Black Eyed Peas - Plagiarists!

Producers such as Danger Mouse, Madlib, and Automator have tastefully sampled the duo's much-loved '60s and '70s film songs, but others have not been so classy about it. The Black Eyed Peas borrowed from two Kalyanji Anandji songs on "Don't Phunk With My Heart," a track that won a 2005 Grammy. Ready for some deja vu? The intro to that ubiquitous party jam is a sped-up sample of a song from the popular Hindi movie "Don." Maybe the Peas were having a bout of writer's block, so they grabbed a rhythm and melody from the soundtrack to the film "Apradh."

While Kalanji died in 2000, his younger brother Andandji is still around, scratching his head and wondering where his royalties are. According to Mumbai-based newspaper Sunday Mid Day, Andandji has called the Peas' label, A&M, several times. "The label told me that I've been given credit, but is keeping me in the dark about royalties," Anandji says in the newspaper report. "I'm just asked to call back, but no one tells me whether or not the issue will be settled." Kalyanji Anandji are indeed credited in the Peas' "Monkey Business" liner notes for the two samples, but the original recordings are actually owned by Indian label Saregama India Ltd.

The Peas' phunky thievery doesn't end there. The group also snatched lyrics from "I Wonder If I Take You Home," a 1985 hit by Lisa Lisa and the Cult Jam, which you can also hear by clicking below. PMH has nothing against sampling or covers, but the Peas copped so many elements on "Don't Phunk"--samples, melody, rhythm, and lyrics--that it seems strange that they won the Grammy for it.

"We fused Lisa Lisa with Bollywood and Miami bass [on "Don't Phunk"]," said Pea Will.i.am in an April 2005 story on MTVnews.com. "So that's a whole new, different sound."

Different? Dunno, Will. It actually sounds pretty familiar.