Blogs / Emeka Obi / Insincere

Insincere
December 28, 2009

They say imitation is the most sincere form of flattery. In no instance in my life have i found that to be true. Imitation without credit to the original source is annoying at least and at most a punchworthy offense.

That being said i would like to punch someone at HBO square in the nose. Not a regular punch but that "Rock you in your face/stab your brain with your nose bone" 95 era Mobb Deep without the Summer Jam Screen kinda punches.

Their latest campaign promoting their new show "How to Make it in America", which we've at 10.Deep have been championing as it stars Kid Cudi a part of our family, totally lifted part of our Fall 2009 promotional campaign for their commercial.

Never know to be a conspiracy theorist by any degree, I would be the first to say it was chance. When originally watching the commercial i had it on mute and noticed the frame similarities, the shots from the Brooklyn Bridge and all. Then it was brought to my attention that they used the same song that we had chosen for our video which kinda cemented any wavering thoughts on the guilt of the opposing party.

10.Deep Fall Promo vid

10.Deep Winter 2009/2010 Photoshoot Preview from 10 Deep on Vimeo.

How To Make It In America Trailer

Creativity is often pilfered from the few and redistributed amongst the masses. Who's it hurting? Ideas are free!

The fight for that piece of integrity leaves us with a bruised ego for not being recognized for our ideas and them with a black eye for taking a Cleveland Steamer on people who have been supporting their programming.

Trust, the black eye heals faster

All I can ask for is credit. In the form of a check with commas instead of decimal points.

editors note: to be honest face punching had never been in my repitore of doled out punishments. the most I can muster is an occasional stink eye and a searing insult. so if you see my coming out of HBO In cuffs, trust it won't be for the charge of assault

1 Responses

  1. STREET BONERS and TV CARNAGE » JAPANTHER AREN’T SELL OUTS — THEY’RE VHS COLLECTORS on January 15, 2010

14 Comments

  1. Posted by: JGoods on December 28, 2009 at 8:30 pm

    That's pretty wack. I know the feeling of getting ideas ripped off.

    If it makes you feel any better, yours is 10X more dope.

  2. Posted by: slangeditor on December 28, 2009 at 10:04 pm

    its a bummer, but at least you know that creatively you are on point... and that most people in more advantageous (financial) positions above you - aren't. that's how I look at things these days. the more worked up you allow yourself to be, the more angry you'll be. don't get me wrong though, I feel you 100%.

  3. Posted by: A.R on December 28, 2009 at 10:06 pm

    Stealing a product or something physical like an ipod is one thing.
    But there is nothing worse than stealing an Idea.
    That is 10x worse than everything else.

  4. Posted by: g on December 28, 2009 at 10:27 pm

    cmon man they just used the same song.no need to be bitching about it like this.

  5. Posted by: Peso on December 28, 2009 at 10:48 pm

    what song is playing?

  6. Posted by: mars_concepts on December 28, 2009 at 11:04 pm

    That's fucking wack!!!!

  7. Posted by: Noboru on December 29, 2009 at 3:46 am

    Think about the possibilities of calling HBO out!

    1. 10DEEP x Kid Cudi X HBO collaborative effort.
    2. 10DEEP vs. HBO all out beef!
    3. Absolutely nothing.

    They say the squeaky wheel gets the grease... As your ego's bruising heals, use this time to strengthen the point of impact. I think that's what most great leaders in society did when they were struck by injustice.

  8. Posted by: Emeka Obi on December 29, 2009 at 10:52 am

    Challenge by Japanther

  9. Posted by: clockwiseDC on December 29, 2009 at 12:27 pm

    It's def a bitch to see something like that so i hear u on this.
    its cool though we all know that 10deep put it out first...

    similar to our brand here in DC...Clockwise vs. Cadillac..

    Clockwise:
    http://www.vimeo.com/6093067

    Cadillac:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVN9rHhwK3A

    so yea i def feel u brah

  10. Posted by: Emeka Obi on December 29, 2009 at 12:38 pm

    That one's a lil tougher to prove since its just the song and and the song is already super popular. With ours you can see a direct correlation of the imagery and who the hell has even heard of Japanther?

  11. Posted by: PESO on December 29, 2009 at 1:35 pm

    they should have used a ninjasonik song

  12. Posted by: Stan on December 29, 2009 at 10:28 pm

    So 10Deep were the first people to ever use that song in a video of any kind? right. And no one else in the future is ever allowed to use this song in any kind of video ever again? your acting like you own the song and they stole it from you. You don't own NYC either.

  13. Posted by: Emeka Obi on December 30, 2009 at 12:57 am

    You missed the entire point of the blog. We work in a business based on ideas. Ideas that are as or mir important than the fabric that they are printed on. When a good idea is fodder for public consumption then it's inevitable that it will influence another idea. But when someone is getting paid for an idea or influence that you've introduced. It's only right that the original party be acknowledged. I'm pretty sure is some kid were watching you get dressed every morning and wore exactly what you wore every day to school it would go from flattering to annoying real quick. Until you got a job ad a stylist and you get paid for people following your rules of dress. Then that kid should be paying you for your advice. Such is the case here.

  14. Posted by: IAN VANEK (JAPANTHER) on January 6, 2010 at 3:23 pm

    Both videos simply use the highly available imagery that the songs lyrics describe. Consider this video made for the same song way before 10 Deep spot was ever posted.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1Qr-QEQmZI

    FACT: 10 Deep never approached or compensated JAPANTHER for use of their intellectual property "Challenge." In a business based on ideas that's theft...

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