Mantse Aryeequare, the organizer of ‘Chalewate’ festival has waded into the lawsuit rapper Obrafour filed against Canadian singer Drake.
According to him, the sound that Drake sampled for his ‘Calling My Name’ song is his (Mantse Aryeequare) intellectual property and does not belong to Obrafour.
Hello @Drake the intellectual property more specifically the ‘KILLER CUT’ sound which was sampled in your song “Calling My Name” belongs to me Mantse Aryeequaye and not to @IamObrafuo, he said in a Twitter post.
Mr. Mantse alleged that Obrafour is a thief trying to steal his intellectual property and a cheat who has never paid him a dime after over 20 years of work.
On April 19, 2023, reports went viral that Obrafour has sued Drake for copyright infringement.
The lawsuit arises from Drake’s use of a sample from Obrafour’s song “Oye Ohene (Remix)” in his track “Calling My Name.” Despite being denied permission by Obrafour and his team, Drake still used the sample, causing damage to Obrafour’s reputation and potential financial loss in royalties.
Read his tweets below;
Hello @Drake the intellectual property more specifically the 'KILLER CUT’ sound which was sampled in your song "Calling My Name" belongs to me Mantse Aryeequaye and not to @IamObrafuo.
— #ChaleWote2023 (@Accradotalt) April 19, 2023
2. @Drake Rights to the said 'KILLER CUT’ sound were never relinquished to @IamObrafuor and was used
by Edward Nana Poku Osei aka Hamma, Producer of Obrafuors album on Obrafuor’s song
as he did with others.— #ChaleWote2023 (@Accradotalt) April 19, 2023
. @Drake I Mantse Aryeequaye maintain my intellectual property rights and claim over all my artistic works
including the "Killer Cut" sound you sampled off "Oye Ohene" remix used on Obrafuor’s album.— #ChaleWote2023 (@Accradotalt) April 19, 2023
3. @Drake my lawyer Kofi Bentil esq. of Lex Praxis Incorporated kbentil@lexpraxis.net who is pursuing this matter has informed me of a lawsuit against you solely in the name of @IamObrafuor .
— #ChaleWote2023 (@Accradotalt) April 19, 2023
4. @Drake This is to confirm I [Mantse Aryeequaye] insist that
although @IamObrafuor has interest in the matter, he is not the owner of the right, and cannot
assert it, definitely not alone, or make any demands for sole compensation for its use.— #ChaleWote2023 (@Accradotalt) April 19, 2023
5. @Drake I wish to convey firmly as owner of the right and request that you consult my lawyer Kofi Bentil kbentil@lexpraxis.net
before you take any
steps regarding claims for compensation for the use of the intellectual property of Mantse Aryeequaye. You've been notified.— #ChaleWote2023 (@Accradotalt) April 19, 2023
Hi Mike @iamobrafour I'm disappointed at your actions. Would be good to tell the public the truth about this matter or I will be forced to lay out how you've never paid a dime for any of my works on your songs over the last 20yrs.
— #ChaleWote2023 (@Accradotalt) April 19, 2023
For the record @iamobrafour filed a law suit to lay claim to my intellectual property without notification. Mike I expect you to tell the truth about this matter or I will .
— #ChaleWote2023 (@Accradotalt) April 19, 2023
Mike @iamobrafour please tell your coons
I've been trying to get you to meet my lawyers since @Drake released that song. You cannot claim compensation on my intellectual property that you also didn't pay for. We can revert to what I suggested last year and keep it moving.— #ChaleWote2023 (@Accradotalt) April 19, 2023