The Diplomats recently accused Wu-Tang Clan of ripping off its song "I've Got the Kind of Love." Wu-Tang Clan's version is called "People Say."
In a lawsuit filed on Friday, the Diplomats accused Wu-Tang Clan of reproducing and constituting a derivative work based upon their 1969 track.
"Throughout its duration, 'People Say' contains and embodies multiple recognizable and protectable elements of plaintiff's 'I've Got the Kind of Love.' These original, protectable elements include but are not limited to the melody, chords, lyrics, instrumentation, and rhythmic elements of 'I've Got the Kind of Love.' (Even the title 'People Say' is a lyric from 'I've Got the Kind of Love')." reads the lawsuit.
However, the lawsuit did not clearly state how much damage Wu-Tang Clan will be charged with.
"People Say" is the lead song off of Mathematics's 2017 album Wu-Tang: The Saga Continues. According to one publication, The Diplomats became aware of the similarities between the two songs after fans kept mentioning it online.
The group members said that they did not give Wu-Tang Clan and Mathematics rights to their song.
Who Is Wu-Tang Clan?
Wu-Tang Clan is an American hip-hop group from Staten Island, New York City. The group is made up of rappers RZA, GZA, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, and Masta Killa.
The group released its debut album Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) in 1993. Then in 1997, the group dropped Wu-Tang Forever, and it was followed by the 1998 compilation Bobby Digital in Stereo.
It also released other albums, namely Wu-Tang Demo Tape, Black August, The Swarm, Legendary Weapons, Wu-Chronicles, and more.
Some of the group's most famous songs are "C.R.E.A.M.," "Protect Ya Neck," "Method Man," "Triumph," "Gravel Pit," "The Mystery of Chessboxin'," "Shaolin," "Back in the Game," "Bring da Ruckus," "Shame on a Nigga," "Can It Be All So Simple," and more.
Who Are The Diplomats?
The Diplomats, on the other hand, is an R&B and soul group from Washington, D.C. They were signed by Kent Soul in the 1960s.
The group's albums include Here's a Heart and Greatest Recordings. The trio's most famous songs are "I'm So Glad I Found You," "Our Love Has Changed," "It's Not How You Make Love," "Your Love Is A Shelter," "Jerkin Time," "Walk With Me," "She's The One," "Don't Bug Me," and more.
