Roddy Ricch Hit With Copyright Lawsuit Over Violin Sample in 'The Box'
Roddy Ricch and producer 30 Roc face a copyright infringement lawsuit in Manhattan federal court over the hit song "The Box."
Roddy Ricch faces copyright lawsuit
California musician Greg Perry claims "The Box" copied elements from his 1975 song "Come On Down," specifically its distinctive violin opening. According to the 18-page complaint, expert musicology analysis confirms that the ascending minor scale played by violin at the beginning of "Come On Down" appears six times throughout the song.
Perry's track has been previously sampled in other notable songs, including Young Jeezy's "Wordplay" (2008) and Yo Gotti's "I Remember" (2016). Perry maintains a 60% interest in the song's copyright after Island Def Jam licensed it for Jeezy's "Wordplay."
"The Box," released in December 2019 on Ricch's debut album "Please Excuse Me for Being Antisocial," achieved significant success:
- Reached #1 on Billboard Hot 100
- Received three Grammy nominations
- Named Rolling Stone's Top Song of 2020
- Generated 866 million streams in 2020
Atlantic Records representatives have not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the lawsuit.
The complaint emphasizes that "Come On Down" has maintained popularity in both R&B and rap communities, establishing clear access to the composition. The lawsuit alleges unauthorized duplication of certain elements, including beat, lyrics, hook, rhythmic structure, metrical placement, and narrative context.
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