Jermaine Dupri Slams Ciara:  “‘I Bet’ Is a Complete Rip Off of Usher’s ‘U Got It Bad!'”

Published: Saturday 14th Mar 2015 by Rashad
ciara-i-bet-thatgrapejuice

It looks like hitmaking producer Jermaine Dupri feels like his ‘Stepped On My Js’ co-star Ciara did just that to him with her recent hit ‘I Bet.’  As the song continues its ascent up charts on the heels of its video, more and more people have begun likening it to Usher‘s 2001 megahit ‘U Got It Bad’ – a similarity Dupri, the song’s producer, says he immediately noticed.

Now, as the dust surrounding Pharrell Williams and Robin Thicke’s 2013 hit ‘Blurred Lines’ settles (see: major legal loss over its copyright infringement of Marvin Gaye‘s ‘Got To Give It Up’), J.D. has taken to Billboard to tell Cici she’s got to give “it” up too – “it” being credit for ripping off his song.

See his fiery quote below:


On Ciara’s ‘I Bet’:

“Ciara’s new single is a complete rip-off of Usher’s ‘U Got It Bad,'” Dupri said. “I’m clear on what I made and I’m clear on how music influences people and I’m clear on chord changes and how people move things. … It might not be as evident as the ‘Blurred Lines’ situation, but I believe the same thing happened to me.”

Weighing on the Williams/Thicke/Sony vs. Gaye decision on ‘Blurred Lines’:

“I was shocked, honestly. Because it seems more like a sound and a feel and style and a genre and an era, none of which can be copy written,” he said.

Dupri told Billboard that upon hearing ‘I Bet’ for the first time, he, Usher and songwriter Bryan-Michael Cox all noticed the similarities immediately, as well as the tune’s similiarity to R&B singer Tamia‘s “Still,” another song he produced.

He has plans on contacting Ciara’s team to demand credit for the track.

The “shots fired” come barely a year after Dupri similarly slammed Katy Perry‘s hit ‘Dark Horse’ for ripping off his Dem Franchise Boys production ‘Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It.’

source

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  1. Really March 14, 2015

    Not even close

    • Faf March 14, 2015

      atleast he could’ve e said “burn” u got it bad???? Chile no!

      What he should do is try to get s remix of it since he so thirsty for money

    • maurice March 14, 2015

      He mad cos Ciara is SLAYING us with ‘I Bet’.
      I listen to that ish like 50x a day.

    • Anne March 14, 2015

      This post is INCORRECT. That is NOT JDs quote on Blurred Lines, that was Keith Urban ‘ statement. JD on the other hand said he knew it was a problem when he first heard Blurred Lines and then said the same thing happened to him with Ciara.

    • truth March 14, 2015

      Very close. I knew it sounded familiar. They just changed the pitch on certain parts. Ciara even did some of ushers ad lips( na na na)so that alone should tell you that this flop knew it was ushers song lmao.

  2. I STAN(D) FOR TALENT March 14, 2015

    #BeyInspired That woman is just pure trash. Look what her influence is doing to the music industry. She is after all the most sued recording artist of all time – a relevant record she actually holds. 😆

    • Avi March 14, 2015

      Your mom is pure trash. Look at how she added litter to the earth when she squatted down and let you fall out of her expanded tunnel.

      • I STAN(D) FOR TALENT March 14, 2015

        Pure trash. XD

    • Tyler March 14, 2015

      Was Rihanna BeyingInspired when she decided to steal FKA’s identity oops…I mean, reinvent herself for the 8th time?

      • Rihyeezy March 14, 2015

        Whoop. B**** bye steal her identity for a photoshoot? Long armed b**** stop reaching for the sky.
        Why be inspired by a b**** you badder than?

      • I STAN(D) FOR TALENT March 14, 2015

        You mean a magazine cover? LMAO!!! Stupid African. #TryAgain Have you hunted for dinner yet? You must be craving that Antelope stew your mom makes especially for you. 😆

      • Tyler March 14, 2015

        B**** I don’t know…ask Rihanna. She’s the one who was being dragged for filth on Twitter after Swagger Jacking, FKA Twigg’s look, not me.

      • Tyler March 14, 2015

        @I Troll For Talent
        This is an URBAN BLOG…why are you here don’t you have a Klu Klux Klan meeting to tend to right about now?

      • I STAN(D) FOR TALENT March 14, 2015

        What?

      • Tyler March 14, 2015

        Are you or are you not a part of the Klan? Because your “stupid African” comments are giving you away…..

    • Teacher( AOTY My Ass) March 15, 2015

      BIIIIIITCH I’m crying @ “BeyInspired’

  3. Mother March 14, 2015

    Yikes!

  4. edisondreams March 14, 2015

    I didn’t notice it at first but now that jermaine has mentioned it I do hear the similarities in the song. The hook is pretty much the same exact melody as usher’s you got it bad.. but its sung in a different key. It has the same flow. I think Jermaine is gona win this one -_-

  5. baddievix March 14, 2015

    Stfu…..

    Jermaine still mad Mariah last album didn’t do anything! U Don’t Have to Call and I Bet sound nothing alike!

    • TheElusiveLamb March 14, 2015

      No matter what Mimi’s album did or didn’t do, he still got paid. Mimi make sure her team and those who are loyal to her get paid nothing under 7 figures. Know your s***.

    • Rated R March 14, 2015

      They Clearly said “U Got It Bad”

  6. Pedro March 14, 2015

    He’s crazy? The song is completely different hehehehe

  7. I STAN(D) FOR TALENT March 14, 2015

    I don’t hear the similarities between “U Got It Bad” and “I Bet”. And as for Tamia’s “Still”, oooh yeah.

    • Credits March 14, 2015

      The chorus is the same melody, just different lyrics and pitch.

  8. BeyRihLiyah March 14, 2015

    I don’t even like Ciara but I will come to her defense on this JD is delusional u got it bad does no sound like I bet last time I checked he is broke so he just need some money ..

  9. SpoonfulofSugar March 14, 2015

    wait are the commenters above me sipping the kool-aid or what?

    th INSTANT i heard “i bet” i literally said “that sounds just like U GOT IT BAD.

  10. king z March 14, 2015

    yeah @spoonfulofsugar

    I agree. i thought JD produced it when i first heard it because it does sound just like u got it bad

  11. Slay_Hive March 14, 2015

    Ummm I Don”‘t See It! Reaching

    • Skyfall March 14, 2015

      no one asked you pathetic b****.

      • I STAN(D) FOR TALENT March 14, 2015

        LMFAO
        *Grabs Popcorn*

      • Slay_Hive March 14, 2015

        Lmao You alright girl! How are those edges coming along?

  12. Skyfall March 14, 2015

    The songs are just similar, I mean most songs tend to repeat and sound the same after a while. I mean I’m sure she didn’t produce or make the beat so he needs to be after that Harmony dude wtf his name is. Ibelieve he is reaching to call it a ripoff

    There’s a difference between being influenced and stealing. Many artist are influenced and have songs with similar beats but the overall outcome of the song is different that is the case in this. I don’t think she stole or ripped of anything from Usher or Jermaine

    • TheElusiveLamb March 14, 2015

      So true. Considering that Harmony made it, it actually sounds like all of his songs. Fantasia Side Effects of You, Michelle Williams Journey to Freedom, and a few songs of Ariana’s sounds exactly like I Bet. It’s a production thing.

      • Skyfall March 14, 2015

        Yes we shall see how this goes, you know mf don’t play about those royalty checks lol.

  13. AnnaMaeKeatingsNewWig March 14, 2015

    Yup defo see the similarities especially with the guitar riffs. Anyways who gave him permission to bring up ‘U Got It Bad’ SMH that song always gets me in my feelings *defrosts the Ben & Jerry’s and watches a chick-flick*

    • Skyfall March 14, 2015

      I prefer Ben & Jerry.

    • Skyfall March 14, 2015

      Damn lol I meant I prefer Blue Bell lol.

      • AnnaMaeKeatingsNewWig March 14, 2015

        B&J are going OTT with their flavours nowadays

    • TRUTH SERUM March 14, 2015

      @anna you are my fave.. You have me in stitches. Lol. Lmao

  14. Stephy. March 14, 2015

    Leave Cici ALONE! SUCCESS FOR CIARA!

  15. TheElusiveLamb March 14, 2015

    They kind of have the same mid tempo ballad like sound, but there are too many songs out like that. I don’t hear any direct similarities between any of the songs, so I really have no idea what JD is talking about.
    ___

    SN: That Tamia song and album is one of my favorites! #NowPlaying Tamia

  16. AnnaMaeKeatingsNewWig March 14, 2015

    The guitar riffs also sound like a slowed down version of Kandi’s ‘Don’t Think I’m Not’, but maybe i’m over thinking it

    *

    https://youtu.be/sYRiwOKJvtg?t=1s

  17. Stephy. March 14, 2015

    Leave Mariah Carey Alone.

  18. Skyfall March 14, 2015

    Influence vs Stealing is kind of a hard topic to discuss.

    For instance what song does this sound like? And would you consider it stealing or influence?

    https://youtube.com/watch?v=cZv-yVuvFi4

    • Royalkev March 14, 2015

      Omg! I’m thinking of a Madonna/Whitney mash up, ‘Express Yourself’ (verses/Madonna) and ‘How Will I Know'(chorus/Whitney)?

      • Royalkev March 14, 2015

        Wait… is it Borderline for Madonna? That’s actually one of my all-time favs from her! It’s one of the 2…

      • Skyfall March 14, 2015

        I more got I wanna dance with somebody from Whitney Houston

  19. Royalkev March 14, 2015

    The beginning is somewhat similar, but I think it’s a reach! If you played the two tracks back to back, it would certainly be a very smooth transition. It’s just not enough of the same melody to claim it’s a rip-off.

    It’s funny that Jermaine thinks ‘I Bet’ sounds like 2 songs of his that he’s written, wouldn’t that mean he tried to sell the public the same song twice?!

    • king z March 14, 2015

      THANK YOU! im sitting here thinking “isn’t jermaine basically READING HIMSELF by stating that he’s produced multiple songs that sound exactly the same?”

      granted, it’s one thing to have a style. In J.D.’s case, however, it’s easy to know when he’s produced s*** cuz they all sound the damn same.

      • Royalkev March 14, 2015

        He really does try to repeat success by diving back into the past with different artists he works with, it’s so annoying to see artists deliver the 2.0 of everything!

    • Credits March 15, 2015

      Okay, sing the chorus to usher’s you got it bad…”you got it, you got it bad, when you’re on the phone, hang up and you call right back” now sing the chorus to Ciara’s I bet “I bet you still loving me, soon as I start loving someone else, somebody better than you. Same melody. But this may be one of those blue dress/ gold dress thingS…maybe only the musically inclined can hear it.

      • RoyalKev March 15, 2015

        That’s the beginning that I’m referring to that sounds similar, but it’s such a short piece (that actually sounds like a ton of other R&B tracks), so it’s hard to pin a plagiarism claim on it! The majority of the song takes a detour from Ush’s ‘Got It Bad’.

  20. Mark111 March 14, 2015

    You can’t sue over the same cadences. It has that late 90s/early 2000 r&b sound, but that’s about it. But he also claim Dark Horse sounds like Lean With It. Sit down!

    • Skyfall March 14, 2015

      Lol that last one was definitely a reach.

      • Mark111 March 14, 2015

        But that what he was saying last year. Dude is jealous of anyone with success. But hey, he lost the few successful So So Def artist he had, lost his Def Jam job, sucked at being MC’s manager and failed to out a ring on Janet and ruined her career. You’re done!

    • BeyRihLiyah March 14, 2015

      lmaoooo he is desperate for some money

  21. CBookem March 14, 2015

    Ok the chorus has the same tone but the beat and lyrics are totally different he will lose this battle real quick

  22. Missdiva March 14, 2015

    I see what JD saying but I would have to say if it is a ripoff Ciara did a awful job
    Cause Usher’s U Got It Bad is a 1,000 times better..lyrically,production wise and overall

  23. Molly March 14, 2015

    The reach is real he needs to sit his old crusty ass down.

    • TRUTH SERUM March 14, 2015

      Oh lord, I’m agreeing with Molly. Jermaine have several glass covered seats!!!

  24. metzo March 14, 2015

    He needs to sit his tired old ass down. Nobody asked him

    • Molly March 14, 2015

      Lol thank you.

  25. kingbeybitch March 14, 2015

    He needs to shut his ass up! I don’t like the C squad and I may shade Ciara but, I bet is the best song out right now.

    • Molly March 14, 2015

      You don’t have to hate us, C Squad is a nice and caring fan base.

      • kingbeybitch March 14, 2015

        I dont hate the whole C squad tho lol

    • metzo March 14, 2015

      Yas! I bet is slaying the RnB scene rn

  26. Tyler March 14, 2015

    Was Rihanna BeyingInspired when she decided to steal FKA’s identity oops…I mean, reinvent herself for the 8th time?

    • Tyler March 14, 2015

      @I Troll For “Talent”

  27. Ajm265 March 14, 2015

    tempos and drums arre different but the piano chord progressions are very similar.

  28. The Darling March 14, 2015

    The Struggle continues for Ciara even with the video out the song is down to #61 on iTunes …. Some one buy this girl a top 10 hit

    • Badghal_intent March 14, 2015

      Well it is a Solo performing R&B BALLAD boo. Did you expect for it to hit #1 AND stick? Are you Deluded? How long has it been since your Fave accomplished THIS feat? I’ll wait….

  29. Tyler March 14, 2015

    They are both mid tempo and the cord arrangements are a lot alike. However, when I first heard “I Bet”, “You Got It Bad” didn’t come to mind at all. So bye.

  30. kingbeybitch March 14, 2015

    Man this song needs to be #1 on Hot 100 no lie. Thinking out loud and I bet slay the whole top 10 tbh.

    • Cookie Lyons March 14, 2015

      The delusion.

    • I STAN(D) FOR TALENT March 14, 2015

      You want “I Bet” to be #1 yet your fave who’s nearly pushing 40 hasn’t had one in 6 years? LOL!!!! I agree. 😆

      • kingbeybitch March 14, 2015

        What does Beyonce have to do with this? Gosh you cant go one day without mentioning Beyonce, the f****** obsession is real. I want I Bet to go #1 because its a great ass song and it does deserve to be #1. I don’t give a s*** what you think I said what I f****** said.

      • Tyler March 14, 2015

        You didn’t answer my question…Why are you here? Arent you apart of the KKK?

  31. Badghal_intent March 14, 2015

    I mean, Im Ciara’s biggest fan, but I definitely heard “U Got it Bad” on my first listen. Maybe because UGIB is one of my favorite songs. And now when I hear “Still” I hear similarities, but who TF cares? Thank U JD for your Promo. He just want some attention and money cuz he was silent before IB began blowing up the charts!

    • Mark111 March 14, 2015

      Of this will give I Bet the best promo.

    • ka March 14, 2015

      Maybe that Mariah money is runnig out and of course his black card (janet) has moved on and upgraded.

  32. LB March 14, 2015

    He is reaching so far I’m surprised he hasn’t landed on the moon yet.

    • TRUTH SERUM March 14, 2015

      Lmao

  33. Rihboy March 14, 2015

    Evidently this is a reach. I hear similarities but it’s not that serious! Leave the poor girl alone. The song hasn’t ushered in enough find to cover a lawsuit yet. Told yall subpoenas would be on deck. Smh

    • Rihboy March 14, 2015

      *funds*

    • Credits March 15, 2015

      I love how you used the word “ushered”

  34. Lake Erie March 14, 2015

    Wow. Smh. Those 3 men to sit down for real. Smh. #Csquad

  35. Isaac March 14, 2015

    Jermaine can suck a d***. This song’s been out for months and now that it’s climbing the charts he decides to say something? B**** please. He needs to accept the fact the the only thing he’s good for is ruining careers. #ByeFelicia

  36. Duke March 14, 2015

    Didn’t hear it at first cause they sound total different expected for the melody under the beat. Listen hard to the melody in the chorus of you got it bad. Then listen to I bet it’s subtle but u can hear it through out I bet. I still think hes pushing it

  37. (Rihyonce) March 14, 2015

    what drug is he on ???!!

  38. Gee March 14, 2015

    Could it be Harmony Samuels was influenced or inspired by U got it bad. I mean I think for all of that Jermaine and Ciara should hit the studio to see what they can create together. Honestly all producers nowadays have a repetitive sound no body’s sound stands out to me when I listen to music today.

  39. Slayty Perry (Superbowl Record Holder) March 14, 2015

    s is real. They sound nothing alike! And by at the reaching to compare Dark Horse to that ratchet forgotten song. If anyone should be sued for plagiarism, it’s Maroon 5. Sugar is a carbon copy of Katy Perry’s Birthday, right down to the cords and notes. They even copied the music video concept smh.

  40. JT March 14, 2015

    Now that he’s mentioned it they kinda have their similarities

  41. No favs, just here for the music March 14, 2015

    Ummmmm….I don’t hear it
    Is this a thing now? Lawsuits over songs? Lol! I listened to ‘I Bet’ on repeat while working out today, I love that song so much right now.
    You got it bad is also awesome. Thanks for the throwback.

  42. Jay March 14, 2015

    What type of pills he been taking? “I Bet” may have a similar sound in terms of melody, but the two songs are COMPLETELY different from one another! Boy bye, ain’t nobody got time for your childishness and petty s***.

  43. Kandi March 14, 2015

    She wasn’t going to call him for a remix anyway. What was his last hit How To Do The Dougie????

  44. Kandi March 14, 2015

    She wasn’t going to call him for a remix anyway. What was his last hit How To Do The Dougie????

  45. FutureCIARA March 14, 2015

    JD is reaching for dear life hunny, glad he notices a hit when it’s in front of him. He will lose this case, and Ciara and her team better protect herself legally!

  46. Terry B March 14, 2015

    I mean the beat sounds almost identical, with a few changes. He’s still a f****** hater though.

  47. Somebody watching you boy March 14, 2015

    at least her song is still doing great.

  48. Zamair March 15, 2015

    It’s a great song and I love Ci but it does sound like you got it bad but what I really wanna know is does usher actually like the song…..That’s the real tea

  49. african music lover March 15, 2015

    I didnt hear that much of a similarity between I bet and you got it bad,but it gave me Tamia Still,

  50. xedos March 15, 2015

    This is why Pharell has to appeal that ruling. That ruling was too broad.with that ruling,
    Parliament can suit Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson for uptown funk.
    That song sound just like pfunk. Bruno song treasure Kool and the gang could suit them also. You should not be able to suit someone for using a vibe. It they use the same arrangement then you suit. This ruling open a whole can of worms.

  51. #JACKIE March 15, 2015

    LMAO! Delusion and desperation! That ugly pug needs to sit down and stop hating on QUEENara!!!

  52. eric March 15, 2015

    I’m one of the first people ready to call out a song for sounding like another. I never once thought of U Got It Bad. Jermaine is upset because he wasn’t able to do for Janet and Mariah what someone is clearly doing well for Ciara.

  53. Navy Nick March 15, 2015

    JD? Have a seat., actually the whole damn row. BYE!

  54. @rihicon March 15, 2015

    now that he’s said it they do kinda sound the same….

  55. Ellen H March 15, 2015

    Wow, this sounds nothing like Usher’s song. Somebody must be money hungry, or at the very least FULL of himself. If I were Ciara and Jermaine Dupri, Usher or anyone tried to give me any serious trouble, I would hire a lawyer or countersue. That’s just my own two cents on the matter… 😛

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