In a recent interview with a media house in Lagos, Ahmedu Augustine Obiabo, popularly known as Blackface, a veteran singer-songwriter and former member of the defunct Plantashun Boiz, has made serious accusations against Wizkid, Burna Boy, and Asake, alleging that they have engaged in intellectual property theft by sampling his songs without his permission.
Blackface specifically pointed out that Wizkid and Burna Boy's track "Ginger" is a sample of his own song "Twist & Turn."
According to him, the rhythms, the beat, and even the way the melody starts and ends are all taken from his original composition. He highlighted that only the verses were changed. Additionally, Blackface accused Asake of sampling his song "Ikebe Supa" in his track "Joha," claiming that his music serves as an inspiration to these artists.
While Blackface acknowledges that he doesn't mind young artists sampling his songs, he expressed his disappointment in the manner in which they go about it without seeking his permission.
These allegations by Blackface bring to the forefront the ongoing debate surrounding copyright infringement and creative ownership within the music industry.
As the discussion unfolds, it remains to be seen how the accused artists will respond to these allegations and whether steps will be taken to address the issue of intellectual property theft.
Blackface's decision to speak out about this matter sheds light on the need for open dialogue and awareness regarding intellectual property rights in the music community.
