News June 26, 2018

Childish Gambino’s manager responds to claims ‘This Is America’ was stolen

The manager of Childish Gambino has stepped in to defuse escalating claims that Gambino’s ARIA #1 hit ‘This Is America’ was ripped off from another tune.

Yesterday, we noted how a Twitter user pointed out that Gambino’s ‘This Is America’ sounds an awful lot like ‘American Pharaoh’ by Jase Harley, which happened to have been released two years prior to Donald Glover’s huge hit.

“Donald Glover completely ripped that “This Is America” song from another artist,” the Twitter user questioned. “This will largely be overlooked but it sounds like same damn song and this was released a few years prior. Has this been discussed?”

This will largely be overlooked but it sounds like same damn song and this was released a few years prior.
Has this been discussed? https://t.co/kqTSH4fTrv
— Baby Freeway ???? (@RappersRActors) June 24, 2018

To be fair, if you give the track a spin, you can definitely see some similarities. But the question remains, if you didn’t know what you were looking for, would you still have heard the resemblance? Well Gambino’s manager Fam Udeorji (also known as Fam Rothstein) reckons it’s just people hearing what they want to hear, and has taken to Twitter in attempt to set things straight.

In a since-deleted Tweet, Rothstein called out those who have been pushing the claims of plagiarism, noting that the track is three years old, and that they have the “Pro Tools files to prove it”.

“The internet is a place of no consequences. I hate that Toronto Akademiks/every white blogger can say something as gospel and y’all take it,” Rothstein wrote. “This song is 3 yrs old, and we have Pro Tools files to prove it. But fuck you and your moms, and your future fetuses. Stay blessed.”

pic.twitter.com/Ld8tqZXQ1h
— bad bitches love cliff (@jesuisponge) June 25, 2018

After word of the controversy first broke, Jase Harley responded to a fan enquiring about the similarities on Instagram, where he explained that “I always felt my song inspired it lol from the first time I heard it.”

“It’s cool tho…. Glad they liked my song. It’s all love,” he added, before noting that it’s “dope [he] could’ve had some influence on the record,” and explaining that “all artist get inspired by others.”

Since then, Harley released his own statement about the accusations of plagiarism via Instagram, asking for the controversy not to “dilute the message me and Childish Gambino are trying to convey.”

“I feel extremely humbled to be recognized and labeled as one or the original inspirations for one of the most important pieces of music and visual art of our time,” Jase Harley wrote on Instagram. “I appreciate all the love and support! But PLEASE DON’T let this controversy dilute the message me and Childish Gambino are trying to convey.”

“We are speaking about injustices we’ve encountered and he’s helped to provide a platform for all our voices to be heard. Let’s not discredit him for that! The focus should be on affecting change in our communities and building equality.”

“This is bigger than me and him and bigger than music. Let’s not lose focus.”

This news of course comes at the same time as the announcement that Childish Gambino will be heading to Australia later this year as part of Canberra’s Spilt Milk festival in November. Additional headline dates were also announced today, with Perth, Melbourne, and Sydney lucky enough to score some sideshows.