We recently reported that the courts have awarded Marvin Gaye’s family over $7.4 million for the judgement that claims Pharell and Robin Thicke stole their famed song “Blurred Lines” from Marvin’s hit “Got To Give It Up”. And as feared, the settlement has now created the perfect storm for other producers and artists to look into other musicians who may have also stole material as an inspiration but never properly credited the producers or artists. One person who has spoken out was So-So Def producer Jermaine Dupri and he is coming after his fellow Atlanta sister star, Ciara!!!
According to the Associated Press, Jermaine Dupri says he can understand both sides of the argument on behalf of Marvin Gaye’s family as well as Pharell’s.
Younger producers like myself and Pharrell, we make records that are influenced by other records that are out there. That’s how hip-hop has always been created — it has some kind of element of something (from) the past. Or sometimes we just take the entire sample and we give the artist the credit for that sample.” He then goes on to say, “We’ve all been in a position where it could go like this or we can give the producer the credit.
He says when he did hear the song he knew that it may have been a problem but was shocked that it actually reached court. Dupri is credited for a lot of people’s stardom such as Mariah Carey and Usher amongst others. One song in particular that helped produce for Usher was “You Got It Bad” and he says oddly enough it sounds very similar to Ciara’s new hit, “I Bet”.
Ciara’s new single is a complete rip-off of Usher’s ‘U Got It Bad.’ I’m clear on what I made and I’m clear on how music influences people and I’m clear on chord changes and how people move things,” Dupri said. “It might not be as evident as the ‘Blurred Lines’ situation, but I believe the same thing happened to me.
He says that Usher and Bryan-Michael Cox, co-producer of Usher’s song, also commented that the songs do sound alike. They also believe it sounds close to Tamia’s “Still”. JD says his people will definitely be contacting her people as far as the record goes to get some answers because he wants to him and Usher to be properly credited for the song.
Take a listen to all three songs do you think Jermaine Dupri is on to something?
SOURCES SITED: BILLBOARD.COM
http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6502193/after-blurred-lines-verdict-jermaine-dupri-understands-both-sides-robin-ticke-pharrell-marvin-gaye
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