The Internet Thinks Childish Gambino Ripped Off "This Is America"

BY Calum SlingerlandPublished Jun 25, 2018

Donald Glover has received plenty of acclaim for his politically charged Childish Gambino single "This Is America" these past few months, but some listeners have pointed out similarities between Glover's hit and a song released two years prior.

Over the weekend, social media users pointed out similarities between "This Is America" and a track titled "American Pharoah" from New Jersey rapper Jase Harley, alleging the former lifts elements including vocal cadence, subject matter and instrumentation from the latter.

Harley's "American Pharoah" saw release in 2016 on his album Free Pxrn: The Memoir of an American Heathen. Harley himself weighed in on the controversy, writing on Instagram that he "always felt my song inspired ['This Is America'] lol from the first time I heard it," adding, "artists being thirsty for bread is why ppl don't wanna credit anyone for inspiration. It's all love and support from me, glad if my record influenced his 🙏🏾" Glover collaborator Fam Rothstein, who co-produced the video for "This Is America," denied the allegations on Twitter. He wrote that "the Internet is a place of no consequences. I hate that Toronto Akademiks/every white blogger can say something as gospel and y'all take it. this song is 3 yrs old, and we have pro tools files to prove it." Hear both tracks for yourself in the players below.




Childish Gambino's previous album Awaken, My Love! is available through Umusic on CDvinyl, or in a VR vinyl box set.

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