Rihanna is accused of using local gqom artist Busiswa’s hit nommer without paying royalties for it - and Twitter is die moer in.
Riri used the song Midnight Starring in her latest Fenty Beauty promotional video online.
In the video she wears a thigh-high jersey, lamming on a couch, then applies foundation to her face as the mu is klopping.
She tweeted to her 102 million followers: “The way y’all skin bout to be litty! I hate talking too long for zoom meetings and dem early FaceTimes!! Get into this new @fentybeauty #EazeDrop Blurring Skin Tint for that instantly smooth, blurred skin.”
The way y’all skin bout to be litty! I hate taking too long for zoom meetings and dem early FaceTimes 😜!! Get into this new @fentybeauty #EazeDrop Blurring Skin Tint for that instantly smooth, blurred skin. pic.twitter.com/HeULlwfT1y
— Rihanna (@rihanna) March 26, 2021
The song is by DJ Maphorisa, and features vocalist Busiswa, DJ Tira and Moonchild Sanelly.
The award-winning gqom muso called out the B!tch Better Have My Money hitmaker, tweeting: “Nah. @fentybeauty just used a REMAKE of Midnight Starring with my voice, to avoid paying us for it. I’m sad but it’s the game I guess.”
Nah. @fentybeauty just used a REMAKE of Midnight Starring with my voice, to avoid paying us for it. I’m sad but it’s the game I guess😕 https://t.co/JZuscm6oE2
— #MSOTS Out NOW!! (@busiswaah) March 26, 2021
Angry tweeps plakked stamps op, with @LenkoeTaylor saying: “We love you Riri, but you not gonna disrespect South African Artists and get away with it...Pay @busiswaah her money now for putting her voice on that sample of her song...”
We love you Riri ,but you not gonna disrespect South African Artists and get away with it...Pay @busiswaah her money now for putting her voice on that sample of her song...Thin lentombazana ,iyandifuqa
— Siya🇿🇦🦁 (@LenkoeTaylor) March 26, 2021
@mduncube wrote: "Why do people feel it’s okay to steal and just take from Africa...”
Why do people feel it’s okay to steal and just take from Africa... Why?... Talk with Busiswa please wena Sphongo please @rihanna pic.twitter.com/WQdZ9DTqqV
— NduMncube (@NduMncube) March 26, 2021
But Twitter was divided over expectation of royalties, as Zayd tweeted: “It’s a sample, she doesn’t have to pay for sh!te. It’s not going to reflect in your account, why do you care??? Say thank you for the recognition and move on.”
Busiswa was the voice of reason, replying: “No, relax. She might not even be personally aware. And sampling music and not paying vocalists is legal practice. Right?”