In a recent development within the Nigerian music scene, veteran rapper Terry Tha Rapman has taken aim at acclaimed singer Wizkid, accusing him of undermining entire musical genres with his outspoken comments.
The controversy stems from Wizkid’s recent social media post where he distanced himself from the Afrobeats label, sparking a heated debate among fans and industry insiders.
Terry Tha Rapman wasted no time in addressing the issue, highlighting Wizkid’s previous remark about the demise of rap and now his apparent dismissal of Afrobeats. The rapper expressed concern over Wizkid’s influence on musical categorizations, suggesting that Wizkid’s comments could potentially have a detrimental effect on other genres, including Highlife.
Drawing attention to Wizkid’s statement that “rap is dead” and his subsequent disavowal of Afrobeats, Terry Tha Rapman raised questions about the singer’s intentions and the broader impact of his words on the music industry. He cautioned Highlife artists to be wary of Wizkid’s influence, hinting that their genre might be the next target of his criticism.
Terry Tha Rapman’s remarks, delivered via the X platform, issued a warning to Highlife artists, urging them to remain vigilant and protective of their genre amidst Wizkid’s apparent disregard for traditional categorizations. His statement, “First rap, now Afrobeats. How many genres Wizkid wan kill? Highlife, run o!” he wrote.
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The Grammy-winning Nigerian artist had earlier offered an explanation regarding his announcement about leaving Afrobeats.
Recall that the artist recently sparked a major controversy by his statement which implies departure from Afrobeats. This move stirred intense debate and criticism within the music community, prompting Wizkid to offer clarifications regarding his stance.
Addressing the issue head-on, Wizkid elucidated that his decision to distance himself from the Afrobeats categorization stemmed from his diverse musical repertoire. He emphasized that he creates “all sorts of music” that transcends the boundaries imposed by genre labels.
In his Instagram story, Wizkid articulated his perspective, stating, “I don’t want these labeled just afrobeats. That’s like saying every American artist makes rap. That’s stupid.”
Furthermore, Wizkid lamented the tendency to pigeonhole African artists into narrow categories, limiting their global recognition and relegating them to homogeneous awards categories. He expressed frustration over the prevailing perception that all African music fits neatly within the Afrobeats genre, thereby overlooking the vast spectrum of musical influences and styles present on the continent.
Highlighting the eclectic nature of his latest album, “Made in Lagos,” Wizkid emphasized that it defies easy categorization as an Afrobeats album. Instead, he described it as a fusion of diverse sounds, reflective of his boundary-pushing approach to music production.
Rejecting the notion of being confined to a single genre, Wizkid reaffirmed his identity as an artist first and foremost. He asserted, “I’m an artiste before anything else. True to my art. Not scared to try shit.”
Moreover, Wizkid invoked the legacy of Afrobeat pioneer, Fela Kuti, highlighting the distinction between Afrobeat, a specific musical genre, and the broader umbrella term of Afrobeats.
