Allegations by Blackface are malicious, unfounded – Now Muzik

Admin l Friday, March 22, 2019

LAGOS, Nigeria – Management of Now Musik has reacted to allegations levelled by Augustin Ahmedu (Blackface) on Innocent Idibia also known as 2Face Idibia and General Manager of Now Musik to the effect that they stole his musical work, ‘Let Somebody Love You’, which he allegedly wrote when he and 2Face Idibia were in Plantashun Boyz.

But in a statement, Now Musik said it is not true that Innocent Idibia, AKA 2Baba has failed or refused to respond to the ridiculous accusations by Austin Ahmedu AKA Blackface.

According to the recording company, What 2Baba and our founder/CEO, Efe Omorogbe have done is refuse to create time to engage in an unproductive media banter with Blackface every time he wants to release new material. 

“Both 2Baba and Omorogbe have stated publicly that Blackface’s claims of song theft and media/live performance blacklisting are unfounded and malicious.  Blackface has been advised to seek legal redress if he believes his claims are true and if not, cease and desist from making unsubstantiated defamatory public statements about both 2Baba and Omorogbe”, Now Musik said.

It added that Blackface’s refusal to file a suit or discontinue the defamation forced “our lawyers to institute a defamation suit against him at the Lagos State High Court. His lawyers have entered a defence and the case is currently on-going”, the company said.

It added that 2Baba and Omorogbe are confident that the court will handle the matter and will not fuel a media trial by commenting on a case that is already before a competent court of law. 

“The position advanced in a press statement issued on February 3, 2016 remains the same and no further response is deemed necessary. 

The Blackface Allegations : Setting the Records Straight – Efe Omorogbe

When my attention was drawn to Blackface’stwitter rant about the ‘theft’ of his songs by his ex-band mate 2Baba, my initial reaction was to ignore what I perceived as an obvious marketing gimmick for his new single. The reaction from a vast majority of people on social media who read about the allegations was evidence that the ploy had backfired. Blackface’s press interviews since the twitter rant has made it necessary for me to present the flip side and set the records straight.

1. 2Baba and Blackface do have a bunch of songs they co-wrote in their days as Plantashun Boiz.
2. Both artistes have collectively and individually recorded and commercially released materials from this collection.
3. 2Baba has always given Blackface (Austin Ahmedu) co-writing credit every time he recorded any song that has Blackface’s input – No matter how minimal.
4. Blackface has neither given 2Baba (Innocent Idibia) co-writing credit nor sought ‘permission’ to record any of the materials they jointly authored.
5. Blackface has earned royalties off his shared publishing rights for about a decade.
6. A huge chunk of income he has made derives from royalties earned by the commercial exploitation of the successesful materials performed/recorded by 2Baba.
7. 2Baba did not and couldn’t have stolen ‘Let Somebody Love You’ from Blackface.  The song was released about 2 years ago. Blackface complained about his name being misspelt on the CD sleeve and we personally apologised to him.
8. Yes. Blackface contributed to the writing of the first verse of the song. The second verse was entirely 2Baba. Bridget Kelly wrote her verse and Efe Omorogbe wrote the outro verse.
9. Efe Omorogbe is not 2Baba’s manager on ‘Let Somebody Love You’ but a co-writer.
10. The outro verse was lifted from the song ‘How?’ written in 1997 and recorded in 1999 at Dolphin studios, Surulere. Blackface didn’t write that bit. Couldn’t have written that bit. Blackface cannot in 2016, touch Efe Omorogbe’s writing from 1997.
11. Blackface should be honoured to have shared co-writing credit with 2Baba. I am. For each and every song we have collaborated on.
12. Blackface should be grateful 2Baba recorded their co-authored materials to ensure a lifetime of royalty income for him.
13. Blackface should record and release his own version of ‘Let Somebody Love You’ and keep 100% publishing on that version. Oops! 2Baba will still be entitled to a share.
14. Blackface is not in 2Baba’s league as a songwriter. Their post-Plantashun Boiz’ catalogs speak for themselves.
15. Blackface should go to court to seek redress if he indeed believes he has a case.
16. Blackface should know that nobody ever secured a court judgement via a twitter rant or media tour.
17. Blackface must have realised by now that the unfortunate tirade has not made “Killa” a hit. At least, not at the moment. We grind our way to the results we seek bro. Just HARDwork. No short cuts!