Credit: Maarten van Maanen

Pharoahe Monch landed the biggest hit of his career in 1999. The Queens rapper’s debut single, ‘Simons Says’, is a symbol of New York rap, carried by its ferocious vocals and menacing beat. However, it was the production of the song that also led to its downfall.

‘Simons Says’ was released as the lead single for his debut album, Internal Affairs. The song snuck into the Billboard Hot 100 at number 97, while reaching as high as number three on the Hot Rap Songs chart. A remix also appeared on the project with features from Busta Rhymes, Method Man, Redman, Lady Luck, and Shabaam Sahdeeq.

After the sample introduces the song, Monch boisterously raps, “Get the fuck up/ Simon says, ‘Get the fuck up’/ Throw your hands in the sky/ Queens is in the back, sipping ‘gnac, y’all, what’s up?/ Girls, rub on your titties/ Yeah, I said it, rub on your titties/ New York City gritty committee pity the fool /That act shitty in the midst of the calm, the witty.”

Monch produced the track alongside Lee Stone, using a distinctive sample of the theme song from the 1992 film, Godzilla vs. Mothra. It serves as the basis of the record, and, quite frankly, wouldn’t have the same impact without it. The sample wasn’t cleared by Rawkus Records, leading to a hefty payday when they came knocking.

The 52-year-old pins the blame on his record label refusing to clear the sample when they knew of its origins. Then, when they were given another opportunity to pay a small amount, they decided to ignore the notice. As a result, they had to pay close to half a million dollars to the Japanese entertainment company, Toho.

“[Rawkus] posed as an indie, but they had the power of a major,” Monch told The Premium Pete Show. “They had a sample clearance department. Here is the fucking sample information, b. Do your job. When we got served, I was cutting grass in Queens, and some man comes up to me. [He said], ‘Troy Jamerson?’ [I said], ‘Yeah, that’s me.’ Slides me the paper. I turn the lawnmower off and look at the shit. I’m like, ‘Oh shit.'”

He continued, “Named in the lawsuit is myself, Priority [Records], and Rawkus. But the shit was like $14,000 or whatever. And I’m like, ‘All right, no problem.’ They’re like, ‘We’re not paying it.’ And then the next reincarnation of this shit was fucking $375,000 or whatever crazy, astronomical amount, before they were like, ‘Holy shit.'”

Following the release of his album, which Monch claims sold around 300,000 copies, ‘Simon Says’ was getting licensed for many films and television shows. With the song appearing in multiple movies that summer, it’s no wonder Toho were wondering where their money was. As a result, they sued for copyright infringement and asked them to stop distributing the song.

The Godzilla vs. Mothra theme song is officially titled ‘Gojira Tai Mosura Akira Ifukube’, and produced by Japanese composer Akira Afukube. He developed Godzilla’s roar and also worked on 1954’s Godzilla, 1956’s Godzilla, King of the Monsters!, 1962’s King Kong vs. Godzilla, and many others in the franchise.