Sean MMG cries foul after music video hit with copyright strike
By William Muthama, July 11, 2025Kenyan rapper Sean Mwaniki, popularly known as Sean MMG, has raised concerns after his latest music video “Nitakupanga” was slapped with a copyright strike, disrupting its momentum just months after release.
Posting on his Instagram Stories on the morning of Friday, July 11, 2025, the Kudonjo hitmaker expressed frustration, saying the copyright takedown had dealt a blow to a project he believes was poised to dominate charts.
“Nikama wanepanga kunimaliza,” he wrote, describing the situation as discouraging, especially after months of preparation.
The music video, which featured heavyweight collaborators Breeder LW, Ssaru, and Motif di Don, was released on March 20, 2025, and had already crossed 400,000 views on YouTube before it was flagged.
The platform issued a copyright violation notice, limiting the video’s reach and visibility.
“This project faced enough delays because of maandamano. Now this?” Sean lamented, referring to the anti-government protests earlier this year that disrupted shoots and event schedules across Nairobi and other towns.
Sean’s post included a screenshot of the YouTube copyright claim, which indicated the video had been struck for containing material belonging to a third party.
However, he did not disclose which specific content was in dispute or whether the strike originated from a featured artist, producer, or external entity.
Assurance to fans
The video’s takedown has sparked a wave of support from Sean’s fans and fellow artistes, many of whom took to social media urging YouTube to resolve the matter quickly. Some critics, however, called for better due diligence in licensing beats and content before release.
Despite the setback, Sean MMG assured fans that he remains committed to his craft. “please bear with me on this one and we will be back soon,” he wrote in a follow-up story.
While he is now known for his sharp bars and collaborations in the Gengetone and hip-hop space, Sean first rose to fame as a dancer before transitioning fully into rap and music production.
As of Friday evening, there was no update on whether the rapper would appeal the strike or re-upload a modified version of the video.