Performing a cover or your own personal take on a piece of music is against the rules. The original artist can get made and use lawyers to liberate cash from your pockets. Recently face punch magnet Ben Folds did a cover of Dr Dre's 'Bitches Ain't Shit'. Its a modern love song about being wronged, disillusioned, but keeping a positive view of life, staying loc'ed. check it out I don't know what Ben Folds arrangement is with Dr Dre, but it seems Mr. Folds has full license to Dr. Dres music, and lyrics, etc. How else would Ben Folds encourage his fans to create covers of his cover of former gangster Dr. Dres property without the fear of being on the wrong end of a glock. Here is a link to Ben Fold's website where he explains his cleaver idea. It is my opinion that doing things like this is good for music and good for the artists. Songs are meant to be replayed. I would say that songs have been replayed and remixed longer then they have been commercialized. Its part of music. People who do covers increase the total interest in a piece or style of music, and a particular artist. For a whole bunch of square Asians at Berkeley are now listening to Dr Dre more then ever before because of this particular cover. I would like to note that the delightfully square a cappella version linked above has had more viewership and more interest then a live version of the cover performed by Ben Folds. While I am on the topic of covers I thought I would share this emo track and one of it's covers. Here is the original Here is the insanely popular, raw, inexpensively produce, but just as compelling cover by a high school student in her garage. As an exercise to the reader, type your favorite song into youtube (other internets?) and watch the original and a cover.