Did Nicki Minaj Rip Off "Starships"? Listen Now!

An underground electronic composer accuses the rapper of lifting part of his work to use in her tune

Not everyone gets starry-eyed listening to Nicki Minaj's megahit, "Starships."

Just ask EDM artist Clive Tanaka, who's suing the 30-year-old hip-hopster claiming her song patently swiped elements from his instrumental ditty titled "Neu Chicago."

Per the lawsuit filed Tuesday in Illinois District Court by his company Tanaka Light Industries and a copy of which was obtained by E! News, Tanaka claims he created his original composition and recorded it sometime between March 2009 and March 2010, registering it with the copyright office in 2013.

Since publishing it in March 2010, "Neu Chicago" has since been distributed through such Internet sites as iTunes, Amazon and other services as well as been used in a TV clothing ad in Sweden among other licensing deals.

Tanaka claims that as a result of its "widespread distribution," Minaj and her camp had ample "opportunity to listen to, download, purchase and/or record 'Neu Chicago'" before releasing "Starships" in February 2012. Consequently, the plaintiff claims his work was used as the basis for the former American Idol judge's single to earn millions of dollars in violation of his rights.

"There is a substantial similarity between the music in the two songs due to [Minaj's] copying," state court docs.

Tanaka is suing the hitmaker, the producers of "Starships" and Sony Music Publishing for copyright infringement as well as damages.

A rep for Minaj and Sony were unavailable for comment.