Reggaeton Star Hector Delgado Says ‘Harlem Shake’ Stole His Lyrics
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 2: (U.S. TABS OUT) (EXCLUSIVE ACCESS) Hector El Father appears onstage during MTV's mi TRL at the MTV Times Square Studios February 2, 2007 in New York City. (Photo by Scott Gries/Getty Images) (2007 Getty Images)
“Harlem Shake,” DJ Baauer’s latest hit, went viral after it hit the airwaves and made a big splash in the music scene.
The booty-shaking song with its fast-paced electronic moves is a nightclub favorite and probably the hottest song since Psy’s "Gangnam Style."
But a Puerto Rican Reggaeton artist is claiming the “Harlem Shake’s" main lyrics “Con lo terroristas!” (With the terrorists!) was stolen from one of his songs without permission.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Hector “El Father” Delgado claims the line was cribbed from his 2006 song “Maldades,” which was released when he was hot on the scene, performing with Reggaetoners Daddy Yankee, Luny Tunes and Don Omar.
The rapper-turned-evangelical preacher told the New York Times that no one told him his catch phrase was part of a popular song and he felt as though “they came on my land and built a house.”
Neither Delgado nor his lawyer returned phone calls from Fox News Latino seeking comment. But Delgado’s former manager, Javier Gómez, told the Times they have not filed a lawsuit but they are considering doing so.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}“Hector will get what he deserves,” Gómez said. “We can turn around and stop that song. That’s a clear breaking of intellectual property rights.”
Managers for DJ Baauer, whose real name is Harry Bauer Rodrigues, said they would not comment. The singer told the Times he found the song on the Internet and decided to use it -- but didn't see a problem with it because only a few seconds of Delgado's song were used.
Baauer’s song topped iTunes and Billboard charts for the past three weeks, and has also sold over 816,000 digital downloads, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The tune has also become a viral sensation as fans upload their own versions on YouTube.
Mike Viera, an entertainment attorney in Miami, told Fox News Latino a case like this “potentially can be worth thousands of dollars” if the artist decides to seek legal action.
“[Baauer] is breaching the law,” said Viera, who is not involved in the case. “The songwriters, the label and producers who worked on the stolen song, hook or lyrics will all be due money if they go to court and win the case against Baauer.”
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}When Delgado’s “Maldades” was released, he was signed with Machete Records, a sub division of Universal Music Group. Unlike Delgado, Baauer is an independent artist who is affiliated with a small record label called Mad Decent. Because he is not tied to a large record label, it's unclear whether he'd be liable for using part of someone else's song.
Baauer, Mad Decent Records and Universal Music did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
The popular song has also drawn the ire of another artist. Philadelphia-based rapper Jayson Musson said he was unaware part of one of his songs – and his voice – were part of “Harlem Shake.”
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}But Musson has been negotiating with Baauer and Mad Decent and may be paid for his work – though no agreement has been reached, according to the Times.