Several "Harlem Shake" compensation lawsuits could be on the way as two different musical acts are claiming samples from their songs were used without permission in the latest fad dance song. The two acts involved are Hector Delgado, and a rap group which Jayson Musson was part of.
According to a CBS News report on March 11, the song "Maldades" by Delgado was used, as was "Miller Time," a song performed by Plastic Little, a former rap group Musson was in. With "Harlem Shake" enjoying massive success on the charts and in sales, it seems that the artists in question are now looking for a cut of the profits.
However, if copyright infringement is discovered here, then they definitely are entitled to their fair share. Right now, "Harlem Shake" ranks up at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, with over 816,000 downloads online for digital sales.
The song "Harlem Shake" is credited to Baauer, whose real name is Harry Bauer Rodrigues. The two aforementioned acts are seeking compensation from Mad Decent Records, which has yet to comment on this news.
The original "Harlem Shake" dance, also known as "albee," was introduced back in 1981 by "Al B" a resident of Harlem. It gained more visibility and popularity 20 years later as part of the G Dep video "Let's Get It" which featured the dance moves. Twelve years later, the dance has re-emerged with the new song becoming a massive hit for Baauer.
The dance song has also been used by countless groups, ranging from high school students to cheerleaders to NBA teams such as the Miami Heat with many of the YouTube videos containing the dance enjoying viral status and high view counts.
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