Ice Spice Sued For Copyright Infringement Over "In Ha Mood"

BYGabriel Bras Nevares1.9K Views
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Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival - Day 1
Ice Spice performs at the Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival - Day 1 at Dodger Stadium on November 11, 2023 in Los Angeles, California (Photo by Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty Images)
According to TMZ, fellow drill artist D.Chamberz sued the Bronx MC and her producer RIOTUSA for copying his 2022 track "In That Mood."

Ice Spice's "in ha mood" is definitely one of her better tracks in her short but stacked catalog, but it allegedly might be its most derivative. Moreover, fellow drill artist D.Chamberz sued her and her producer RIOTUSA for copyright infringement, according to TMZ. He claims that the Bronx MC and RIOT copied his January 2022 song "In That Mood," which is another drill song that repeats this phrase with a similar cadence. Not only that, but according to The Neighborhood Talk, Chamberz went so far as to allege she stole his narrative content, as well as the production, the rhythmic phrasing of the chorus, and the song and lyric writing in general.

Furthermore, D.Chamberz theorized that RIOT could've heard the song played often in the New York City area he lived in, and that he even got airplay on Hot 97, so this could've made him come across it. He also says he recorded "In That Mood" a full year before Ice Spice dropped her SNL highlight track. "in ha mood" is certified gold by the RIAA, which means there's a significant financial incentive for Chamberz to claim rightful ownership of this single. Reportedly, he seeks half of the publishing rights to "in ha mood," damages, and other forms of revenue.

D.Chamberz Sues Ice Spice Over "In Ha Mood": Listen

Of course, this adds to the many, many, many copyright infringement lawsuits that artists file in the music world every day. However, there's no telling whether this case will go very far, or whether it will get cut early on in the legal process. For one, D.Chamberz brought this suit forth well after "in ha mood" became a hit, and the drill genre is full of thematic overlap, common slang, and very similar beats. As such, purely from a fan perspective, it's hard to truly say what else Ice Spice could've copied from "In That Mood" beyond using that phrase in a similar way, which should be nothing new to anyone reading this.

Meanwhile, with more music videos, a debut album, and a Coachella slot on the horizon, we're sure the 23-year-old's career will continue with no hiccup regarding this. We're not saying that the lawsuit won't move forward, but that she has the numbers to not really worry about this anymore. Whether that's good or bad for the music industry is for you to decide. Regardless, come back to HNHH for the latest news and updates on Ice Spice.

About The Author
Gabriel Bras Nevares is a staff writer for HotNewHipHop. He joined HNHH while completing his B.A. in Journalism & Mass Communication at The George Washington University in the summer of 2022. Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Gabriel treasures the crossover between his native reggaetón and hip-hop news coverage, such as his review for Bad Bunny’s hometown concert in 2024. But more specifically, he digs for the deeper side of hip-hop conversations, whether that’s the “death” of the genre in 2023, the lyrical and parasocial intricacies of the Kendrick Lamar and Drake battle, or the many moving parts of the Young Thug and YSL RICO case. Beyond engaging and breaking news coverage, Gabriel makes the most out of his concert obsessions, reviewing and recapping festivals like Rolling Loud Miami and Camp Flog Gnaw. He’s also developed a strong editorial voice through album reviews, think-pieces, and interviews with some of the genre’s brightest upstarts and most enduring obscured gems like Homeboy Sandman, Bktherula, Bas, and Devin Malik.
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