The verdict
Documented Sampling History
Confirmed songwriters of record, no legal dispute — the real discourse around the Bieber remix is cultural, not a rights matter, and lives in the Receipts, presented evenhandedly (as with Thrift Shop/Le1f and Famous/Taylor Swift).
Quick Facts
Released2021
AlbumMade in Lagos (Deluxe)
GenreAfrobeats, R&B
LabelRCA / Columbia
ProducerP2J · Legendury Beatz
More infoWikipedia → · Discogs →
Who you need to ask
The songwriters of record — Wizkid, Bieber, Legendury Beatz, Richard Isong & Tems
Wikipedia → · checked Jul 2026
The current administrator — Not confirmed — RCA/Columbia; needs a Songview/Discogs lookup
Unknown · checked Jul 2026
Has it been reused?
A landmark Afrobeats crossover — the original was the first Nigerian song on the Hot 100; the remix helped push the combined track into the top 10. Grammy-nominated (Best Global Music Performance).
Do they allow reuse?
No standalone policy found; confirmed writers of record and no legal dispute — the debate here is cultural, not a rights matter.
Related Songs
Same album, answer records, and songs worth knowing about
The 2020 original (already in this catalog) — first Nigerian song on the Hot 100
Who Owns It
Licenses explained →The two permissions you need, and who holds them
The song itself (the writing)Wizkid (Ayodeji Balogun), Justin Bieber, Legendury Beatz (Oniko Eddie Uzezi & Oniko Evawero Okiemute), Richard Isong & Tems (Temilade Openiyi)
The recording (current administrator)Not confirmed
Receipts
Every public mention of terms, policy, or past deals we've found
A real, public debate about the remix — not a legal dispute
Some fans/critics saw adding Bieber as an unnecessary grab for Western crossover, given the song’s already-organic success; others pushed back on the “appropriation” framing — Nigerian journalist Joey Akan argued it wasn’t appropriation since credit was given and all artists would be fairly compensated. Presented evenhandedly.
Rolling Stone · read it →
How the remix came together
Bieber’s A&R/DJ Tay James was introduced to the song by mentor DJ Alizay on a group trip; Bieber heard it on the plane and loved it — and Wizkid’s agent happened to be on the same trip, directly connecting the two camps.
Rolling Stone (oral history) · read it →
A candid detail from Tems
Tems has said that while she was ultimately happy with her original vocal take, she personally felt her verse could have been better — though Wizkid’s team thought it was great and kept it unchanged.
Wikipedia · read it →
Can You Use It for Free?
How to check PD →Is it public domain?No
Sample History
—
Times sampled
The 2021 Bieber remix of “Essence”
Covers
—
First flip
Who to Contact
ER
Wizkid, Bieber, Legendury Beatz & Tems
The confirmed songwriters of record
What they'll chargeNobody's shared numbers yet
Don't Want the Hassle?
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Page history · 2 updates
Jul 2026Page created — full research (Research Queue Batch 7)
Jul 2026BPM/Key pending the automated GetSongBPM/Deezer pass