Algerian Summer Hit Removed from YouTube Amid Moroccan Plagiarism Claims

"I just logged into Instagram and saw Jam and TiMoh’s post saying that the clip of their song ’Khelli Zman Ydor’ has been removed from YouTube following complaints in which people have reported that the song is not Algerian, that it is plagiarized from other songs," wrote the Algerian content creator Iyasoony in a post cited by TSA Algérie.

Whose real name is Iyas Begriche, the Algerian influencer said he was "shocked" by this decision "because this song was one of the hit songs of the summer, it was actually one of the Algerian songs that had the most views [...] It’s not a song that went unnoticed. And besides, I think that’s why it was bothering people." Iyasoony calls on the authors of the song "Khelli Zman Ydor" to take legal action. "A complaint should be filed for sabotage. That’s what the artists should do."

For their part, Jam and TiMoh claim that their song is "100% original". On his Instagram account, TiMoh posted the YouTube message indicating that the clip has been removed for "copyright infringement" after a report from a certain Kheiredine Daas. "We had dozens of complaints saying the song is Moroccan," TiMoh also said, stressing that he "doesn’t want to create controversy."

"Khelli Zman Ydor" is a mix of raï, rap and RnB. In the music video of the song shot in Oran, several Algerian stars including YouTuber Rifka and actor Merouane Guerouabi take part in a traditional wedding.