Roddy Ricch and producer 30 Roc are facing a copyright infringement lawsuit over the rapper’s breakout hit “The Box,” Rolling Stone reports.
In a lawsuit filed in Manhattan on Tuesday, musician Greg Perry has alleged that Roddy’s track rips off elements of his 1975 song “Come On Down.” In the 18-page complaint, Perry accused Ricch and his record label of using “a complete duplication” of portions of “Come On Down” in the track. Specifically, the violin during the opening of Perry’s track is referenced in the suit as being used in “The Box” without permission.
“Expert musicology analysis confirms that the ascending minor scale played by violin at the opening of ‘Come On Down’ is a distinctive musical element which recurs a total of six times throughout the song," reads the suit. “Comparative analysis of the beat, lyrics, hook, rhythmic structure, metrical placement, and narrative context by a musicology expert demonstrates clearly and convincingly that ‘The Box’ is an unauthorized duplication and infringement of certain elements of ‘Come On Down.'"
“Come On Down” was also sampled in Jeezy’s “Wordplay” and Yo Gotti’s “I Remember,” which the filing also highlighted. “The use of the distinctive compositional elements of ‘Come On Down’ have remained so popular in both the R&B and rap community that access to the composition is firmly established," the documents read.
“The Box” released back in December 2019 upon the arrival of Roddy’s debut album, Please Excuse Me for Being Antisocial. It picked up three Grammy nominations, and peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
