Table of Contents
- Concern Over Intellectual Property Theft
- Lack of Originality in Afrobeats
- Impact on Upcoming Artists
- Veteran Artists and Song Theft
- Interview with Hip TV
Music artist Okafor Uchenna Victor, widely recognized as Mr. Real, has voiced his concerns regarding what he perceives as a significant level of intellectual property theft within the Nigerian music industry.
The ‘Legbegbe’ hitmaker asserted that Afrobeats, as a genre, lacks originality, emphasizing that many songs and concepts within the industry have been appropriated.
He pointed out that emerging artists are the most affected, yet they often do not receive justice because they lack sufficient support to raise awareness about these injustices.
Mr. Real also mentioned that even established artists like Blackface, who frequently speak out against song theft, have, in the past, utilized other artists' intellectual properties without permission.
During a recent interview with Hip TV, Mr. Real addressed the allegations that Rema had stolen his fellow artist Omah Lay’s intellectual property, suggesting that such occurrences could be plausible given the dynamics of the music industry.
“Blackface always complains about his songs being stolen. Afrobeats lacks original songs; even Rema might have taken Omah Lay's song. If you don't pay attention, you might miss a bad idea, and the guys will take it. There’s no time to waste.
“Song theft occurs more frequently between emerging artists and established stars, but the newcomers don’t have fans to advocate for them. There are no original songs in Afrobeats. Even those who claim ‘they stole my song’ have copied from others,” he expressed in Pidgin.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Mr. Real's stance on intellectual property theft in the Nigerian music industry?
Mr. Real believes that there is a significant level of intellectual property theft in the Nigerian music industry, particularly affecting emerging artists who lack the support to seek justice.
How does Mr. Real view the originality of Afrobeats?
Mr. Real claims that Afrobeats lacks originality, stating that many songs and ideas have been stolen rather than being original creations.
What did Mr. Real say about the allegations involving Rema and Omah Lay?
Mr. Real acknowledged the allegations that Rema stole Omah Lay's intellectual property and suggested that such incidents could occur frequently in the music industry.
