Egyptian artist Mohamed Ramadan sparked controversy on social media after releasing his new song "Used To," in collaboration with Algerian rapper Soolking. Ramadan incorporated the voice of the renowned artist Adel Imam from the play "Shahid Ma Shafsh Haga" at the beginning of his new song. The recently released song is a duet featuring Ramadan and Soolking, filmed between Dubai and Paris, and is presented in both Arabic and French, with lyrics by Ramadan and Soolking.
**Division of Opinions**
The song triggered a debate among the audience, with Ramadan facing accusations from fans of Adel Imam, claiming he infringed on the artistic rights of the iconic actor by using a scene from Imam's 1976 play "Shahid Ma Shafsh Haga," which was a major success and remains one of the most beloved plays among the audience.
On the other hand, some fans felt that Ramadan used a scene from Adel Imam's play out of admiration and a desire to connect with him, especially since he has often stated in interviews that he hopes to work with Adel Imam on any artistic project, even if it is a small scene.
**How Ramadan Responded**
Amid this controversy, Mohamed Ramadan revealed the reason for naming the song "Used To." During a live broadcast on his page, he explained that the idea came to him when he met Soolking in Lebanon two years ago, where they agreed to collaborate. He added, "The idea for the song came when I spoke with Soolking and told him that I wanted the song to relate to Egypt and Algeria," noting that when he asked the Algerian artist about the artistic works he had watched in Egypt, Soolking mentioned the play "Shahid Ma Shafsh Haga," highlighting the iconic phrase “Used To.”
Critic Ahmed Saad El-Din commented on Ramadan's choice for the song's name and the use of a scene from Imam's play. He stated in exclusive remarks to Sky News Arabia, "The word 'Used To' resonated with Egyptians after the play and has been used in many phrases among Egyptians, showcasing Mohamed Ramadan's cleverness, as he always seeks trends." He continued, "By selecting this word that Egyptians are accustomed to and adding the famous scene from 'Shahid Ma Shafsh Haga,' it indicates that Mohamed Ramadan is highly intelligent and did this to stir controversy, not out of spite towards Adel Imam." He concluded: "In this controversial case, the ultimate winner is Mohamed Ramadan, as he leveraged this excitement to increase the number of views on the clip, thus achieving his intended goal."
