Childish Gambino (real name Donald Glover) is being sued for copyright infringement over his Grammy Award-winning song, This Is America.
Rapper Kidd Wes (real name Emelike Nwosuocha) claims the song copied his track Made In America, which was released two years earlier than Glover’s song.
According to US federal court documents, Nwosuocha says Glover’s 2018 song is “glaringly similar” to his track.
The complaint filed in New York cites: “nearly-identical unique rhythmic, lyrical and thematic compositional and performance content contained in the chorus – or ‘hook’ – sections that are the centrepieces of both songs.”
Nwosuocha also alleged that the similarity in lyrical content and delivery was "striking to an extent beyond coincidence" and "audible to the average lay person".
The rapper also employed a musicologist to compare the two tracks, who concluded that "these similarities are likely not coincidences", the court documents said.
Nwosuocha is demanding a trial and is seeking damages including lost profits and opportunities. He claimed that Glover and his co-writers made "hundreds of millions of dollars" from This Is America.
His legal case also named Glover's record label, RCA, Roc Nation and Young Thug, who performed backing vocals on the track.
Childish Gambino's manager Fam Udeorji rejected the claims of plagiarism, saying his Glover’s song dates back to 2015, adding that they have "the Pro Tools [computer] files to prove it".
This would mean that the song would pre-date Nwosuocha's Made In America, which he posted on SoundCloud in September 2016.
Compare the two tracks for yourself...