It wouldn’t be summer without Kanye West having some controversy, but he may be the “squid brains” in this case. The Chicago rapper faces charges that he stole the lyrics to his song “Stronger” and the evidence is pretty damning. Chicago Now reports that a lawsuit (which you can read in full here) has been filed in U.S. District Court in Illinois, claiming that he stole the lyrics to the 2007 hit single from Vince Peters, a Virginia rapper who goes by Vince P.
Peters claims that he met Kanye’s manager, John Monopoly, in November 2006 and gave him the song that Kanye released without his permission seven months later. Similarities between the two songs are striking. Besides the title and lyrics (listed below) there is a reference to Kate Moss, which is of course fairly rare for a rap song.
According to the lawsuit, Kanye’s version of the song “copies significant and important parts of Peters’ lyrics identically or almost identically,” including the “hook” which is a major element of the song.” The 10-page lawsuit ends with the line “Plaintiff demands trial by jury.”
The offending lyrics:
Vince P.’s “Stronger”
What don’t kill me make me stronger.
The more I blow up the more you wrong-er.
You coped my CD you can feel my hunger.
The wait is over couldn’t wait no longer.
Kanye West’s “Stronger”
N-n-now th- that don’t kill me can only make me stronger
I need you to hurry up now cause I can’t wait much longer.
I know I got to be right now cause I can’t get much stronger.
Man I’ve been waiting all night now that’s how long I’ve been on you.
West has yet to officially respond to the allegations.
Of course, all this comes during a time when West is gearing up for the September 14th release of his latest full-length Good Ass Job, an album which promises to hear even more song sampling. Wicked included.
