American rapper, Donald Glover, popularly known as “Childish Gambino” is being sued by rapper “Kidd Wes” for alleged copyright infringement, saying the Grammy-winning hit song “This Is America” was lifted from him. The complaint was filed by Emelike Nwosuocha (Kidd Wes) in New York citing “nearly-identical unique rhythmic, lyrical, and thematic compositional and performance content contained in the chorus – or ‘hook’ –sections that are the centerpieces of both songs.”
Nwosuocha claims the “glaringly similar” song was released two years after his song was on SoundCloud, an online audio distribution platform.
He also said the flow of his song and Gambino’s “This Is America” are “unmistakably substantially similar, if not practically identical”.
According to Nwosuocha, a musicologist he employed to compare the two tracks said, “similarities in melodic contour, rhythmic triplet flow in each performance, and the lines Made in America and This is America are ‘likely not coincidences’.”
Nwosuocha who is seeking a trial and damages including loss of opportunities and profit is also suing Gambino’s record label, RCA, Roc Nation, and rapper Young Thug who is credited as a writer and performed backing vocals on the track.
