Group Claims Black Eyed Peas Stole 'Boom Boom Pow'

By PopEater Staff Posted Jan 28th 2010 06:19AM

Call the lawyers! A singer that goes by the name of Phoenix Phenom and her fellow co-writer are suing the Black Eyed Peas, claiming that the group stole a song they submitted to Interscope records and that it was later turned into the Peas' number one hit 'Boom Boom Pow' illegally. While there's no way to verify when the tune was submitted to Interscope or if the Peas ever got their hands on it, let's go ahead and compare the two songs, shall we? Listen/compare below!

Phoenix Phenom's 'Boom Dynamite'

BEP's 'Boom Boom Pow'

In a statement published by HipHopWired.com (via Perez), a lawyer for Phoenix Phenom says: "My clients submitted their copyrighted song 'Boom Dynamite' to Interscope Records after Interscope had shown interest in some of their music, and the Black Eyed Peas later copied the song when they wrote "Boom Boom Pow." A simple listening of the two songs will tell you that the songs are substantially similar, and that the hooks of the two songs are virtually identical in rhythm and lyrics."

The Black Eyed Peas' key songwriter, Will.I.Am, has been accused of musical plagiarism several times in the past. Will and the entire Peas clan was sued in September of 2009 on similar ground, when the group Grounded Music claimed that Fergie's song 'Voodoo Doll' was a "substantially and strikingly similar" to their tune 'Waterfall.'

Earlier in 2008, they faced similar legal claims when the group Freeland accused them of stealing their song 'Mancry' for the Peas tune 'Party All the Time.'

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Fergie Snapshots

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 27: Singer Stacy "Fergie" Ferguson arrives at the world premiere of Touchstone Pictures' "When in Rome" held at the El Capitan Theater on January 27, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Stacy "Fergie" Ferguson

Getty Images

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Fergie Snapshots

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 27: Singer Stacy "Fergie" Ferguson and actor Josh Duhamel arrive at the world premiere of Touchstone Pictures' "When in Rome" held at the El Capitan Theater on January 27, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Stacy "Fergie" Ferguson;Josh Duhamel

Fergie Snapshots

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 27: Singer Stacy "Fergie" Ferguson and actor Josh Duhamel (R) arrive at the world premiere of Touchstone Pictures' "When in Rome" held at the El Capitan Theater on January 27, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Stacy "Fergie" Ferguson;Josh Duhamel

Fergie Snapshots

Tags: black eyed peas, Fergie

Comments

(39)

Thursday 28 January

By frank

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Yeah.... not similar at all. Now "ice ice baby" and "Pressure", that's a stolen beat. I do like "Boom Dynamite" though.

By Tim

Good song, but not even close to Boom Boom Pow, with the exception of the word Boom. I hope they're going to sue Webster's Dictionary, which also included their word.

By Maggie

Boom Boom pow, hmmm I say that every time something goes right for me. Am I using their copyrite? NO! nor are the BEP`s but you can`t blame them for trying, anything to make a bit of cash if both records had been in the charts together the Pheonix Phenom`s wouldn`t have got anywhere, `cos they don`t have the right sound to make a hit.

By angie

Surprisingly, I do like the Phoenix song but it sounds nothing like the Peas song. Like other people said, the word "boom" is the only similarity. I have a feeling they filed this lawsuit with hopes that this would put them & their music out in the public eye (which it did)and hopefully gain popularity. Still like the song though!

By shirl

In this case, where there is smoke there is NOT fire. Phoenix Phenom's 'Boom Dynamite' sounds like countless cheerleading songs ala "Bring it on" where the word "boom" is very popular. I do not hear any similarities between the songs, i.e. structure, main hook, etc. There are similarities whereas both have "boom" in the song title and both have clapping. I seriously believe that Phoenix Phenom is grasping for her 15 minutes of fame. To me, it looks like Phoenix Phenom is just looking the quick buck by riding on the BEP coattails, I like her song, but because of her claims, I refuse to give her any more credence.

By Paul

It's hard to believe this crap ever even made the charts. Music has really gone down hill over the years. Not many real musicians I guess.

Friday 29 January

By Michael P

So because they both used the word BOOM the Black Eyed Peas "stole" the song from them? Sure, okay....

By kwestion19145

Anyone who can't see similarities between the two songs is in denial or deaf. They're not exact copies but the groove is definitely the same and the main hook is very similar. It's more than likely that Interscope passed this on to BEP because it works with the style of the band and they just tweaked it and housed it for themselves without giving proper credit. It happens alot unfortunately. With BEP's history of plagiarism, it looks like a good case. It all depends on how much of a paper trail Phoenix left in protecting their property.

By Callahan'sMartiniShaker

OK thanks to the wonders of technology you can actually play the two songs over each other and see that they share nothing lyrically or musically with the exception of Boom Boom, they do not even seem to share the "pow"

That said Pheonix Phenom's song was more entertaining but:

Missy Elliot might like to thank Phoenix Phenom for her imitation as flattery or possibly accuse her of attempting to steal Missy's flow.
Britney Spears might want to sue for the hallway dancing, basketball references which look like they are all straight out of "Hit Me Baby One More Time"
Bring it On might want to sue Phoenix Phenom for the cheerleading opening
Toni Basil might also want a word for the Micki You're So Fine reference.

There's a great deal of "glass houses" and hazardous stone throwing going on here.

I prefer "Click Click Boom" to both of them.

Saturday 30 January

By Tammera

They sound nothing alike! Who are they kidding? But they have now put there name out there and maybe it will help them get off the ground? I'm sure that was the intention from the start....

By jen

Bep all the way,better sound better words better looking!!! there is always one who has to try to break it when they don't make it. I am a fan of BEP. :)

By y

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This is one of the worst songs oever to be created so who cares, whoever gets cretited with this song should just be embarassed.

By dacy

nice song but no way black eye peas stole that song ..Boom Dynamite is nice still but drop the case lady cause it over ..gotta get that boom boom pow..that my daughters favorite song so i love that song!

Sunday 31 January

By Sam

It is only theirs if they have a monopoly on the word boom

By jim

Who stole what?!!OOO baby you're so fine'seems to me some else's rhyme!!The defense rests.

Tuesday 02 February

By Angie

The first random band's song is derived from an old cheer we used in 7th grade cheerleading...back in...2001.

Thursday 11 February

By tiggie

I'm sorry to say it, and if the music handn't been in the hands of interscope this may be a different conversation. BUT the peas definitely bit.... so sad. but its pretty obvious.

Wednesday 03 March

By Tropicned

If you listen to the Black Eyed Peas song towards the end they are even mocking the fact they stole their song. "Them chicks are jacken my style, they tried to cover my swagger... I'm talkin two thousand eight, you sold too thousand late."

Whatever you say black eyed peas. You're busted. YOU STOLE THIS SOUND. Just goes to show that looking slick alone is not talent. Now this my friends is WHAT Copyright infringement is: Using other people's ideas and selling them as your own. Not file sharing. Take them down.

Thursday 04 March

By bgut2

I think Phoenix Phenom has lost her mind. The only thing that's the same about these songs is boom boom. Get a life and stop trying to make money off the BEP.

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