Nigerian singer Mr Real has dismissed claims by fellow artiste Idowest that he is the original owner of the hit street anthem Legbegbe.
The song, released in 2018 by Mr Real and featuring Idowest, became one of the defining records of the Shaku Shaku era and enjoyed massive success across Nigeria and beyond.
It remains one of the biggest street anthems associated with the dance movement that dominated the music scene at the time.
The controversy resurfaced after Idowest, during a recent livestream with popular streamer Carter Efe, claimed that he created the song and merely featured Mr Real on it.
Mocking previous comments made by Mr Real regarding the record, Idowest alleged that he composed the entire song before deciding to include the singer on the track.
“I am the original owner of ‘Legbegbe.’ I composed the full song. I only featured Mr Real on the track as my boy in the hood but now he’s claiming the song. He is an old man, I will beat him up,” Idowest said during the livestream.
The remarks quickly generated reactions among fans, reigniting a long-running disagreement between the two musicians over the origins and ownership of the hit record.
Responding in a video shared online, Mr Real strongly refuted Idowest’s claims, insisting that Legbegbe belongs to him and accusing his colleague of spreading falsehoods.
The singer maintained that Idowest was not being truthful about the creation of the song and questioned why he would attempt to claim ownership years after its release.
“Idowest, I heard everything you said at Carter Efe’s live. You said you will beat me in a match. I am your senior brother and I will beat you,” Mr Real said.
The singer also aimed at Idowest personally, accusing him of focusing on controversy rather than promoting his music career.
“I heard you were deported from America. Instead of you to promote your music, you are downgrading me and claiming my song, ‘Legbegbe.’ I won’t even waste my precious time on you,” he added.
The latest exchange is the newest chapter in an ongoing feud between the two artists.
Mr Real has previously expressed regret over featuring Idowest on Legbegbe, arguing in earlier interviews that the collaboration may have affected the trajectory of his career. According to him, he believes he could have achieved even greater success if he had recorded the song alone.
Those comments sparked criticism from some fans who felt the collaboration contributed significantly to the song’s popularity and success.
Now, with Idowest claiming authorship of the track and Mr Real firmly rejecting the allegation, the disagreement has once again become a topic of discussion among music lovers on social media.
Neither artist has provided concrete evidence publicly to support their respective claims about the song’s creation. As a result, the debate has largely played out through interviews, livestreams, and social media exchanges.
The dispute has also fuelled conversations about songwriting credits, ownership rights, and collaboration agreements within the Nigerian music industry, where questions about creative contributions occasionally emerge long after songs become successful.
Despite the controversy, Legbegbe remains one of the most recognisable street records of the late 2010s and played a major role in popularising the Shaku Shaku movement.
Whether the disagreement will be resolved privately or continue through public exchanges remains to be seen. For now, both Mr Real and Idowest appear determined to defend their versions of the story, while fans continue to debate who truly deserves credit for one of Nigeria’s most memorable street anthems.
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