Leo Magozz was one of the biggest winners at the just-ended National Arts Merit Awards (NAMA).

The Fire Emoji hitmaker walked away with two gongs in the best upcoming artist and song of the year categories.

However, it has emerged that Leo Magozz does not own the song which catapulted him to household name status.

Leo Magozz had everyone singing the chorus to Fire Emoji which spawned two official remixes and many Tik Tok challenges. The musician revealed last year that he does not own the song during an interview with socialite and entrepreneur Magic Wacho.

Leo Magozz Takes Home NAMA’s Song of the Year Award for a “Stolen” Melody!

He said Fire Emoji is owned by a record label 053 Music from Chegutu. Leo Magozz said the record label is the one that has the rights to the song.

He revealed the song came about after he was called to the studio by the song’s producers.

“Song yekuti Fire Emoji is owned by a record label inonzi 053 yekuChegutu. 053 Music ndiyo ino owner song yekuti Fire Emoji. What happened is 053 yakatiunganidza. Ndiyo yakatiunganidza pa project pacho kuti “Leo do the chorus, Bling4 do a verse, Brian Jeck do a verse”. That’s what happened. The producers ndivo vakatiunganidza. I don’t have any rights but the song chose me in the streets,” Leo Magozz said.

He said that he does not own the video of the original song or the two remixes which were shared on different YouTube channels. He explained how that came about saying:

Chakatoitika ndechekuti song yakauya ndisati ndava ready. I didn’t expect that much from the music. So pandakangosheedzwa mu studio I just thought kuti it’s just a hobby, one of those songs. Ndongoita ma projects because I just loved kungoita music. Saka handina kumbo expecter kuti ichaita hit song. Handina kumbonyanya kuvhunduka nazvo sterek. I know kuti I am building. Ndato creator channel yangu pa YouTube inonzi Leo Magozz Music.

He said they had a verbal agreement that the record label would own the rights to the song. However, the artists still own the rights to perform the song.

“Chakaitika pa Fire Emoji ndechekudai so, inini ndichangotanga ndanga ndisina mari yekuenda ku studio. Saka chakaitika ndechekuti 053 anga ane equipment so he saw talent in me and I appreciate that. So seboys takabva tati ngatigadzirei something. So verbal agreement yatakaita ndeyekuti mukomana sezvo anga ane equipment yaanga atora akati inini boys benefit yandichatora pasong apa ndeyekuti ma copyrights esong ndichatora ndoisawo name tag,” Leo Magozz revealed.