Does Ariana Grande’s “7 Rings” rip off Princess Nokia?
Ariana Grande’s “7 Rings” has sent the internet into a frenzy. However, all of the publicity has summoned the attention of alternative rapper Princess Nokia, and her response is far from positive.
Princess Nokia claims that Grande’s latest song rips off “Mine,” from her 2017 release 1992 Deluxe. In a video the rapper shared to Twitter, she calls out Grande on the songs’ similarities in both sound and context.
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“Hmm… Does that sound familiar to you? ‘Cause that sounds really familiar to me,” Princess Nokia says. “Oh my God. Ain’t that the little song I made about brown women and their hair? Hm, sounds about white.”
@ArianaGrande pic.twitter.com/48ZqIv5DBq
— Princess Nokia (@princessnokia) January 18, 2019
According to Exclaim!, the beat in question compares Grande’s lines of “Gee, thanks, just bought it / I see it, I like it, I want it, I got it,” to Princess Nokia’s, “It’s mine, I bought it / It’s mine, I bought it.”
Additionally, Princess Nokia also calls out Grande for cultural appropriation. At the end of “Mine,” the rapper talks about basic manners and courtesy pertaining to black women’s hair:
Please do not ask me or any Black or Brown women if our hair is real or not. If it’s a wig, a weave, extensions, braids, don’t fuckin’ ask. It’s very rude, it’s extremely personal to be put on the spot like that. How we choose to wear our hair is our personal choice, ok? We bought it, it’s ours, so have some manners and keep your curiosity to yourself.
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However, Princess Nokia was not the first one to think “7 Rings” copied her song. Many fans also tweeted their skeptical views on the track.
who wants to bet that there is about to be controversy cause Ariana’s new song sounds like Princess Nokia’s “Mine”
— frida (@FRlDLAR) January 18, 2019
calling it right now 7 rings by ariana grande totally rips off ‘mine’ by princess nokia
— chicken (@fasechogletto) January 18, 2019
Loving Ariana’s cover of Mine by Princess Nokia
— Ian (everets) ? (@everetses) January 18, 2019
Ariana Grande’s new song is a complete rip off of Princess Nokia’s “Mine” but none of you gays care to notice because you don’t care about the art of women of color unless it’s Beyoncé
— Skinny Driver (@wade_sonicjoy) January 18, 2019
For comparison purposes, check out both songs below.
Princess Nokia, “Mine”
Ariana Grande, “7 Rings”
Do you think Ariana Grande ripped off Princess Nokia? Sound off in the comments below.
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