Chart topping rapper “Soulja Boy” has been accused of flagrantly ripping off the Death Note OST in one of his latest releases, imaginatively called “Death Note.”
He is but the latest in a series of minor American celebrities caught plagiarising the works of Japanese artists with the evidently misplaced hope that nobody will notice, a practice since termed “Simmonsing” in honour of its foremost and most shameless practicioner
The track in question, “Long Journey,” which listeners should be warned is exceptionally bad even by contemporary rap standards:
Player 1
The track from the Death Note OST he is alleged to have flagrantly ripped off, the “Near Theme”:
Player 2
Whilst liberally “sampling” the music of others is an accepted staple of hiphop, generally it does not extend to stealing entire songs, series names and even fonts, all without credit.
Presumably the rapper, a barely literate 19-year-old who came to fame through such sites as YouTube, thought nobody would notice. He has previously been sued for allegedly stealing the name “Soulja Boy” from another performer, and even amongst other rappers has been dismissed as “garbage.”
As the album in question is merely a freely released “mixtape” it may escape any legal sanction, but this hardly makes it any less ethically dubious.
Well, that was pretty damn awful. This is not to debate whether or not Death Note is any good. Personally, I love it, which is how this was brought to my attention. The fact of the matter is, he has ripped of the series, and he could hardly have done so more blatantly. Personal opinion’s of the song and anime aside, it is so very obvious he has tried to rip the anime off. I am astounded that he thought he could get away with it. I shall now go watch Death Note to nullify my disgust. Good day.
Perhaps you haven’t understood the hip-hop culture enough. Mixtape isn’t album, album is when you claim it to be yours totally (whilst giving credit where needed).
Mixtape is using instrumentals that’ve already been used. This is ethically tolerated because it is different.
Compare this to someone using someone else’s storyline and characters, making up their own story and calling it their own creation, as opposed to someone calling it a spin-off.
Remember the difference, and be a little bit less ignorant.
Yeah only you faggots would care this much, fucking weeaboos
What’s someone his age rapping about the club scene for? Doesn’t he have to wait like another two fucking years before he can drink? WTF? I know real gang members who would literally skin him alive. It ain’t cool to be a gangsta. s♥♥t is real. No crying over comments on Youtube when your arse is scattered under six feet of fertilizer…
Punk arse little bitch, please.
THIS NIGGA DESERVES TO BE SHOT, STABBED, LINCHED, TARRED AND FEATHERED, AND HAVE HIS BALLS CUT OFF AN SHOVED DOWN HIS THROAT, THEN HAVE THEM CUT OUT OF HIS THROAT AND SHOVED UP HIS ASS SO CAN FEEL THE PAIN OF ALL US DEATHNOTE FANS FOR PRETTY MUCH RAPING AND DISEMBOWELING ANIME AS WE KNOW IT!