Well-known rapper, Illbliss, expressed his concern over the transformation of music icons Wizkid, Davido, and Burna Boy, who initially started out as rappers but later ventured into afrobeats.
During an interview with Radio Now 95.3 FM, Illbliss reminisced about the era when rap music was flourishing in Nigeria before artists like Burna Boy, Wizkid, and Davido switched to singing.
He observed that their shift to singing was a pivotal moment that propelled them to achieve international acclaim.
Illbliss acknowledged the challenges of pursuing a career in hip-hop in Nigeria, highlighting the limited number of rappers, including himself, who have managed to attain commercial success.
Reflecting on this trend, Illbliss remarked, “Within the Hip-Hop community, we’ve witnessed the departure of significant talents such as Burna Boy, Wizkid, and Davido, all of whom started as rappers. Their transition to the afrobeats genre elevated them to global stardom.”
He further added, “Hip-hop faces resistance in the Nigerian music industry. Success stories like mine, Vector, M.I., Reminisce, Olamide, and Phyno remain exceptions rather than the norm.”