Baauer, Diplo Being Shook for "Harlem Shake" Sampling
From the Miami Heat to Dr. Oz, people have been using Baauer’s "Harlem Shake" to participate in the infectious YouTube dance craze of the same name. But apparently not all the sampling has been cleared and now Baauer and producer Diplo (Beyoncé, Usher, M.I.A.) are being named.
The New York Times reports that Hector Delgado, a reggaetón artist turned evangelical preacher, and Jayson Musson, a rapper from Philadelphia known as Hennessy Youngman, are claiming their voices were used in the song without permission.
"It’s almost like they came on my land and built a house," Delgado said. He’s alleging he was sampled saying "con los terroristas" from a 2006 single, "Maldades."
Musson is alleging that that is his voice demanding repeatedly, "Do the Harlem Shake," from a 2001 song from the Philly rap group Plastic Little.
The two are seeking compensation from Baauer (born Harry Bauer Rodrigues), who is credited as producer and songwriter for the track, and Mad Decent Records.
Last month, Baauer told The Daily Beast that he found the recording of Delgado online. "The dude in the beginning I got off the Internet, I don’t even know where," he said.
Musson said when he realized he was on the song he thanked Baauer for "doing something useful with our annoying music," but is still seeking compensation nonetheless.
Javier Gomez, Delgado's former manager said, "Mad Decent have been more than cooperative during this." He also said that Diplo, founder of Mad Decent, told Delgado that he was unaware of the sampling when the single was released.
"Hector will get what he deserves," Gomez said. "We can turn around and stop that song. That's a clear breaking of intellectual property rights."
Still no word from a rep for whoever growled on the track.
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(Photos from left: John Shearer/Getty Images for Puma, Baauer/Facebook)