SETE’s Originality Called Into Question?

K.O’s SETE has been affirmed as the biggest song to have been released in 2023. During its high praise and profile run in the past year, the uniqueness of the single was something that K.O was lauded for. This is as K.O’s versatility was lauded in terms of his ability to continually reinvent his sound.

Read more: Ntsiki Mazwai Thinks SETE Is Overated

However, with the return of Podcast and Chill with MacG, Sol Phenduka and Ghost Lady. What was initially just murmurs of plagiarism have since turned into a full on discussion as to whether K.O “stole” the song or whether it is the producer that was to blame for the many iterations of the hit single.

#PodcastAndChill 📺
K.O might have chopped ‘SETE’ from Mizo Phyll, the Venda rapper?😳😳
Same beat, different songs?
Congratulations K.O for reinventing yourself, and dropping a smash hit ❤
MacG & Sol
Bonang #Mampintsha JHB CBD #MatricResults2022 Tiger Foreigners #Sizokuthola pic.twitter.com/pVnq0qBlmj
— YaseBlock B 🇸🇿 (@ThisIsColbert) January 16, 2023

SETE’s originality called into question?

The first time that South Africans were first introduced to SETE by K.O featuring Blxckie and Young Stunna was when K.O released the single as his lead single back in August 2022. The single was the first official release for his most recent studio album SR3 which was released officially in September 2022.

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A post shared by K.O (@mrcashtime)

However, for music lovers, before SETE, the beat of the single was heard through NIgerian artist, Reefer Tym’s Feeling You. The single was part of the string of singles released by the musician in 2022. However, it was officially released by the artist in April 2022.

But for music lovers who are into niche music genres, the beat was used even earlier than Reefer’s use in April 2022. The first time that the beat was used was for the proclaimed King of Venda Rap, Mizo Phyll. As part of his sophomore album, the artist had a 23-track album with a song titled Tshetshi, featuring JR Player which had the exact same beat.

As the matter has come to social media as a discourse of whether or not K.O “copied” the beat. There are comments which have called out K.O for allegedly being a copycat.

So did they really chop the sound or great mind think alike#sete pic.twitter.com/M9KoAm6PSN
— mnquhe blood just (@madondo_menzie) January 17, 2023

😮‍💨 K.O – Sete Vs Reefer Tym – Feeling For you 🔥 https://t.co/mGABx2ZGLv pic.twitter.com/ycm3U2PmVo
— DJ Jawz (@DJJawz) January 17, 2023

For the most part however, the general consensus has called out the producer. This is as one comment has gone to suggest that producer, Callie Majk, drops beats on YouTube. The beats can be used by artists. However, the difference was that K.O reached out to the producer and credited him for the beat.

“Sete” haters thought they had something there lol.
— SKINDEEP (@SkindeepJD) January 17, 2023

Music is licensed all the time, everyone puts their own twist in it. Why are you making an issue over another track sounding like sete? pic.twitter.com/4h5zK5POhy
— siyandda (@siyandda) January 17, 2023

This Sete situation isn’t what y’all guys make it out to be. The Producer Callie Majik drop his beats on YouTube and Both KO and Reefer Tym used the beat issued on YT but KO reached out to the producer and subsequently credited him on SETE. I don’t know about the other dude.
— BAFANA MTHEMBU⚪️ (@_BafanaMthembu) January 17, 2023

This being unlike Reefer Tym and Mizo Phyll, who allegedly did not credit Malik. As such, it would seem that K.O was the most careful of the three to have used the beat ethically by crediting Malik.

I ain’t tollering any K.O slander for #SETE while he’s the only artist from those 2 songs to credit the Producer ,not in my watch niyanya nina #PodcastAndChill #podcastandchillwithmacg pic.twitter.com/W9zCDOKEVe
— SKHANDA WORLD 2022 (@MoneriMandla) January 17, 2023

Good thing about doing things the right way is that KO doesn’t even need to defend himself about this Sete and Feeling for you thing. People who understand how things work will do it for him.
Umjita bought the beat from Callie Majik and even credited him. pic.twitter.com/fNfOWH2xPv
— The thread GOAT. 🐐 (@kjnr_khumalo) January 17, 2023

K.O. followed procedure giving credit to use the beat for sete. It is not clear about the other track sete is compared to. pic.twitter.com/q56amMCyDQ
— Thabo Mfukeng (@ThaboMfukeng) January 17, 2023

SETE extends its record

While the debate on the originality of the song is currently at a level high. That does not mean that SETE is still not breaking its own record. This is as the single continues to extend its Radio Monitor history breaking run.

Recently, Radio Monitor went to social media to confirm that SETE has now been the number one song across all radio stations in South Africa for the 19th week in a row. This extends the record it has held before with an additional week at the top.

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A post shared by Radiomonitor South Africa (@radiomonitorsa)

Moreover, with no songs having major releases locally just yet as the New Year is yet to be in full swing. SETE might just extend its lead again in the coming week with an additional week included as part of its record breaking running streak.

Image credit: ZAlebs

SETE’s Originality Called Into Question?

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