Big artistes are sabotaging underground artistes by ‘stealing’ their songs – Imrana

Imrana Abdul Latif with the stage name Imrana, who is known for the song Imagine Say, in a conversation with the Graphic Showbiz recently, disclosed that some big artistes are into the habit of stealing songs of unknown acts.

“I know this is a difficult issue to raise but somebody has to say it the way it is. Sincerely, some of these big artistes are just sabotaging underground artistes by stealing their songs.

“I know there are few bold ones who have come out to tell their story but they don’t get justice because they are fighting against giants.

“Unfortunately, this issue has been shelved but I believe it is time for an open discussion since it is killing the energy of young artistes,” he said.

Though Imrana avoided mentioning names of the culprits or even citing examples, he said it had been a “long tradition” which should be addressed since it is unfair to new acts.

Imrana also accused sound engineers and producers of aiding the top acts because they mostly sell the idea and songs to such big artistes.

“I don’t blame these artistes entirely because some sound engineers and producers sometimes give the songs to them.

“For instance, when a young artiste records but doesn’t have the resources to master or complete the production and leaves it with producers, they sell them and defend that it is their property which is not right.

“I’m expecting a lot of bashing for this but I’m very ready for it because somebody has to stand up for the truth,” he said

Up and coming artistes complaining of their songs being stolen is not a new thing. In 2012, Asem released a Hip-Hop track, Show Something off his Solid Ground album.

Shortly after the release, Purp’man, a Ghanaian rapper based in Chicago, USA, accused Asem of allegedly stealing his beat which he (Purp’man) used for his song Y U Bore. Purp’man claimed he released his track before Asem’s album.

In 2014, the Dancehall act, Nautica, accused Hiplife artiste Guru of stealing his song, Oboompa. In the same year, Hiplife artiste Rashid Metal also clashed with Stonebwoy over the hit song Baafira when he accused the latter of allegedly stealing his intellectual property.

The latest alleged music theft came up last year when rapper Kweku Smoke accused Dancehall artiste, Shatta Wale of stealing the beats for his Yedin song when he played it for the Taking Over hitmaker.