Nicki Minaj Sued For Copyright Infringement Over “Starships”

Nicki Minaj is being taken to court over her massive 2012 pop-crossover hit "Starships," according to the Chicago Tribune. The report states that Chicago electronic artist Clive Tanaka has filed court papers alleging that Minaj lifted his 2011 track "Neu Chicago" to create "Starships." Minaj's song set a Billboard chart record when it debuted in the Hot 100 top ten upon its release and then stayed in the top ten for 21 consecutive weeks.

Tanaka, a mysterious underground musician, claimed in papers filed in U.S. district court in Chicago that Minaj took pieces of his song, which had been receiving airplay throughout the U.S. and oversees and, along with producer RedOne and other collaborators in Sweden, may have heard the song and used parts of it to create the super smash. The song was used in a marketing campaign for a Swedish drink company and for a clothing company.

"We believe they are similar to the point that it is nearly impossible for it to be a coincidence," said Tanaka's attorney Christopher Niro. Tanaka had apparently uploaded a remix of his song mashed up with Minaj's to show the similarities over a year ago.

Minaj's "Starships," below, has over 146 million views on YouTube as of press time.