Veteran reggae musician Majek Fashek told Punch Newspaper that Timi Dakolo infringed on his copyright law by stealing his classic Send Down the Rain from the album Prisoner of Conscience in 1988. song in 2013.
Timi released his version in 2013.
An infuriated Majek called Timi a sub-par artiste and compared him to his peers, fellow The Voice Nigeria coaches 2Baba, Wizkid and Olamide.
I felt bad when I learnt that he worked on my song without my consent. He did not even give me credit. He is a very bad artiste and he took advantage of the circumstance that I was facing during that time. The song is not a normal song; it is a spiritual hit song. Timi Dakolo does not know how I suffered to get that song. I fasted for seven days before I got that song. I partook in three days ‘white’ fasting before the song came to me. Timi Dakolo did not go through that. I did not fight him because I do not have time. Let God judge us.
He broke the rules of copyright. He is a thief because in music business, he must take permission before he works on someone’s song. That is why we have COSON. I did not give anyone the right to do anything with my song. I have a management team I work with headed by Omenka Uzoma. Dakolo never bothered to look for me before stealing my song. He has infringed on the laws of copyright and he is not an original artiste. It is only people like Tuface, Wizkid, Olamide that are original.
Timi Dakolo responded to the allegations on his Instagram page, saying he rightfully paid Majek’s manager for the rights to remake the song, and he even has the receipts to prove it.
MY PEOPLE IT TRULY SADDENS ME TO SEE SUCH… I ALWAYS TRY TO DO THINGS RIGHTLY AND LAWFULLY… I PAID HIS MANAGER TO REMAKE THE SONG,I GOT MY INVOICE…I EVEN MENTIONED TO HIM DURING OUR REHEARSALS AT THE HEADIES.. SO HONESTLY I DONT UNDERSTAND THIS WRITE UP… OGA MAJEK FASHEK..I RESPECT AND LOVE YOU…YOUR VOICE GIVES LIFE TO LYRICS… YOU ARE ONE OF THE BEST MUSICIANS I KNOW..GOD BLESS YOU..
Here’s Send Down the Rain