Did Producer Timbaland Steal From the Demoscene?

[LoadWB]

This is more than just coincidence, for certain.  When processed, you can hear the original in the background of the song "Do It."  Not just sounds like it, but IS IT recorded into the song.

Look, if you're going to steal, don't be so stupid as to include the evidence of the crime.  Cripes, these are probably the same people who video themselves breaking into a house and leave the tape behind.  (Or DVD, or memory card, or whatever your favorite recording media is :-))

[LoadWB]

Neat.  $1050, eh?  Back in high school I designed a 16 SID sound card.  It was decoded into stereo channels, eight SIDs each, by dividing up the I/O space in $DE00 for left and $DF00 for right.  Later I figured out that the 128 had better I/O space decoding and set it up to work in other ranges, including SID's mirror space using raw decoding of the address bus.

I wish I had built it.  At least I'd have 16 extra SIDs laying around now :-)

[LoadWB]

Not for nothing, but because I still own C64 hardware, I happily play SIDs on my laptop's crappy speaker using DeliPlayer or SIDplayer.  There's a SID player for the Amiga that I like as well.  But Stereo SID Player on a real C64 is tops.  mmmmmmmm of course there's the 8580 in the 128D, not exact, but I won't rehash any debates on the differences in sound and quality.

ANYWAY, the possibility of them having paid $1050 to steal this makes me feel a little better that there was a bit of a sting.  Although, it's not enough.

I sent an email to UMG (Universal Music Group, parent group of Geffen Records) pointing to the massive discussions about this.  Being MLK day, I doubt they'll see it until tomorrow, if they "see" it at all.  I also found Timbaland's MySpace profile and left a comment there, as well as an email.  I doubt the comment will make it past moderation, though.

[LoadWB]

Excellent... "on the cover of the Rolling Stone" hehehehe

THAT will get peoples' attention.  And rightly so.

So my gf and I had a discussion about this tonight.  I am pretty ripped about this situation.  No, I have nothing at stake personally, but I have very deep issues with a person taking credit for someone else's accomplishments, creations, and so forth.  It is simply not right.  Like I posted on the Daily Hook,

And that is where it all falls: the unquestionable talent of those who truly create. Think about Tempest and GRG — lowly, unsigned, talented trackers unknown in mainstream popularity. How many people dream of the “accidental discovery.” I know as a hobbyist actor I kind-of hope that one day someone will see me and say “Hey! I want that guy in my movie!” (I will even settle for a commercial!) So Tempest creates a piece of original track work, and maybe one day someone like Timbaland comes along as says “Yo, dawg, yo $h1+ is tight! I wanna take this to the top with some phat beats and vocals. What you say?”

Instead, he just flat-out steals it. He did not even bother to kiss them or leave a couple of bucks on the dresser.

My statement does not address the intricacies of the situation, GRG cover of the Tempest original, but the principle remains.

Anyway, she does not get it, and I am sure a lot of people do not get it either.  Damn shame.

[LoadWB]

Timbaland et al are pretty smart not to say anything at this point, provided they (all involved) are not planning on settling amicably.

[LoadWB]

Maybe he should have listened better to his lawyers.

I am sorry, but the fan-kids will have to take a dive.  First off, it was not "sampled," it was played in its entirety in a song which he claimed was his original creation.  Secondly, his own industry calls this "theft," even though this is incorrect -- most honest professions would call what happened "plagiarism."  He took someone else's work and claimed it as his own.  I guess that this is okay if you are under a deadline to produce an album.

And his argument about what is public domain and what is not simply does not hold water.  Again, his own industry says that if you are unclear as to the status of a piece of work, you should simply steer clear, erring on the side of not stepping over the boundary of the original author's rights.

"What's up" with these guys?  No, Timblahland, what's up with you?  This kind of arrogance alone merits punishment.

[LoadWB]

I have to agree that the issue of symantecs is definitely a grueling point over this issue.

So...

Timbaland did not sample Tempest's song, he ripped it.

Timbaland did not steal the song, he used it without permission.

Timbaland did not write the song, he plagiarised the original.

Timbaland is not a thief, he is plagiarist.

Timbaland is not creative, he is a con man.

And it was not a video game, jerk, it was a real song.

Timbaland took someone else's work, slapped his name on it and profited from the deception.

Even so, the comment about taking it from a video game is a slap in the face of musicians who create music for video games.  Look at some of the great music from games in the Amiga past: Shadow of the Beast, The Killing Game Show, Silkworm, and I'm sure plenty of people have their favorites (my favorite from the PC is Incoming.)  I have a couple of CDs of game sountracks, my favorite being "Robotech: Invasion."

Timbaland is also an arrogant a$$.

[LoadWB]

I wonder...

TechWeb: Timbaland To Release First Mobile Album On V-Cast

[LoadWB]

I just did.  For better or for worse :crazy: