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Braxton Accuses Duo of Swiping Song
Thu Oct 10,10:36 AM ET
NEW YORK (AP) - Toni Braxton (news) says one of her songs was stolen by Jay-Z and Destiny's Child singer Beyonce Knowles.
Braxton says a few months ago, she laid down tracks for "Me and My Boyfriend" and was going to include the tune in her new CD, due out next month. But a rep for her label says she let her friend, Def Jam Records chief Kevin Liles, get a sneak preview of the song, which also includes a sample from Tupac Shakur's song "Me And My Girlfriend."
Braxton says Jay-Z and Knowles heard the song and used part of the hook and melody for their duet, "Bonnie and Clyde." The publicist says Braxton sees what happened with the song as "unethical."
In an interview on a New York radio station, Braxton was even more forthright with her feelings, saying Knowles and Jay-Z are taking money out of her kids' college funds. Braxton is currently expecting her second child, with her husband, Keri Lewis of Mint Condition.
Jay-Z's camp is defending the rapper against Braxton's allegations. Kayne West, who produced the duet, tells MTV he "had no idea" that Braxton was planning to re-do the song. As for the idea that someone at Def Jam got wind of the idea and beat her to the punch, West says "she can't act like ain't nobody ever heard 'Me and My Girlfriend."
West says he could understand Braxton's beef if it was an original song, but notes that people hear Tupac's song all the time. "It's just coincidence. I came up with the idea while listening to Shakur's music."
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