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Rabat – British rapper Skepta is facing accusations of plagiarism from professional Moroccan photographer Ilyes Grieb.
In November 2016, Grieb’s friends noticed that photographs posted in Skepta’s Instagram’s page were shockingly similar to Grieb’s own pictures from “Moroccan Youth”, a series he has been working on since 2013, the photographer explained to Morocco World News.
“My pictures were taken by Skepta without me being aware,” said Grieb. “The only thing they have changed is the cropping and of course, adding the clothing line logo on them. I didn’t receive any credit.”
In the image captured by the Paris-based photographer, a group of Moroccan youth are shownin different attires and different postures, representing what it is like to be a young adult in the country.
The same picture, slightly cropped, was posted in Skepta’s Instagram page on November last year to promote his latest clothing line, MAINES.
Another picture by Grieb, showing a set of satellites grounded on a Moroccan roof, was also used by the British rapper for his clothing line campaign, claimed the photographer.
“If Skepta liked my pictures so much that he used them to promote for his brand, he could have at least contacted me and we could have worked together” Grieb said. “But he preferred to rob from me, as if Morocco is just a background for his clothing brand. I took those pictures with emotions involved and with stories behind. He knows nothing about Morocco. What he did is plagiarism and it’s a shame.”
Grieb tried to contact one of his acquaintances who works with Spekta to investigate on the matter. “This person was also shocked that my name wasn’t mentioned anywhere on the campaign. I told him that I wanted credit for my pictures and he said that he would contact Spekta and his crew.”
The unidentified person assured the photographer that they had spoken to Spekta and promised the rapper would “do something about it.” However, Grieb did not receive word from Skepta to settle the matter. The photographer said he made several attempts to reach out to the rapper, but without response.
