Nasty C on 'As Planned' vs Don Toliver: 'Just a Coincidence'

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South African rapper Nasty C has responded to listeners comparing "As Planned," the closing track on his joint album with Tellaman, to Don Toliver's "Secondhand" featuring Rema . His answer: it was a coincidence. "I dropped this album, and we happened to use the same producer or sample or whatever it is. And that was just like a coincidence," Nasty C said, as quoted by SA Hip Hop Mag on October 6. "Yeah, I had that song in the cut just sitting." What listeners noticed SA Hip Hop Mag reports that the conversation began after Nasty C and Tellaman released T's & C's Apply on September 1, 2026. Listeners picked up similarities between the album's closer and Toliver's track, particularly the atmospheric production, melodic approach and late-night R&B feel. Some fans questioned whether the resemblance pointed to a sample or interpolation, which prompted Nasty C to explain how "As Planned" came together. The outlet notes that his comments suggest the song was already part of the project before the comparisons surfaced, rather than being made in response to Toliver's song. "Secondhand" appears on Toliver's album Octane, with Rema featured. Toliver has been busy on the charts this autumn too, appearing alongside Drake on Drake's record 91st top 10, "Solar Eclipse" . About T's & C's Apply SO KONNECT reports that the 17-track album reached No. 1 on Apple Music's All Genres album chart in South Africa within days of release. It later listed Drake's ICEMAN at No. 1, T's & C's Apply at No. 2 and Cleo Sol's Gentlewoman at No. 3. The project was released independently through Nasty C's TallRacks and Tellaman's Select Play Music, according to SO KONNECT, and is their first full collaborative album. Key facts Album: T's & C's Apply by Nasty C and Tellaman Released: September 1, 2026 Tracks: 17 Labels: TallRacks and Select Play Music (independent) Peak: No. 1, Apple Music South Africa All Genres albums (SO KONNECT) Track in question: "As Planned," the album closer Compared with: Don Toliver's "Secondhand" featuring Rema, from Octane The track list SO KONNECT says the album opens with "Intro" featuring AyandaMVP, then moves into "Call Me," "Come Over 2.0" featuring Oxlade, "Sally's Interlude" and "Playlist." Other songs include "Natural," "As Planned," "LFTOS" featuring Lusanda, "Liar Liar," "Throw That," "1sec" and "M 4 Must." "Call Me," "Come Over," "Sally's Interlude," "Playlist" and "Natural" were among the songs released during the build-up. A long partnership Both outlets stress how long the two Durban artists have worked together. SO KONNECT points to earlier collaborations including "Big Timing," "Zone" and "Whipped." SA Hip Hop Mag says the pair have worked together on and off since the mid-2010s before developing the full-length project. Coincidence, not borrowing SA Hip Hop Mag concludes that Nasty C's explanation puts the similarities down to timing and shared influences rather than intentional borrowing. It adds that the debate has given listeners another reason to revisit both "As Planned" and "Secondhand." "More R&B than hip-hop" The R&B feel that listeners heard in "As Planned" was part of the plan from the start. Speaking to 5FM while the album was about 95% complete, Nasty C told SlikourOnLife: "It's more R&B than hip hop, it's a winter album for sure, it's got some summer bangers in there but majority of it is for cosy vibes." Tellaman added that his partner would be stretching himself vocally: "Nasty is gonna be singing there, high notes and stuff." SlikourOnLife also lists earlier collaborations including "So High," "Don't Do It" and "Noma Kanjani," and Tellaman's features on Nasty C's 2023 album I Love It Here. What's next Neither Toliver's nor Rema's team has publicly commented in either report, and no legal claim has been mentioned. T's & C's Apply remains one of South Africa's biggest releases of the season. Explore more rap and South African music on Entzopedia. Sources: SA Hip Hop Mag | SO KONNECT | SlikourOnLife