Legal Drama

Legal Drama: Did Rapper Tipsy Plagiarize Rapper Fizzy’s Song “Emi Ni Baale”? You Decide!

I spent last night into very early hours of the morning completely taking down the AfricaMusicLaw.com and  UduakLaw.com websites and revamping them with a new look. I dream in colors people, often. My talents and creativity  knows no boundaries and obviously I am not shy to state the obvious.  LOL! Hey, it is what it is. 🙂 In any event, my dose of caffeine  to keep me company was Sauce Kid’s Carolina ft. Davido. That song was on  repeat until completion of my websites. Along the way, I stumbled into the song ‘Emi Naa Ni’ by OluwaTipsy who is signed to JJC’s Big Boyz.

I was quite shocked when I saw Tipsy credited as the rapper. I have heard many Tipsy songs and even published a couple on Ladybrille platforms. But, I have never seen Tipsy spit fire as strong as she did on her Emi Naa Ni track. I enjoyed the track so much I thought I needed to share her as an AML Artist of the Week and give her, her due shine. But, I was a bit disturbed that I “slept on her,” so much so I decided to investigate this track. How did I miss such amazing song and the fact that Tipsy “destroyed the beat and also the Yoruba language on the beat? It is impossible, ” is what I thought.

Tipsy owned this song. She raps about how fly she is, America’s Next Top Model wants her. She raps about her  good looking she, she is like Halle Berry. LOL! Her lyrics were so funny, definitely street and just funny. She says don’t get it twisted. She can be completely glamorous but in a minute switch up and be “hood.” She says even the street calls her “mama.” LOL! Her flow, delivery and punchlines are so on point and effortless and in many instances funny. Anyway, I go to find her and this track and what do I see? A big battle on Notjustok.com where rapper Fizzy accuses Tipsy of plagiarizing the hook of Emi Naa Ni. Her track was published about the ending of October and early November when this storm kicked off. There are so many issues raised on a copyright front and a couple of jurisdictions (countries) involved. I will take that on at a later date. For now, you get to wear the black robe first i.e. the Judge’s robe.

You decide. Plagiarism or no plagiarism?

Loosely translated, “Emi Ni Baale” means “it is me/I am the one, bow down i.e. show some respect when I show up ” in the Yoruba Language. “Baale” depending on the context used can have dual meanings. The phrase is also a common slang.

“Eni Naa Ni Baale”  means the same meaning above but the “naa” emphasizes the presence of the person making the assertion. It is almost like punching yourself in the chest to assert power and demand you be respected and obeyed in the presence of those you demand respect from.

Listen to the two tracks. The accusations are twofold: 1) a theft of the concept of “emi ni” from Fizzy and; 2) the  sampling  (theft) of the portion of the song (the hook) by Tipsy. After I hear your thoughts, I will get into Nigerian copyright law and make my ruling. Court is now in recess. All rise. BIG SMILE.

Fizzy’s Emi Ni Baale

[audio:https://africamusiclaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/FizzyWizzy-Emi-Ni-Baale.mp3|titles=FizzyWizzy Emi Ni Baale]

Tipsy’s Emi Naa Ni Baale

[audio:https://africamusiclaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Tipsy-Emi-Naa-Ni.mp3|titles=Tipsy Emi Naa Ni]

 

Africa Music Law™

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ABOUT THE FOUNDER

Credited for several firsts in the fashion and entertainment industry, Uduak Oduok (Ms. Uduak) is a fashion and entertainment lawyer, speaker, visionary, gamechanger, trailblazer, and recognized thought leader, for her work on Africa’s emerging global fashion and entertainment markets, and the niche practice of fashion law in the United States. She is also the founder of ‘Africa Music Law,’ an industry go-to music business and law blog and podcast show empowering African artists. Her work in the creative and legal industries has earned her numerous awards and recognitions, including an award from the American University Washington College of Law for her “legal impact in the field of intellectual property in Africa." She has also taught as an Adjunct Professor at several institutions in the United States. For more information, visit her at https://msuduak.com.

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