According to documents filed by the rapper's legal team in the US District Court in New York, and obtained by US news outlet TMZ:
"Any comparative analysis of the beat, lyrics, hook, rhythmic structure, metrical placement and narrative context, by musicology experts or everyday listeners alike, demonstrates clearly and convincingly that 7 Rings copied [You Need It,] I Got It".
In his filing, the rapper points out the similarities between the songs' hooks.
His lyrics are:
"You need it, I got it. You want it, I got it."
While Ari's hook is:
"I want it, I got it, I want it, I got it."
DOT also claims that, in 2017, he played his track to meetings with industry execs – who later worked with Ariana. Two years later, in early 2019, 7 Rings was released.
The hit single, which spent eight weeks at number-one on the Billboard Hot 100, has been nominated for two Grammys this year – Record Of The Year and Best Pop Solo Performance.
The singer has opened up in the past about struggles that come with fame, describing life on the road while she's touring as "wild".
"I feel everything very intensely and have committed to doing this tour during a time in my life when i'm still processing a lot ... so sometimes i cry a lot!"
The 26-year-old continued:
"I'm sharing this because i'm grateful and because i want you to know that if you too are hurting, you can push through and are not alone. it is hard to balance taking care of the people around you, doing your job, and healing / taking care of yourself at the same time... but i want you to know, you aren't alone and i think you're doing great."
