Asake, 2Baba, Wizkid… 5 artistes Blackface accused of sampling his songs

Blackface is a Nigerian dancehall, ragga, reggae singer, and songwriter who enjoyed fame in the early 2000s, courtesy of the now-defunct music group Plantashun Boyz.

Founded in 2000, Plantashun Boyz — which consisted of 2Baba, Faze, and Blackface — dominated the music scene for four years before they eventually went solo in 2004; although they reunited briefly in 2007 for just one more album.

During his solo career, Blackface appeared to have lost his Midas touch and was unable to attract the kind of attention he enjoyed while he was in the music group.

The reverse was the case for 2Baba who won a plethora of awards and gained global recognition for ‘African Queen,’ a hit track off his 2004 album titled ‘Face 2 Face’.

A disagreement would later ensue between the pair after Blackface accused 2Baba of stealing the 2004 hit song from him.

This was followed by a series of lawsuits, social media outbursts, and a diss track against 2Baba.

Since then, Blackface has also called out a number of contemporary singers for allegedly stealing parts of his songs without consent.

In this piece, TheCable Lifestyle examines five artistes — 2Baba, Wizkid, Banky W, Burna Boy and Asake –who have been at the receiving end of Blackface’s copyright infringement saga.

2BABA

Since 2015, Blackface constantly tackled 2Baba for recording ‘African Queen’ which he claimed he wrote.

In 2017, he argued that 2Baba “sabotaged” his career in the music industry and “plotted to deprive me of my shows for the past eight years”.

Blackface called out 2Baba in interviews and social media outbursts and later released his version of the song in 2019.

“I wrote the song, I decide who sings it and I decide who doesn’t sing it,” Blackface had argued to justify his move.

Listen to ‘African Queen’ by 2Baba below:

Listen to ‘African Queen’ by Blackface below:

After a court case followed, it was reported that the duo signed an undisclosed settlement agreement in late 2019.

WIZKID AND BANKY W

Blackface, in 2018, took legal action against Wizkid and Banky W for alleged copyright infringement.

In the lawsuit, Blackface sought a declaration that ‘Slow Whine’, a song from Wizkid’s debut ‘Superstar’ album (2011), is a reproduction of ‘Like The Way’, a record he put out in April 2010.

He also argued that the vocal rhythm, melodic progression, and lyrical content of principal parts were lifted from his song.

Blackface demanded N40 million as damages for “musical plagiarism” and infringement of his recording.

Listen to ‘Like the Way’ below:

Listen to ‘Slow Whine’ below:

WIZKID AND BURNA BOY

Blackface accused Wizkid and Burna Boy of sampling his song without giving him credit in November 2022.

He said their collaboration ‘Ginger’ borrowed heavily from his song ‘Twist and Turn’.

‘Ginger’ is a track from Wizkid’s 2020 album ‘Made in Lagos’ while ‘Twist and Turn’ is from Blackface’s 2019 album ‘Rising Sun’.

Listen to ‘Twist and Turn’ below:

Listen to ‘Ginger’ below:

ASAKE

Blackface’s most recent accusation is against Asake.

In a recent interview, the singer claimed Asake sampled his song ‘Ikebe Super’ in ‘Joha’.

‘Ikebe Super’ is from Blackface’s 2016 album while ‘Joha’ is a track of Asake’s 2022 debut album.

Listen to ‘Ikebe Super’ below:

Listen to ‘Joha’ below:

Blackface also averred that he is not against artistes sampling his songs but is worried about the manner in which they go about it without seeking permission.