‘It would be resolved quickly’ – Mr Eazi admits to lifting part of Zaaki Azzay’s song

Mr Eazi, Nigerian Afrobeats singer, has admitted to the copyright infringement allegations made against him by Zaaki Azzay, veteran musician.

Azzay had recently taken to Instagram to call out Mr Eazi and Sarkodie, Ghanaian hip hop recording artiste, for “lifting” ‘Marry Am’, his 1996 single, for the production of ‘Do You’, their recently released collaborative single.

“Hello @Sarkodie & @MrEazi , this is to let you know that my song “Marry Am” has been lifted in your newly released single “Do You”. I released the monster hit way back in 1996, and i want to believe that you guys should know the consequences of copyright infringements,” he wrote.

“This is a massive violation of my musical copyright dues and the illegal exploitation of my intellectual property as i haven’t been contacted for permission/approval for the lyrics of my song to be used.

“It’s high time African Artistes wake up to know that copyrights violations/infringements is stealing&theft and hence a big crime.

“My next next line of actions will be made private for now…. THANK YOU!!!”

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Hello @Sarkodie & @MrEazi , this is to let you know that my song "Marry Am" has been lifted in your newly released single "Do You". I released the monster hit way back in 1996, and i want to believe that you guys should know the consequences of copyright infringements. This is a massive violation of my musical copyright dues and the illegal exploitation of my intellectual property as i haven't been contacted for permission/approval for the lyrics of my song to be used. It's high time African Artistes wake up to know that copyrights violations/infringements is stealing&theft and hence a big crime. My next next line of actions will be made private for now…. THANK YOU!!!

A post shared by Zaaki Azzay (@zaakiazzay) on Sep 2, 2019 at 4:44pm PDT

According to ChannelsTV, the ‘Banku’ music propagator owned up to sampling Azzay’s song but added that the issue “would be resolved quickly”.

“I actually reached out to him, we were messaging earlier today. I am going to get on a call with him to really get to the bottom of that. I am sure it would be resolved quickly. Zaaki is one of my idols growing up you know,” he said.

“There is a sample. Actually, if you listen to the song, you will hear it in the beginning and you will see that there is actually a sample. So, it is an undeniable sample and I am sure he will be given, if he hasn’t already been given, his publishing split on that record.”

Recently, Katty Perry, American singer, was ordered by a court in the US to pay Marcus Grey, US gospel rapper, the sum of $2.7 million as compensation for a song of his which was lifted.

Eight Mile Style, Eminem’s publisher, similarly filed a lawsuit against Spotify, a Sweden-owned audio streaming platform, over alleged copyright infringement.