Ademola Olonilua and Eric Dumo
Veteran dancehall act and a former
member of the defunct Afro-pop singing trio, Plantashun Boyz, Ahmedu
Augustine, widely known as Blackface, has called on fellow musician,
Wizkid, to “stop stealing” his songs.
Blackface who spoke exclusively to Saturday Beats
earlier in the week, said the young hip-hop artiste had been copying
many of his songs for a long time but he decided to keep quiet just to
let peace reign. The Benue State-born raga performer however said he
decided to speak out now because he could no longer sit and watch
someone else take the glory for his efforts.
The latest controversy follows the release of a new song by Blackface titled Killa where he was believed to have taken a swipe on Wizkid for allegedly copying many of his songs especially two tracks from his Dancehall Business album released in 2010.
“I never really wanted to talk about it all this while but after people started checking out my new song, Killa, many felt Blackface sounded like Wizkid, which I didn’t like.
“If you check properly, you would realise that Wizkid’s hit, Ojuelegba,
sounds exactly the same as the track 13 on my dancehall album released
as far back as 2010. You need to listen to that album to know what I am
talking about. The song is so similar that I think it shouldn’t be that
way.
“Well, in Killa, I sang that
“they tried to copy my melody,” and the bloggers got a hint of the gist
and put their reports out. What I said is the truth and I am going to
get to the root of this matter because I deserve justice.
“The Ojuelegba song has made so
much revenue for Wizkid. I am not bothered about that but I want the
industry to be in a position whereby people will understand that some of
the artistes and the songs they are cheering is someone else’s efforts,
especially fellow artistes that they are doing everything to bring
down. All they are doing is to bring down Blackface and to say that he
is not relevant in the industry. Some people are bent on killing my
legacy. I believe there is definitely a gang-up against me in the
industry and this has been going on for a long time,” he said.
Asked if he had taken on Wizkid
personally on the matter, the dancehall artiste said he did his best in
that regard but that the response from the Star Boy act shocked him. To
get justice on this issue, Blackface disclosed to Saturday Beats that he could seek legal redress if Wizkid or others do not refrain from stealing his intellectual properties.
“There was a time Wizkid followed me on
twitter and I told him that I don’t want him taking my songs and that if
he wants to do any of my rhythm, he should let me know. I told him that
because I was just being a big brother to him. I told him that our
songs can’t be sounding so similar and that if he wants anything, he
should let me know. But after some time, he ‘unfollowed’ me and it was
shortly after then that the Ojuelegba song was released. I
don’t have any problem with Wizkid or any other person, all I am saying
is that they shouldn’t be tampering with my songs because those are my
properties.
“Wizkid and I do different kinds of
music and he doesn’t have my type of skill. I don’t have a problem with
that. I am only bothered when somebody takes my song and tries to turn
it around into theirs without giving me due credit,” he said.
Efforts to reach Wizkid to react to
Blackface’s claims proved abortive as his phone numbers were switched
off. His manager, Sunday Are, couldn’t be reached as his line was
switched off as well.
Wizkid has been in the news lately for a
similar allegation. Hypertek Music artiste, Dammy Krane, also recently
accused him of stealing one of his songs. The controversy degenerated
into a physical fracas with Wizkid reported to have thrown a glass cup
at Krane which injured him during a night out at a club in Lagos. The
two are believed to have since mended fence.
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All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
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