In recent weeks, Kenyan Arbantone music has been dominating discussions, drawing both praise and criticism from various quarters.

Emerging as a novel sound within the popular Gengetone music genre, Arbantone is swiftly making its mark on the Kenyan music scene, fueled in part by viral TikTok challenges.

Arbantone represents a creative fusion, involving the remixing of existing songs’ beats, lyrics, and sounds, often inspired by specific music genres or riddims.

However, amidst its rising popularity, questions surrounding the legality of this music genre have surfaced.

During a recent FaceTime interview, Kenyan artist Versatile stirred controversy by asserting that Arbantone music is illegal, warning of potential legal repercussions for artists and producers.

Seeking clarification, Versatile engaged in dialogue with DJ Reem, a prominent figure in the music industry.

” YouTube does not have that much of a problem but spotify and Apple Music That’s a big problem,” Dj Reem answered.

DJ Reem shed light on the legal intricacies, highlighting potential risks faced by Arbantone artists. While platforms like YouTube may pose fewer concerns, streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music present significant challenges.

Unauthorized use of instrumentals could lead to legal action, including lawsuits and the removal of content.

Moreover, DJ Reem emphasized the importance of obtaining clearance from original producers to avoid copyright issues.

He suggested alternative avenues, such as incorporating instrumentals into mixtapes or freestyling, albeit cautiously.

The Dj who has worked with big names in the Dancehall scene like Romain Virgo, Denyque, Wayne Wonder, Gyptian and many more also said that initially it would not be a problem unless the songs become international is when the artists run the risk of being sued.

The discussion surrounding Arbantone’s legality coincided with remarks from Kenyan singer Habida, who expressed skepticism about the genre’s originality.

While acknowledging Arbantone’s viral presence, she contended that it lacked hit songs of its own, primarily consisting of remixes.

“They are controlling the web but they are not getting shows. To get a show do an original song,” Habida stated.

Despite differing opinions, Arbantone hits like “Tiktoker,” “TicTac,” and “Anapiga Pic” continue to dominate the Kenyan music charts, amassing millions of views on YouTube.

However, Habida cautioned aspiring artists to focus on creating original content to secure performance opportunities.

While the genre thrives online, concerns over copyright infringement and artistic authenticity remain unresolved.

@versatilekenya Replying to @Dee_block.O.Tnxtdoor yall asked , so i asked my links #music #copyright ♬ original sound – Versatile kenya