American rapper T-Pain accused of copying 'Tum Hi Ho' tune
What's the story
The Bollywood music industry has often found itself in a spot for plagiarizing world music. However, it seems that the tables have turned this time. Recently, American rapper T-Pain was accused of lifting the melody of Arijit Singh's popular song Tum Hi Ho. T-Pain's latest song That's Yo Money has a flute melody that is uncannily similar to Tum Hi Ho. Here's more.
Twitter Post
It's a sample, but the tune is clearly audible
#ThatsYoMoney out now on @Spotify https://t.co/WfwAHyy1tD
— T-Pain (@TPAIN) December 14, 2018
Details
'Tum Hi Ho' composer Mithoon informs T-Pain of plagiarism
Last week, T-Pain released the song That's Yo Money on YouTube and made an official announcement on Twitter. When the composer of Tum Hi Ho, Mithoon, heard it, he politely commented on the US rapper's Twitter post, saying the "melody that you have used in your new song is my original work for a previously released Hindi film (Shraddha Kapoor-Aditya Roy Kapur's Aashiqui 2)."
Twitter Post
The Label is looking into this, Mithoon informs
Sir, the melody that you have used in your new song is my original work for a previously released Hindi film..The Label is looking into this.#tumhiho #Aashiqui2 https://t.co/5fnDf4sfg7
— Mithoon (@Mithoon11) December 15, 2018
Information
'Tum Hi Ho' is still a hit in Bollywood
Tum Hi Ho was released in 2013 and instantly became a hit. The song was named as the Song of the Year by Zee Cine Awards (2014). It is still recognized as one of the best Bollywood songs produced ever.
Reactions
Netizens compared T-Pain to musician Pritam
After Mithoon clarified about the plagiarized tune, netizens backed him in large numbers. One netizen wrote, "Exact copy of #TumHiHo . You're right @Mithoon11." Mohit Suri, director of Aashiqui 2, also supported Mithoon in a funny tweet, saying, "Dunno why but this seems familiar #aashiqui2 #tumhiho...It's a melody from Mithun's song buddy @Mithoon11 @raiisonai @itsBhushanKumar." Many also compared T-Pain to musician Pritam.
Racist?
T-Pain's 'brown Twitter' comment also landed him in trouble
T-Pain responded to the backlash saying he had not developed the tune and had got it from the song's producer Bishop Jones. His tweet, however, did him more damage, as many people found his mention of "brown twitter" trolling him to be racist. However, some defended the rapper saying "...Some people call 'Black Twitter' or 'Brown Twitter' on social media, but it's not racist."
Twitter Post
Have never heard the music, says T-Pain
Woke up to getting dragged by brown twitter. Sooooo yea. I definitely didn’t produce this song. Had no idea that was a sample and have never heard the music before I got the beat from the producer. Easy thing to work out. The labels will be in contact. Thanx
— T-Pain (@TPAIN) December 15, 2018
Twitter Post
Mohit slams T-Pain for his ignorance and 'brown Twitter' comment
Brown Twitter !! Sir is that what your response is .?? is this a apology or foolish ignorance .if you hadn’t been so stuck up in your world and realised that this song has crossed over a billion streaming’s .maybe you would understand #Shameless @Mithoon11 @itsBhushanKumar
— Mohit Suri (@mohit11481) December 16, 2018
Song removed
T-Pain's song has been pulled off from YouTube
Sorry, we don't know if 'Brown Twitter' is an oft-repeated term or a racist one, but we didn't like T-Pain lifting our tune. Meanwhile, Mithoon told media that T-Series was planning to take legal action. For now, the song That's Yo Money has been removed from T-Pain's official YouTube channel, after T-Series which owns the rights to Tum Hi Ho, complained of copyright infringement.