Miami Rapper Files a Copyright Lawsuit Against Childish Gambino for Billboard Hit ‘This Is America’

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On May 6th, 2021, Miami rapper Kid Wes filed a lawsuit in the Southern District of New York alleging that rapper Childish Gambino stole the chorus from the Miami rapper’s 2016 track “Made In America” for his 2018 hit “This Is America.” In the complaint, Wes alleges that the chorus of the 2018 hit song “This Is America” is practically identical to the chorus of his 2016 song “Made In America.”

The lawsuit includes a detailed report from a musicologist at the University of Miami. According to the music expert, the videos and lyrics share the themes of gun violence and oppression of African Americans and People of Color. Despite having different tempos, the music expert further found that the lines in ‘Made in America’ and ‘This is America’ line-up nearly perfectly in timing and phrasing.

Additionally, Kid Wes claims that all of the praise “This Is America” received was centered on the flow of the chorus and the lyrical themes — both aspects Wes alleges Childish Gambino copied from “Made In America.”

In addition to Childish Gambino, the complaint also named the various record labels and publishing companies associated with the song, including Sony Music Entertainment’s RCA Records.

Kid Wes whose real name is Emelike Nwosuocha. is represented by Imran H. Ansari of Aidala Bertuna & Kamins PC and by La’Shawn N. Thomas of Miami Entertainment Law Group.

Counsel information for the defendants is not available at this time.

The case is Nwosuocha v. Glover II et al., case number 1:21-cv-04047, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

* Lowe & Associates (“The Firm”) is an entertainment and business law firm located in Beverly Hills, California. The Firm has extensive experience handling cases involving copyright law, having provided top-quality legal services to its clients since 1991. The Firm is recognized for its many achievements, including successfully litigating many high-profile cases.

Find us at our website at www.LoweLaw.com