As the soundtrack to the film Black Panther continues to garner praise, one artist has taken aim at album curator Kendrick Lamar over the alleged theft of her artwork in the music video to K-Dot and SZA’s “All The Stars.”
The New York Times reports that over the weekend, a lawyer for British-Liberian artist Lina Iris Viktor fired off a letter to Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith claiming a copyright violation of the artwork featured in Viktor’s “Constellations” collection.
The paintings in “Constellations” feature 24-karat gold patterned artworks, similar to that used in the “All The Stars” visual, which was directed by Dave Meyers and the little homies (aka Kendrick Lamar and Dave Free).
Viktor, who was approached twice on behalf of the Black Panther film about using her work before she declined, went on to point out how contradictory it is that a film that celebrates “African excellence” would allegedly steal her work.
“Why would they do this? It’s an ethical issue, because what the whole film purports is that it’s about black empowerment, African excellence — that’s the whole concept of the story. And at the same time they’re stealing from African artists,” Lina Iris Viktor said while speaking with the New York Times.
According to her lawyer, Viktor is willing “to discuss a resolution of all her claims, consisting at a minimum of a public apology for the unauthorized use and a license fee.”
They came to you first and you declined!!! For whatever reason now you mad that they did something similar to Ur work ?? It aint the exact same thing so there ain’t shit u can do about it but be mad.. U wouldve got the credit if u aint decline
Welcome to the club. Kendrick been biting me for years but his stans don’t care.
I get you’re trolling but how has anything K.Dot done been similar to anything Lupe has done?? I’m a fan of both and don’t see it, enlighten me troll I know you have time
listenin to an album from last song to first….i did it first..know your facts young N
Lupe is a woman’s name… know your facts.
You not knowing saddens me and reinforces my belief that kids these days don’t know hip hop. Make an effort, look at king Kennys career and Lupes and tell me where he is different besides commercial success. Everything Kendrick gets credit for, Lupe did first. Kendrick got hot, but his music isn’t better and his pen definitely isn’t better… also, I appreciate the other Lupe Fiasco responding to you, but I am the creator of the original post.
lol at you assuming I’m a kid. I’ve been a Lupe fan since 05. I admit I didn’t think about the last song first, first song last thing ( I’m assuming you’re referring to “The Cool”) but beyond that I don’t see off the bat what could have been stolen directly that several emcees hadn’t done hell the concept of the cool wasn’t even the first of it’s kind.
Tetsuo and Youth’s tracklist was revealed in reverse order by Lupe before the album came out. Also, Lupe had revealed the cover art for his upcoming album and then Kendrick drops a single with a similar cover. Whenever Lupe does something whether it’s on a track or outside of it nobody says shit but Kenny does it and he’s a genius. Ppl acting like Duckworth was the greatest story ever told. Had Lupe come out in this era instead of the ringtone rap era, people would look at Kendrick the way they look at Logic, as a wannabe with no originality. I love all artists mentioned btw, just think KDot needs to do better than rip off ideas, whether they’re Lupes or someone else’s.
Aye Lupe I’m 33 so u know I grew up banging your music. Kdot has literally stolen your whoollleeee cadence and artist direction!!!! Been saying it and its actually grotesque how much he steals from you. After using people name on the control verse then stealing another artist style I’m done with bul. Plus…he’s kinda corney man
I think you reachin a little bit with the hollywood making a fake African country for the movie. It was always wakanda in the comics besides what does it matter? Africa is Africa. Once upon a time Africa was one continent one country and wasn’t separated in countries at all. That’s not really relevant to my point but whatever.
Kendick a midget and a thief hahaha
Looks inspired, but not actually stolen as they aren’t exactly the same. I’m not a judge, nor a copyright lawyer, so I can’t say whether or not it’s enough for her to have an actual case in court, but it’s not the first time art inspired a vision to be used in a music video.
I think it’s a reach.. I think it worked out in our favor because they didn’t just create an African country, they created one that was never colonized by Europeans. And look at them.. They became so much greater without their influence and oppression.
But it’s just comics.. Superman, luke Skywalker, and many more characters came from made up places.
Marvel uses real places (except for here I guess), DC makes up some random places like metropolis and Gotham. This was a marvel movie. I don’t care, I’m just saying this guy isn’t as way off as he seems.
So when Drake gets accused of biting and stealing material, he gets shitted on, but when Kendrick does it, he gets a pass? Y’all just hate to see a Canadian outshine everybody in the US with ease. Keep being salty. Real ting ya kno? #DrakeIsLoveDrakeIsLife #DrizzySZN