According to Nigerian-American singer and actor Rotimi, he was the pioneer of Afrobeats music in the United States.
The ‘Power’ star asserted that he had introduced the Afrobeats-style music to the US even before the ‘Afrobeats to the World’ movement gained traction through global collaborations.
During a recent episode of the 85 South Show Podcast, Rotimi reminisced about his 2018 experience of promoting his single ‘Love Riddim’ to radio stations, which initially faced resistance due to its Afrobeats influences.
Reflecting on the reception he received, he recalled, “I remember taking ‘Love Riddim’ to radio stations in 2018 and the program director’s response was, ‘This is not good.’ They couldn’t grasp it, and this was prior to Wiz (Wizkid) collaborating with Drake on a record.”
“I confidently declare that I introduced Afrobeats to America,” he added.
His assertion has sparked a lively debate on social media, with many observers noting that other Afrobeats tracks had seen success in the US before Rotimi’s ‘Love Riddim’ release, such as Ayo Jay’s ‘Your Number’ (2015), Drake and Wizkid’s ‘One Dance’ (2016), and Davido’s ‘Fall’ and ‘If’ (2017).