Ghanaian highlife and afrobeats artise, Kuami Eugene has responded to numerous accusations that he steals songs by sampling music from other musicians.
In an interview on Hitz FM, Kuami Eugene clarified misconceptions surrounding his creative process.
“I don’t ‘steal’ music,” Kuami Eugene asserted firmly, countering the persistent rumours surrounding his work.
He emphasized that as an artiste, he finds inspiration from different sources and often adds distinctive components to create his own sound.
“Every artiste takes influences from different places,” he explained, highlighting the collaborative nature of the music industry.
Referencing legendary figures like Michael Jackson and popular Nigerian artists such as Davido and Wizkid, Eugene made a case for the common practice of borrowing lines or melodies.
There’s nothing wrong with taking a line or two and modifying it to fit my style,” he stated confidently.
“It’s a part of how we create music, and it’s something that professional musicians do all the time.”
In spite of his justification for sampling songs, Kuami Eugene expressed his disapproval of the criticism he receives in comparison to other musicians.
“I feel like many artists can get away with it, but for me, it’s like every time I release a hit that includes a line reminiscent of another artist’s work, I’m criticized.
“It’s disheartening because I put a lot of effort into making my music original while drawing inspiration,” he lamented.
His comments highlighted the discussion regarding creativity and uniqueness in the music business.
He further reiterated that music is an evolving art form that thrives on inspiration and collaboration.
“At the end of the day, we’re all trying to create something beautiful that resonates with our audience,” he concluded.
