U.S. Olympic gold medal swimmer might have trouble with his plans to trademark the phrase "Jeah" because Compton rapper MC Eiht claims he coined the phrase back in 1988.

Lochte is already selling "Jeah" sunglasses on his website for $14.99. You can cop a signed pair for $100. He is also selling t-shirts with the catch phrase on them.

The swimmer says he got the phrase from Young Jeezy. Taking the Snowman's oft-used expression "Cheah," and making it his own by dropping the "ch" for a "j."

Eiht told TMZ he finds Lochte's use of the word offensive and disrespectful.

"Why try and trademark something his a$$ didn’t even create? I am mad that he isn’t giving me proper recognition for taking my saying. He is just disrespectful."

Eiht goes on to say that this isn't about money. It's an issue of "respect and the truth." 

He plans on sending a cease and desist letter urging Lochte to stop using his phrase.

Lochte's manager told TMZ, "Ryan has been using JEAH for years. This is the first I have heard of this claim by MC Eiht."

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