Greetings, everyone! It appears there’s a bit of a rift between Keyshia Cole and the rapper O.T. Genesis over his unauthorized cover of one of her hit songs. For those unaware, O.T. Genesis put his own spin on Keyshia Cole’s track ‘Love,’ renaming it ‘Never Knew.’ In his rendition, he delves into his affection for a certain lifestyle, with his vocals, albeit enthusiastically delivered, somewhat off-key, lending a humorous touch to the piece. Personally, I find O.T. Genesis quite entertaining; he’s not only a talented artist and performer but also exudes a charmingly carefree demeanor. While his version of Keyshia’s song may not have been intended as disrespectful, Keyshia herself wasn’t pleased, feeling her original work was being overshadowed. Social media buzzed with reactions, some finding amusement in the remix while others shared Keyshia’s sentiment, expressing disappointment. Despite differing opinions, it’s evident that Keyshia’s music holds a special place for many, with some fans even pledging unwavering loyalty amidst the controversy. In response, Keyshia hinted at removing her music from certain platforms, signaling her resolve to maintain the integrity of her artistry.
When some saw certain tweets, Keyshia faced a bit of backlash as some felt she was bitter about O.T. Genesis’s rendition. She expressed, “Once an artist creates something so close to the heart, we release it to the world. And no matter if that song makes you laugh, cry, sing, or all three, it’s been released. It’s you guys now.” That song held deep personal significance for me, perhaps I cared too much. Clearly, Keyshia was perturbed by O.T. Genesis’s version gaining more attention. Recently, his rendition was removed from YouTube. O.T. Genesis lamented, “They took ‘Never Knew’ down from YouTube. My stuff, shake my head. Dang, ’cause somebody don’t like me, laugh out loud.” After this, Keyshia reposted someone listening to her original song, thanking them for staying loyal. It appears either the song’s producers or Keyshia might have been behind the removal. While it’s unconfirmed whether she did it, it’s plausible since Keyshia owns her masters, granting her control over her music usage. She hadn’t granted O.T. Genesis permission to use her music, giving her the right to pull it. However, the original producers might also be involved. This situation echoes the Jacquees and Ella Mai incident, where Jacquees remixed Ella Mai’s “Trip,” leading Ella Mai and her label owner DJ Mustard to pull Jacquees’s version from YouTube and SoundCloud to avoid diverting attention from Ella Mai’s single.
Not only did they want to ensure they were compensated for any play of the song, but they also seemed intent on controlling its dissemination. It’s conceivable that Keyshia might have removed O.T. Genesis’s rendition from YouTube because she didn’t want it circulating without financial benefit to her. I grasp the business rationale behind this decision. Unauthorized use of someone’s music is a breach of copyright, after all. However, part of me wishes Keyshia had embraced O.T. Genesis’s interpretation, considering it was introducing her music to a new audience. Keyshia Cole’s track ‘Love’ is undeniably a classic, marking her as a talent in the industry. Despite her continued artistry, she’s not as prominently in the limelight as she once was, particularly among younger listeners. Embracing O.T. Genesis’s version might have reinvigorated her popularity, in my view. Personally, I didn’t find fault with O.T. Genesis’s rendition; I even found it somewhat enjoyable. Despite its flaws, including questionable vocals and the promotion of gang culture, there was a comedic charm to it. Admittedly, O.T. Genesis’s antics may have irked Keyshia, but it’s no wonder she was upset—why tarnish her song like that? And yes, I did reference Crips in my discussion—’Never knew that I was crippin’.’ That’s a direct nod to the original lyrics: ‘Cuz that Ruiz right there, it’s love, never knew what I was missing.’ See, it’s all in the lyrics, you know? But let’s steer clear of further discussing Keyshia.
Let’s delve into Cousin Lou—definitely a bit eerie, not at all amusing, you know what I mean? Avoid mentioning Texas; the “y’all” thing, let’s steer clear. Oh, you’ve messed up again. Just say, “I’ll mention that.” Normally, that’s not in my vocab. It’s too close to Christmas. Throughout my life, I’ve had just two things to say: sing the song as I wrote it. I know, I know, I composed it. Paid for what? Did I get paid for what? Alright, let’s discuss that. Let’s talk about O.T. Genesis redoing the track. Let’s tackle that. So, diving into this matter, what are your thoughts on O.T. Genesis’s rendition? I had to address this song because I don’t want backlash for my opinion. It’s always like that—either I’m not loved or I’m hated for my feelings. Now, onto O.T. Genesis. How do you all feel about it? Okay, seems some of you approve, while others don’t. Is that the gist? He’s in his own zone, giving it his spin. I’m digging it. Right into it. What’s the track titled? I believe it’s ‘Crippin’,’ if I’m not mistaken. ‘Never knew I was, never knew that I was crippin’,’ but he’s making waves. ‘Lucia,’ I can relate to that. You know, it’s always amusing for me to see artists perform that particular song because, believe it or not, I despised it when I recorded it. But hey, everyone’s pulling a Bruno Mars nowadays. He dropped a Valentine’s Day video. That was wild. He sang the entire song, yet he saw it my way. I’m accustomed to that, so it was quite a shock to witness him twist it differently, hence my confusion. But you know what? It’s hilarious, isn’t it? I reckon he’s just messing around. Then again, who knows? Maybe he’s dead serious. Sometimes you need to joke about serious matters to grasp their realness. Now, onto the game. There you have it. That’s the deal. Alright, moving on. Anyhow, let me know your thoughts on this video below. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe, and share this video if you’re inclined. Thank you for tuning in, and until next time, take care. Bye.”