This happens way too often in the music industry. A big name artist releases a song. A week later, a little known artist pops up and contends that he had the idea/track first. What’s unique about this case is that it involves two incredibly talented wordsmiths, Nas and Wordsmith.
Nas’ “Surviving the Times,” produced by Chris Webber, turned up last week as part of his Greatest Hits compilation. Wordsmith’s “As the Art Fades Away,” produced by Strada, was supposedly recorded in 2006. The common thread that weaves both tracks together is the lush, soulful sample of the Wiz’s “What Would I Do If I Could Feel.” However, Word’s version has a harder-hitting bassline than the C-Webber-produced Nas joint.
According to a statement I received from Strada, Wordsmith’s song was also registered with ASCAP last year. I did a quick database search with ASCAP to verify that claim. True enough, “As the Art Fades” has been registered under Wordsmith’s name, but there’s no indication of the year it was added. It’s also worth noting that the song has never been officially released. In fact, Word states in the email that he intends to release the official version of “As the Art Fades Away” as the first single from his debut on December 1st.
Granted, both songs share a sonic resemblance. Conceptually, though, Word’s song is more similar to Snoop Dogg’s “Imagine” than “Surviving the Times.” Nas’ joint has a more personal feel to it, since he’s detailing his own experiences as an aspiring MC. Nas is not a biter, he’s a writer for himself and others.
Which one made a better impression on you?
Wordsmith – “As the Art Fades Away” (Produced by Strada)
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Nas – “Surviving the Times” (produced by Chris Webber)
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["As the Art Fades Away" audio supplied by Hurricane Ivan]
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