Jay-Z is sued by writer claiming he stole his work and used it in best-seller

It is a bizarre lawsuit even by showbiz standards.

For it has emerged rapper Jay-Z is being sued by a writer who claims his work was illegally used in the star's memoir.

In a case filed in Los Angeles on June 13, Patrick White accuses the 42-year-old music mogul of lifting portions of his writing and using them as his own in the best-selling Decoded.'

According to Allhiphop.com, in the handwritten suit he says: 'In 2009, my personal computer was compromised, resulting in my personal work to be used in Jay-Z’s book 'Decoded' which was released in 2010.

'The book contains various expressions/colors/phrases which correlates to my work.

'After contacting or attempting to contact the co-author, I got no reply.'

White is also including author Dream Hampton and Random House publishing in the lawsuit seeking unspecified damages.

Jay-Z’s 2010 bestseller is a collection of lyrics and the story behind their meanings.

The Amazon entry for the immodest star, who refers to himself as Hova, a contraction of Jehova, is certainly not without hype.

It says: 'Decoded is a book like no other: a collection of lyrics and their meanings that together tell the story of a culture, an art form, a moment in

history, and one of the most provocative and successful artists of our time.'

White is seeking damages for copyright infringement and invasion of property.

The MailOnline contacted Jay-Z's representatives, but has yet to receive a response.

By MIKE LARKIN