U.S.-based Dancehall artiste Lincoln 3Dot has raised concerns about the striking similarity between his song “Bang” and the recent release “Bongos” by American rappers Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion. He believes Cardi B’s producer may have illegally borrowed elements from his track without proper authorization.
Expressing his surprise via Instagram, Lincoln 3Dot questioned, “Am I tripping?” He released “Bang” along with a music video two years ago, which amassed over 1.8 million views on YouTube. The signature “bang bang bang” hook from his song appears to have been incorporated into Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s “Bongos,” leading Lincoln to suspect that the song’s producer, James D. Steed, who has worked with Cardi B before, may have unlawfully sampled his track.
Lincoln is adamant that “Bang” was an original creation, not a sample of any existing music, as some online fans have suggested. He asserts that he and his producer, Track Starr, jointly hold the copyright for the beat, and they have earned royalties from the song’s streaming and publishing since its release.
Track Starr, a prominent New York-based producer, has worked with renowned artists in the hip-hop and dancehall music scenes. Despite the allegations, Cardi B’s team has yet to respond to the situation.