Childish Gambino Sued Over This Is America - Noise11.com
Childish Gambino

Childish Gambino

Childish Gambino Sued Over This Is America

by Music-News.com on May 7, 2021

in News

Childish Gambino has been hit with legal action over allegations of copyright infringement regarding his Grammy Award-winning single This Is America.

Emelike Nwosuocha, who performs as Kidd Wes, has claimed the 2018 chart smash bears striking similarities to his own tune, Made in America, which he posted on music platform SoundCloud in September 2016, and on YouTube shortly thereafter.

He even registered the track with officials at the U.S. Copyright Office in May 2017, and was stunned to discover how closely Gambino’s This Is America resembled his own release, arguing the chorus is “unmistakably substantially similar, if not practically identical”.

Nwosuocha also alleged that the similarity in lyrical content and delivery was “audible to the average lay person”.

In court papers obtained by TMZ, the plaintiff claims Gambino’s rapping style is also a rip off of his own, as are the lyrics in This Is America’s refrain.

The rapper even employed a musicologist to compare the two tracks, who concluded that “these similarities are likely not coincidences”, the court documents said.

He is demanding significant damages from Gambino, aka Donald Glover, and his song co-writers, Ludwig Goransson, and Jeffery Lamar Williams, better known as Young Thug. Label officials who released the tune, including bosses at JAY-Z’s Roc Nation, are also named as defendants in the case.

Representatives for Gambino and his collaborators have yet to comment on the lawsuit.

music-news.com

Noise11.com

Follow Noise11 on Social Media

NEW: Noise11 on YouTube SUBSCRIBE

Noise11 on Instagram

You’ll discover music news first following Noise11 on Twitter

Comment on the news of the day, join Noise11 on Facebook

Related Posts

Chris Faiumu of Fat Freddys Drop
Fat Freddy’s Drop’s Chris Ta’aloga Faiumu (aka DJ Mu) Has Died

Chris ‘Mu’ Faiumu of New Zealand’s Fat Freddy’s Drop died suddenly on Wednesday.

1 day ago
Taylor Swift photo by Ros O'Gorman
Scott Swift Father of Taylor Swift Recovering From Major Heart Surgery

Taylor Swift's dad, Scott Swift, is recovering from major heart surgery.

2 days ago
Serge Pizzorno, Kasabian - Image By Ros O'Gorman
Serge Pizzorno of Kasabian Awarded A Doctorate

In a true homecoming moment, Sergio 'Serge' Pizzorno, co-founder and driving force behind the world-renowned indie rock band Kasabian, was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Music by the University of Leicester yesterday, July 16, at a summer graduation ceremony held at De Montfort Hall.

2 days ago
Beyonce in concert in Melbourne by Ros O'Gorman
Unreleased Beyoncé Music Stolen

Unreleased Beyoncé music and setlists have been stolen from her choreographer's car.

3 days ago
Big Noter
Briggs’ Metal Act Big Noter Premieres ‘Talk Straight’

Big Noter, the metal side of Aussie rapper Briggs, has premiered a second song ‘Talk Straight’.

3 days ago
Katy Perry, photo by Ros O'Gorman, rod laver arena, Melbourne 2014
Katy Perry Issues Restraining Order Against Stalker

Katy Perry has been granted a permanent restraining order against a man who allegedly keeps showing up at her California home.

4 days ago
Justin Bieber in Sydney photo by Ros O'Gorman, music news, noise11.com
Justin Bieber Pops Out 21 Song Album ‘Swag’ #LISTEN

Justin Bieber has just slipped out a surprise new album ‘Swag’ with 21 tracks.

July 11, 2025