Plagiarism and the Lack of Musicianship in Music

Word in the music biz is that Christina Milian is suing a former producer, stating that he lied about using a sample in her 2003 hit single “Dip it Low.” Apparently in the suit Christina claims that Poli Paul told her that the song contained no samples. So far, she has spent a fortune in legal cost defending her self in a plagiarism lawsuit. Thomas Turino, Larry Crook, and Dan Dickey are claiming that a portion of her song was illegally lifted from their 1983 track La Sirena. Obviously, Milian’s lawyers forgot to counsel her on getting her facts straight before she goes out to spend money on defending herself, when it was not her who created the beat. I think the facts are clear in this case.

First, it’s about time that these types of artist are called out for what they are - cheaters. More than half of the producers in the music industry today don’t know how to read, play, or articulate music. They dig in crates pulling out obscure music hoping no one notices the beats that they use as the foundation for their songs and it’s ridiculous. They cut, snip, and throw it in a sampler, speed it up, slow it down, and sprinkle a little of their own crap on top and call themselves producers. I think the fans are sick of it. It’s disgusting and just down right plagiarism, plain and simple. It started off in hip-hop and has reared its ugly head in the R&B genre.

I understand that with the advent of computer technology it has become easier to make music. People in the industry don’t have to spend a lifetime mastering an instrument to make music. There used to be a time when it was cool to be original. If the artists are going to continue to call themselves artists they have to pride themselves on being not only creative but original. In this situation I blame Christina because her name is on the product. She has to see the product through from beginning to end. When the fans go out to buy her CD it’s not because of the songs that Poli Paul produced.

The artist has to stop shopping for beats like they’re at the local Wal-Mart. Making music is a creative process. If you don’t want to live and breathe music, being there for the entire creative process, you should find another profession. R&B music is from the soul and we as fans want to keep it that way. It’s not the run of the mill hip-hop or pop music.

At this juncture of the lawsuit I’m sure Christina is just looking for anyone to blame. I have the perfect scapegoat for her. These artists found themselves in the same lying, cheating situation that she’s in. It can be found in the lyrics of this song: