William Adams, a popular American pop singer known better by his stage name Will.i.am, has recently released his new album #willpower. Naturally, an album by one of the music industries biggest stars is going to receive a lot of media attention. This time however, not all of the attention is likely to be warranted.
One of the tracks on #willpower, titled Let’s go, has segments in it which bear a very strong resemblance to Rebound, a track released by the record label Anjunabeats in April of 2011. Rebound was produced by Arty, a Russian DJ, who made it clear on twitter that neither Will.i.am, or his label Interscope, had acquired the appropriate rights from Anjunabeats.
Originally Adams was silent on the matter, however in a recent interview with KISS FM he admitted to using Rebound as inspiration for Lets go. Adams has a checkered past when it comes to alleged copyright infringements. Just last November he was alleged to have taken lyrics from Tulisa Contostavlos’ I don’t give a F*** to use for his song Scream and Shout.
There is no word yet about a resolution being made between Adams and Arty or between Anjunabeats and Interscope. Although one has to wonder why a record label like Interscope, which has a recorded past of fighting piracy through enforcing copyright laws, isn’t able to grasp the principle of practicing what they preach.
