Kwesta Just Wants BMW To Do The Right Thing

Multi-award-winning rapper Kwesta is not happy with car manufacture BMW South Africa especially after their ad basically took a page out of his book and failed to give proper credit.

BMW South Africa for Heritage Month has released a new ad celebrating the iconic Gusheshe, the Grootman of BMW vehicles.

The 1 minute 12-second clip shared on BMW social media pages had many who viewed the clip feeling some type of Deja Vu.

The clip is shot in a township and shows various aspects of the township, such as people playing cards and the iconic car being spined. The ad is all centred around the Gusheshe.

For the music, the ad has a remake of Kwesta smash hit song Spirit featuring Wale, playing in the background, but it is only the beginning of the song that is used. It is worth noting that Kwesta’s iconic track is sampled from South African House group Spiritchasers’ track These Tears.

“This #HeritageMonth, we celebrate the life of the iconic #Gusheshe, the ‘Grootman’ of BMW that will always be a mark of inspiration in Mzansi. #TheLegacyLivesOn with the new #BMW330isEdition. Iyeza. #BMW325is” wrote BMW.

This #HeritageMonth, we celebrate the life of the iconic #Gusheshe, the ‘Grootman’ of BMW that will always be a mark of inspiration in Mzansi. #TheLegacyLivesOn with the new #BMW330isEdition. Iyeza. #BMW325is pic.twitter.com/BwcUfIpjQn

— BMW South Africa (@BMW_SA) September 20, 2020

Whilst the song they used is not Spirit, the ad has many thinking it looks and sounds very similar to Kwesta’ work, even the rapper does.

The rapper shared on Twitter that he first had to school himself and get expert opinion and backing before speaking on the ad.

Had to school myself and get expert opinion and backing first.. Si down stairs bafwethu!!! Sivaya ngama 'grootman' abhaya. https://t.co/MnS6x5wuXG

— #2Skeif🐕💫 (@KwestaDaKAR) September 22, 2020

In a follow-up tweet, Kwesta shared how much effort he and his team put in when it came to getting the rights to sample that song.

“Do the right thing!!! It took so much effort from so many people to get the rights to sample that song. We did the right thing because we understood the value of the art! This ad cheapens all of those efforts. DO THE RIGHT THING FOR ‘The Grootmans’ @BMW_SA” tweeted the rapper.

Do the right thing!!! It took so much effort from so many people to get the rights to sample that song. We did the right thing because we understood the value of the art! This ad cheapens all of those efforts. DO THE RIGHT THING FOR 'The Grootmans' @BMW_SA

— #2Skeif🐕💫 (@KwestaDaKAR) September 22, 2020

Kwesta’s sentiments were echoed by his followers who encouraged BMW to do the right thing.

BMW has not said anything about the claims that the public court has levelled against them and nor has Kwesta confirmed that he has approached BMW or the agency behind the ad.

Kwesta has been trending with tweeps weighing in on the ad and breaking it down as to what it all means and what BMW should have done.

You have to look at who the ad is targeting. I fall right into that demo..
And they know that my demo associates that sample with Kwesta. It even looks like music video he'd shoot.

They ripped of Kwesta's brand. Completely.

— Khanyi girl (@KhanyisaKC) September 22, 2020

Here is a lesson, there is a difference between sampling and knocking a song, BMW knocked Kwesta, Kwesta sampled, meaning he went to spirit chaser to ask permission and got the sang cleared, even paid for it, BMW was supposed to do the same. https://t.co/8fOiq3QR12

— Tumi (@TumiTML) September 22, 2020

Spirit is arguably one of Kwesta biggest hit, it is, after all, a multi-platinum selling hit and was released in October 2017