According to TMZ, the song in question is Sequence’s 1979 single, “Funk You Up.” A rep for the trio (which consisted of Angie Stone, Cheryl the Pearl and Blondy) thinks their song served as an influence for “Uptown Funk,” which earned Bruno and producer Mark Ronson this year’s Grammy for Record of the Year. Per TMZ:
The group’s rep, Kali Bowyer, claims the hook to both songs are the same, and there are other similarities as well.
A lawsuit hasn’t been filed. The Marvin Gaye family’s winning lawsuit against Robin Thicke and Pharrell for “Blurred Lines” has already set a precedent for song sampling gripes.
“This is not and has not been an overnight issue, nor following the Grammy bandwagon party,” Bowyer tells VIBE. “This fight did not just begin, the issues and paperwork date back going on close to two years, over the songs ‘Uptown Funk’ and ‘Funk You Up,’ and with the issue in respects to Bruno dates back to the actual release date of “Uptown Funk.”
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