In a bold move on Instagram, Ja Rulay took aim at the emerging Cuban duo El Yirow and El Tingo, accusing them of ingratitude and alleging their use of a chorus from his live performances.
One of his most striking Instagram stories featured a strong message directed at the young artists:
"These guys are ungrateful; be very careful who you let into your world and support wholeheartedly. I backed them, they came to my concerts, and I gave them a platform to perform—something that wasn't done for me early in my career. Yet, they went ahead and used one of the choruses from my concerts in their song. May God forgive me, but I had to speak out because it hurts that those I supported turned out to be sneaky."
Following this, Ja Rulay shared a video from his concert showcasing the very chorus that El Yirow and El Tingo utilized in their new song. "I’m the one with the heat; stop the nonsense. If you’re going to keep doing this, I’ll focus on it because what you’re doing is trash," he added.
The controversy erupted over a new song by El Yirow and El Tingo, which includes a chorus that Ja Rulay claims as part of his concert repertoire.
The song preview received mostly positive feedback towards the duo, but several fans noted the similarity to Ja Rulay’s work in the comments.
"Keep stealing choruses from Ja Rulay," "They copied Ja Rulay," and "Why copy so much? You guys were doing fine, leave Ja Rulay alone," were some of the remarks from fans.
El Yirow and El Tingo are an up-and-coming duo in the Cuban music scene, having collaborated with artists like Oniel Bebeshito. They gained attention in 2026 with their track "Chao Good Bye."
Meanwhile, Ja Rulay remains a prominent figure in Cuba's urban music scene. He was previously part of a duo with Fixty Ordara until they went their separate ways on October 29, 2023, both pursuing solo careers.
Since then, Ja Rulay has maintained significant visibility with large-scale concerts across Cuba and an active presence on social media, where he doesn't shy away from addressing controversies involving him.
Insights into the Cuban Music Controversy
Why did Ja Rulay criticize El Yirow and El Tingo?
Ja Rulay accused the duo of being ungrateful and using a chorus from his concerts in their song without crediting him.
What was the reaction of fans to the controversy?
While the new song by El Yirow and El Tingo received positive feedback, many fans noted similarities to Ja Rulay's work and criticized the duo for copying.
Who are El Yirow and El Tingo?
El Yirow and El Tingo are a rising Cuban music duo known for their collaborations with other artists and their 2026 hit "Chao Good Bye."
What impact has the controversy had on Ja Rulay's career?
Despite the controversy, Ja Rulay continues to maintain a strong presence in the Cuban music scene with numerous concerts and an active social media profile.