By: Eric Michael (University of Miami)
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The summer of 2010 has been one of the best for new albums dropping with Eminem’s Recovery and Drake’s Thank Me Later. Did one of these rappers steal someone else’s song though?
In an interview with MTV, Swizz Beatz revealed that the track “Fancy” was originally his track, but then he gave it to Mary J. Blige.
“It was supposed to be on her (Stronger with Each Tear) album, but we missed the deadline so I pulled it back for my upcoming record.”
A short time later Drake called Beatz looking for song to help complete the album, and “a record for the ladies,” Drake said. Beatz played the song for Drake and the rest of it is now in your iTunes.
My question is this though, did Drake steal this song or do you think it is fair game since it was never finished and never copyrighted? Personally I think it was fair game the track was never released and no one ever copyrighted it. Beatz said in the interview that Drake wanted to use the exact song, and since Beatz is a producer, he gave it the ok. Mary J. Blige’s track was completely different than what Drake is rapping about as her song was about an independent woman.
I am pretty sure no one will be disappointed in the fact that this song helped to make Drake’s album one of the best of the year, but is it wrong that he technically is using someone else’s song?
Here is a link to MTV’s Interview with Swizz Beatz.
