The rapper and lyricist’s comments have drawn renewed attention to the long-running debate over credits, ownership and compensation surrounding ‘Enjoy Enjaami’.
CHENNAI: Tamil rapper and lyricist Arivu has sparked a fresh discussion on credit, ownership and representation in the Tamil independent and gaana music scene through a strongly worded social media post.
Sharing a message titled “Caution,” Arivu alleged that some “elite musicians” take melodies, compositions and ideas originating from working-class communities and subsequently present them as collaborations or independent music.
“Too often, the original creators are left without meaningful credit, ownership or economic benefit. This isn’t a collaboration. This is extraction,” he wrote.
‘Enjoy Enjaami’ dispute resurfaces
Although Arivu did not name any individual in his latest post, his comments have attracted attention because of his long-running dispute surrounding ‘Enjoy Enjaami’, the 2021 independent hit featuring Arivu and Dhee, with music by Santhosh Narayanan.
The debate over the song resurfaced in March this year after Arivu claimed that he had written the lyrics and composed the primary vocal melody, drawing on his cultural background and lived experiences.
He also questioned the level of credit and compensation he received for the song.
Santhosh Narayanan subsequently disputed several aspects of Arivu’s claims, maintaining that Enjoy Enjaami was a collaborative creation and outlining his own contributions to its composition and production.
Arivu leaves musicians unnamed
Arivu’s latest social media post does not directly identify the musicians or projects he was referring to.
His broader comments, however, have once again brought attention to questions surrounding creative ownership, fair attribution and economic rights in independent music, particularly when musical traditions rooted in working-class and marginalised communities are incorporated into commercial or mainstream productions.
The latest post has therefore renewed the wider conversation over who receives credit, recognition and financial benefits when cultural and musical ideas move from community traditions into the contemporary music industry.
