Former Idols contestant Botlhale Phora has accused popular producer and DJ Prince Kaybee of infringing the copyright of a song he sent to him in 2021.
Botlhale said he sent the song via e-mail in 2021 hoping for a collaboration.
He alleges that Kaybee used his melody without crediting on acknowledging him and subsequently blocked him on TikTok and other social media platforms after he called him out.
Botlhale said that Kaybee never responded to his email acknowledging receipt of the song and then released a remake of it three years later without involving him.
“I sent it to him in 2021 now he’s using my melody without contacting me. He even blocked me on TikTok now. I heard the song on TikTok and called him out for not including me in a song I had sent him. He never responded to my email acknowledging receipt of the song, then he plays it three years later without me jumping on it – That is not fair, at least get me on the song and we work together, don’t just claim it as your own, then block me.”
BOTLHALE’S SONG
Kaybee responded to the accusations in a now-deleted social media post, where he denied Phora’s claims and used derogatory language toward him.
“Se kae s*f*b* seo (Where is that bit**), he must also show me where have I ever spoken to him and bring the evidence. Botlhale, stop playing games bit**, where is the song you gave me and show me how you gave me?” Prince Kaybee said.
PRINCE KAYBEE’S SONG
Botlhale provided evidence of the email he sent to Kaybee, including the address and date.
Kaybee later clarified that he was not attempting to insult anyone and reiterated that he had never received or replicated Botlhale’s song.
He emphasized that the two songs in question were distinct, with different keys and chord progressions.
While acknowledging similarities in approach and energy, Kaybee denied any intentional appropriation, attributing any resemblance to his creative process and the use of a familiar template.
He apologized for his initial reaction, citing anger as a contributing factor.
“I got worked up by the allegations that aren’t true. I still stand by my previous stance, I don’t know him. I have never received or replicated his song and I do not use that email address because I have a personal email. To address the songs, we can all hear they are two different songs, in different keys and don’t even share similar chord progressions so to say I stole the song, is reaching really ,” he said.