TikTok creators have found their latest inside joke, and unfortunately for Credo V Daniels, he is at the centre of it.
The singer has been trending across social media following criticism of his recent live performances, with one particular moment from a performance of his song “Ngafa” now being turned into a viral meme.
TikTok creators are doing everything but letting the moment fade; most have been recreating the high note that Daniels missed on stage during his recent performance at Hard Rock Cafe, deliberately cracking their voices in exaggerated ways to imitate the now-viral clip.
The trend has spread all over TikTok, with users posting their own versions while poking fun at the singer’s performance. It all started as criticism at first, but due to the sense of humour of the Mzansi nation, it has now evolved into a full-blown social media joke.
The backlash comes after Daniels faced scrutiny over the gap between his live vocals and the polished sound heard on his recorded music.
Some social media users have even accused the rising star of relying heavily on AI-assisted production, arguing that his live performances do not match what listeners hear on streaming platforms.
Watch some of the videos below.
Following the criticism, Daniels’ management team, Curato Music, released a statement addressing the conversation around his album launch performance.
“Over the past few days, we have taken time to reflect on Credo V Daniels’ ‘Still Where We Were’ Album Launch and the conversations that have followed. The team acknowledged the criticism and said they had listened carefully to the feedback,” the statement read.
“At the same time, we have listened carefully to the criticism. Some of it has been difficult to hear, but it would be irresponsible of us not to acknowledge it.”
According to Curato Music, technical difficulties contributed to the performance issues that many fans highlighted online.
“There were technical challenges at the beginning of Credo’s performance that affected the experience for many attendees.”
“As Curato Music, we take full responsibility for that. We understand that people arrived expecting a certain standard, and where we fell short, we owe those supporters honesty and accountability. The reality is that this was Credo’s first major live performance. While that is not an excuse, it is part of the truth.
“Every artist eventually reaches a moment where they must move from the studio to the stage and begin learning lessons that cannot be taught in rehearsal rooms. This was one of those moments. As a team, we are already taking steps to improve every aspect of the live experience,” the statement concluded.
The criticism around Daniels’ vocals has also reignited conversations about his use of AI in music. While some social media users have questioned whether artificial intelligence plays too big a role in his sound, the artist has previously been open about how he uses the technology.
Speaking on Kaya 959’s “The Best T in the City with T-Bose”, Daniels described AI as a tool rather than a replacement for creativity.
“I think it’s a tool. If you can use it, use it. But not fully, like just prompt and then let it go. Create first,” he said.
Daniels explained that he mainly uses AI to assist with backing vocals and choir arrangements when needed.
“As I use it, I only use it for backing vocals, the choirs. When I needed a choir, people didn’t show up. I asked them to come over, ‘Let’s do this thing!’ They didn’t show.”
