Fresh Family is made up of Pala-Fresh, V-Fresh and M-Fresh.
Speaking to unWrap.online recently, Pala-Fresh expressed his disappointment about Vikta Juiceboy sampling the group’s song without the express right to do so.
“I spoke to all my guys and they all said no one spoke to him, what he did was take the law into his own hands by going ahead with the release of the song even after I told him not to do so when he uploaded a short video singing on social media.
“He ended up blocking me and the next thing I see is, it’s on YouTube,” he says. Pala-Fresh says the group laid a criminal complaint to teach upcoming artists to refrain from “stealing people’s songs”.
He says the group are pushing for professionalism within the music industry.
“They need to know that when you steal someone’s song, you are going to jail.”
‘Superstar’ features on Fresh Family’s recently launched album ‘Itashipu.’
Pala-Fresh is demanding that Vikta Juiceboy should remove his version from YouTube and all social media platforms.
“I will only withdraw the case if he takes the song off YouTube and we sit and talk like professionals. “We don’t want to bring down any upcoming artist but it doesn’t mean when you are a fan of someone, you should copy them, don’t be a copycat,” he says.
Pala-Fresh, however, applauded Vikta Juiceboy’s talent but said he should have followed the “necessary procedures”.
“Never play with anyone’s hard work,” he says.
Vikta Juiceboy struck back to say he did get permission from the producer to remake the song.
“The remake of the song or sampling is a whole misunderstanding, the thing with Fresh Family is that we couldn’t even get hold of any of them, you talk to this one and the other comes to say something else.
“They didn’t have a manager that time. I only got a call from a manager today. I have really been trying to get hold of them until I eventually spoke to their former producer AB Pro, who told me he has rights to the song,” says Vikta Juiceboy.
“That whole group is just messed up, I have really tried and I also spoke to Veiko (V-Fresh) and he said it was okay. I know there is no written contract but I tried to get hold of them,” he says.
AB Pro has strongly distanced himself from these allegations.
“I produced the song and wrote the chorus, which naturally entitles me to a certain ownership as composer and shared author, as everyone wrote their verses.
“I got a call from Juiceboy and referred him to Pala-Fresh and V-Fresh seeing that I’m not authorised to make decisions in Fresh Family,” AB Pro says.
Vikta Juiceboy’s management recently released a press statement disputing the allegations of plagiarism, citing a “managerial misunderstanding”.
“The allegations are false and will not be entertained. The Juiceboy team does not condone any unethical dealings.”
‘Superstar’ was released in 2010, topping the charts and earning the group a nomination at the 2011 Namibia Annual Music Awards.
Namibian Society of Composers And Authors Of Music CEO John Max says he advised Fresh Family to pursue legal action.
“Yes, I advised them to open an infringement of copyright works case,” Max says. – unWrap.online
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