Rap Genius strikes deal with Universal Music Publishing to feature lyrics on site legally

Hip-hop lyrics aggregator Rap Genius seems to have found a way out of a potentially dire legal situation, it reports. The site has come to an agreement with the Universal Music Publishing Group to allow it to feature lyrics by performers represented by the agency.

Rap Genius ran into some issues during late 2013 when Universal Music when the publishing giant claimed the site didn't have proper licensing to feature the company's lyrics on its site. Universal is the second largest music publisher in the world (behind Sony/ATV). Neither side divulged what the details of the deal entailed, but representatives from Rap Genius seemed rather elated.

"We love UMPG! They have a truly incredible stable of writers - we will lend them a wheelbarrow for the Grammys they are about to win!" said founder Ilan Zechory before toning it down a bit. "Rap Genius lets UMPG's writers connect with their most obsessed fans, and we couldn't be more excited about solidifying this partnership."

Rap Genius still needs to figure out a similar deal with Warner/Chappell Music, another music publisher.

The occasion marks the second time that Rap Genius has gotten itself out of a sticky situation in the last month. The site drew the ire of Google when it engaged in a link scheme to draw more viewers to its site, an action that led the search giant to banish Genius to at least the second page of all searches, a move that crippled its total hits. Rap Genius's owners apologized and Google rescinded the punishment after a few days however.