ADVERTISEMENT

Princess Nokia thinks Ariana Grande's new song '7 Rings' sounds 'really familiar' and implied the singer stole her style

princess nokia
  • Ariana Grande released a new song Friday morning called "7 Rings," along with an accompanying music video.
  • The song was inspired by the timeGrande spontaneously bought seven diamond rings for herself and six friends . Four of those friends are credited as co-writers on the track.
  • Princess Nokia posted a video on Twitter comparing "7 Rings" to her 2016 song "Mine."
  • "That sounds really familiar to me," she says in the video. "Wait, ain't that the little song I made about brown women and their hair? Hm, sounds about white."
  • Many fans on Twitter seem to agree with her, while others have noted that similar flows and lyrics have been interpolated many times before.

Princess Nokia recently posted a video comparing Ariana Grande's new single "7 Rings" with her own 2016 song "Mine," heavily implying that Grande ripped off her style.

ADVERTISEMENT

"That sounds really familiar to me," she says in the video. "Wait, ain't that the little song I made about brown women and their hair? Hm, sounds about white."

Grande dropped the hip-hop infused "7 Rings" on Friday, which is the third single from her upcoming album, "Thank U, Next." It was inspired by the time Grande had "too much champagne" and spontaneously bought seven diamond rings for herself and six friends .

"You like my hair? Gee thanks, just bought it . I see it, I like it, I want it, I got it," Grande sings in In "7 Rings."

ADVERTISEMENT

The chorus of Princess Nokia's "Mine" repeats the phrase, "It's mine, I bought it," over a similar beat. The song also references buying hair like Grande's song and appears to allude to the cultural significance of hair for black and brown women: "How we choose to wear our hair is our personal choice, ok? We bought it, it's ours."

Okayplayer music editor Ivie Ani noted that Nokia's argument seems to be "more about the hair lyric/content than the flow."

"I think ppl's concern here is specific," she wrote on Twitter . "Less about the sonic origins of 'spend it'/'mine' & more about the context of Ariana being white & rapping about buying hair and Princess Nokia rapping about buying hair and the policing of+fixation with black and brown image by white ppl."

Four of Grande's co-ring owners, two of whom are women of color Njomza, Kaydence, Tayla Parx, and Victoria Mont are credited as co-writers on the track. The song's producers, TBHits,Scootie, and Mikey Foster, are also credited as co-writers.

The song samples "My Favorite Things"from "The Sound of Music,"interpolatesThe Notorious B.I.G.'s "Gimme The Loot," and pays homage to artists like Lil Mamaand Destiny's Child.

ADVERTISEMENT

Some listeners have noted that Grande appears to be intentionally drawing from a large swath of inspirations possibly including Princess Nokia.

It's certainly true that the current state of both hip-hop and pop is one of collaboration and sampling.

Similar flows and lyrics to both "7 Rings" and "Mine" have been interpolated many times before, with many citing 2 Chainz's "Spend It" and Soulja Boy's "Pretty Boy Swag" as more possible inspiration.

Many, however, seem to agree with Princess Nokia's assessment of the similarities, with some going so far as to call it a "rip off" or "plagiarism."

Neither representatives for Nokia nor Grande immediately responded to INSIDER's request for comment.

ADVERTISEMENT

Visit INSIDER's homepage for more.

FOLLOW BUSINESS INSIDER AFRICA

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Recommended articles

Sony’s creators convention redefines the creative landscape for content creators

Sony’s creators convention redefines the creative landscape for content creators

Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa ranked as Africa's most polluted countries in new report

Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa ranked as Africa's most polluted countries in new report

10 African countries with the lowest life expectancy according to the World Bank

10 African countries with the lowest life expectancy according to the World Bank

Kenyan women are more obese than their men - here’s why

Kenyan women are more obese than their men - here’s why

Africa’s richest man Dangote stands between Europe and $17 billion in revenue

Africa’s richest man Dangote stands between Europe and $17 billion in revenue

After months of exchanging blows, Kenya and Uganda takes steps towards resolution

After months of exchanging blows, Kenya and Uganda takes steps towards resolution

Africa's first black billionaire could join $2.9 billion Vivendi bid for MultiChoice

Africa's first black billionaire could join $2.9 billion Vivendi bid for MultiChoice

10 most dangerous African countries in 2024

10 most dangerous African countries in 2024

Russia’s nuclear influence expands further north of Africa

Russia’s nuclear influence expands further north of Africa

ADVERTISEMENT