copyright infringement was discovered by Marasciullo when his daughter came across the track Respect while buying a cell phone ringtone.

Marasciullo is also suing the rappers' music label, Cash Money Records, and a number of music distribution outlets. He is seeking unspecified damages.

The news is a further blow for Lollipop hitmaker Lil Wayne, real name Dwayne Carter, who is awaiting sentencing on firearms charges after he pleaded guilty at a hearing in New York last month.

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)