Renowned American musician Nicki Minaj and acclaimed producer Mike Will Made It are facing a lawsuit filed by Julius Johnson, who alleges that his beat was unlawfully used in their collaboration.
Johnson claims that the beat for Minaj’s song “I Lied” bears a striking resemblance to his own composition titled “onmysleeve,” which he published on YouTube in 2011, three years before Minaj’s track was released on her album “The Pinkprint.”
In the lawsuit filed in California, Johnson contends that the music accompanying Minaj’s vocals in “I Lied” is a carbon copy of his original song.
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He further suggests that individuals associated with Minaj and Mike Will, including their affiliates and associates who had access to a recording space, may have come into possession of his work during that period.
Johnson’s legal action seeks the profits derived from the song “I Lied” and requests a court order that either requires its removal or grants him credit and royalties for his contributions. According to Johnson, both songs share substantially identical underlying instrumentation, beats, rhythms, tempo, and song key.
As of now, neither Nicki Minaj nor Mike Will Made It have responded publicly to the lawsuit. The case will likely unfold in the coming months as the parties involved present their arguments and evidence before the court.