Rapper Childish Gambino, known in cinema by his real name Donald Glover – The Photo Access / Cover Images
Donald Glover, who raps as Childish Gambino, is chased by rapper Kidd Wes who accuses him of plagiarism for This is America. For this artist, the global hit of 2018, which won Childish Gambino the Grammy for Best Song the following year, is “extremely similar” to his title. Made in America published on Soundcloud in 2016.
In his New York court complaint obtained by the Guardian, Kidd Wes puts forward “a unique rhythm, lyrics, themes of compositions and types of interpretation almost identical in the content of the refrains which are at the center of the two pieces”.
A good publicity stunt
But Kidd Wes, real name Emelike Nwosuocha, goes further, arguing that Childish Gambino’s flow is “undeniably and substantially” similar to his, “if not nearly identical.” And to support his complaint, the artist appealed to a musicologist who, for his part, detected “similarities in the melodic lines”, adding that the proximity of the title between Made in America and This is America could not be coincidental.
By the time Donald Glover reacts, you can get an idea by listening to the song by Kidd Wes.