The removal of Byron Messia and Burna Boy’s popular Dancehall tracks “Taliban” and “Talibans II” from YouTube has sparked controversy on social media.
Fans and critics alike have accused Byron Messia of plagiarizing Jamaican artist Jeff Fully Auto’s song “Big Guns.” The songs were flagged and reported by Jeffrey Grant, known as Jeff Fully Auto, who filed a copyright infringement complaint with YouTube.
Fans of Jeff Fully Auto pointed out similarities between “Taliban” and “Big Guns,” including shared traits and riddim. Byron Messia, a singer from St. Kitts and Nevis, responded by sharing YouTube’s takedown notice on his social media, captioning it with “God Alone Know” and a praying hands emoji. Many of his fans rallied in support, suggesting the copyright issue may have been raised long after the song’s release.
YouTube cited copyright infringement as the reason for removing the tracks, stating that the takedown followed a formal complaint. As a result, the official video for “Taliban” is no longer available on Byron Messia’s channel or anywhere else on the platform.
Originally released in January 2023, “Taliban” was a breakthrough for Byron Messia, propelling him to overnight stardom in the Dancehall scene. The track gained widespread recognition, earning gold certifications in the United Kingdom and Canada, and even landing Messia a feature in Times Square. The song’s success caught the attention of Nigerian music star Burna Boy, who collaborated with Messia on the remix, “Talibans II.” The remix further elevated Messia’s profile in 2023, cementing his place in the global music industry.
Here’s a listen to the “Big Guns” by Jeff Fully Auto. It is this track that Byron Messia and Burna Boy sampled to make “Taliban”.
At the moment, both tracks are now unavailable on YouTube, with Jeff Fully Auto maintaining that they share significant similarities with his own work. Following the takedown, Jeffrey Grant issued a statement inviting Byron Messia to resolve the matter amicably. Grant emphasized his willingness to give Messia an opportunity to justify his actions, adding that reconciliation was necessary for the tracks to be reinstated on YouTube. “The official video has been removed,” Grant noted, “but if he wants his track back on the platform, he must reconcile with me.”
