"I don't steal music": Kuami Eugene defends himself against lingering accusation

Kuami Eugene Denies Stealing Songs, Emphasizes Sampling in Music

Ghanaian singer Kuami Eugene has addressed allegations of stealing songs. He firmly denied these claims during an interview on Hitz FM.

Kuami Eugene explained that sampling is a normal part of music production. He feels there is excessive scrutiny of his work compared to other artists.

"I don't 'steal' music," he stated, defending his creative process. He draws inspiration from various sources to develop his unique sound.

He compared himself to international stars like Michael Jackson and African icons Davido and Wizkid. Kuami Eugene believes borrowing musical elements is common in the industry.

"There’s nothing wrong with taking a line or two," he said. He modifies them to fit his style, which he argues is standard practice for professional musicians.

He expressed frustration over being criticized more than his peers. "It seems like every time I release a hit, I’m scrutinized," he noted.

Kuami Eugene emphasized that music evolves through inspiration and collaboration. His latest hit, "Belinda," is currently performing well.

Music journalist Gabriel Myers Hansen supports Kuami Eugene's stance on sampling. He finds it unfair that Kuami faces such criticism while others do not.

Hansen mentioned a previous case involving the song "Wish Me Well." The original was sung in French, yet people accused Kuami of stealing it.

He questioned why Ghanaians often label their artists as thieves while overlooking similar cases with Nigerian musicians.

In another discussion, Kuami Eugene revealed what he charges for collaborations. He noted that he charges secular artists more than gospel musicians due to potential earnings differences.

He also admitted feeling uncomfortable negotiating rates with gospel artists and pastors.