Jermaine Dupri Slams Ciara’s “I Bet,” Calls It “A Complete Rip-Off” Of Usher’s “U Got It Bad”
Pharrell and Robin Thicke were recently ordered to pay Marin Gaye’s estate $7.3 million in damages for vague similarities between their 2013 smash “Blurred Lines” and the R&B legend’s 1977 hit “Got To Give It Up.” Industry commentators feared the judgement might open the floodgates for similar litigation — concerns that appear to have been substantiated by Jermaine Dupri’s commentary on Ciara‘s “I Bet.”
“Ciara’s new single is a complete rip-off of Usher’s ‘U Got It Bad,’” the producer declared in an interview with AP. “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… It might not be as evident as the ‘Blurred Lines’ situation, but I believe the same thing happened to me.”
The 42-year-old said the similarities were noticed by Usher and the song’s fellow producer Bryan-Michael Cox, and revealed that they plan to contact Ciara and Harmony Samuels (who helmed “I Bet”) and ask to be credited for their work. Jermaine also claims the song copies Tamia’s 2004 single “Still.”
Talk about a reach. Jermaine’s time would be better spent apologizing for ruining Mariah Carey’s career with his played-out productions on Me. I Am Mariah… The Elusive Chanteuse than throwing around reputation-tarnishing accusations.
While there are indeed similarities between Usher’s hit and “I Bet,” that has more to do with the “Body Party” diva and her producer aiming for a throwback R&B sound than actively and intentionally copying another artist’s work. And as much as I love Tamia and think she’s one of the most underrated divas in the game, who would want to rip off a song that stiffed at number 83 on the R&B charts?
Listen to the tracks below and decide for yourself.
Ciara’s “I Bet”:
Usher’s “U Got It Bad”:
Tamia’s “Still”:
Do you agree with Jermaine? Have your say in the comments below.
[Via AP].
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