Tag: bruno mars

Angie Stone still hasn’t been paid for her contribution to Bruno Mars’ Grammy-winning track Uptown Funk.

In fact, the 56-year-old soul singer has claimed that two of her songs with rap group The Sequence were used as inspiration for Mars’ track.

The R&B songstress sat down with Sister Circle Live this week and discussed the lack of recognition she’s received for her 1979 song Funk You Up and how it was used in Mars’ collaboration with Mark Ronson. 

‘He never sampled it, he did an interpolation, which is when you re-record something and kinda twist it around,’ the Wish I Didn’t Miss You hitmaker told the hosts. 

‘He did give us accolades, they just kinda got rid of it. He made a post on Twitter, months before, saying that his inspiration came from The Sequence,’ she explained.

The South Carolina born star then added that a second song by her rap group was used in Uptown Funk.

She explained, ‘He also used a song called Let’s Dance, when you hear that “Mm, jump on it,” you know, that was part of The Sequence’s repertoire as well.

‘So it was actually two songs in the song.’ she added.

It was reported in December 2017 that Angie and bandmates Cheryl Cook and Gwendolyn Chisolm are suing Mars and Ronson and seeking financial restitution for the ‘significant and substantially similar compositional elements’ of Uptown Funk to their track Funk You Up.

‘He never came back, and I’m still waiting on him to at least admit hey, we deserve this, because about 10 people have got their checks and I’m still waiting on mine.’ Angie told Sister Circle.

The Grammy-nominated singer is staying upbeat about the whole thing, however, as she quipped, ‘I’ll be rich and famous one day!’.

The Sequence was the first female rap team signed to the Sugar Hill label and one of the pioneers of old school hip hop.

When released, Funk You Up was the third rap song ever to reach Billboard’s Top 50 Singles.

The rappers want an undisclosed amount of money from the singer – Mars- and songwriter – Ronson- of Uptown Funk.

Both Mars and Ronson have found themselves in legal trouble before over copyright issues with the song.

In September, a suit was filed by Lastrada Entertainment Company, Ltd., the music publishing house that holds the copyright to Zapp’s 1980 song More Bounce to the Ounce.

The court documents claimed: ‘Mark Ronson failed in his goal to write something new. Substantial parts of ‘Uptown Funk’ were copied from ‘More Bounce to the Ounce.’

‘The significant and substantial similarities between the two songs have been widely commented on by ordinary observers, musicians, independent critics and commentators.’

The lawsuit draws comparisons to the settlement Marvin Gaye’s family received after Robin Thicke and Pharell Williams’ Blurred Lines unintentionally copied Gaye’s 1977 hit Got to Give It Up.

Article via: Angie Stone is ‘still waiting on a check’ from Bruno Mars after he admitted Uptown Funk was inspired by her group’s 1979 song Funk You Up

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