In a recent interview with Radio Now 95.3 FM, veteran Nigerian rapper Illbliss shared his thoughts on a significant shift in the Nigerian music industry, one that saw some of its most prominent figures transition from hip-hop to Afrobeats. Tobechukwu Ejiofor, better known as Illbliss, spoke candidly about what he describes as a loss for the hip-hop community: the departure of Burna Boy, Wizkid, and Davido from the genre that initially shaped their careers.
According to Illbliss, all three superstars—now global icons of Afrobeats—started their musical journeys as rappers. Back then, rap music was thriving in Nigeria, offering a platform for these artists to express themselves. However, as the global popularity of Afrobeats began to rise, these artists gravitated toward the genre, leaving their rap roots behind.
“We lost a lot of our soldiers,” Illbliss lamented during the interview. “We lost Burna Boy, Wizkid, and Davido. Three of them were rappers. I guess they found the Afrobeats vibe, and it made them global stars.”
Illbliss’s reflection touches on a broader conversation about the state of hip-hop in Nigeria. While the genre has produced some commercial successes, such as Vector, M.I., Reminisce, Olamide, and Phyno, it remains a challenging market. “Hip-hop is a tough sell in Nigeria,” Illbliss admitted, acknowledging that only a select few have been able to navigate the industry successfully.
The transition of Burna Boy, Wizkid, and Davido to Afrobeats is a testament to their ability to adapt and thrive in a rapidly changing music landscape. Afrobeats has not only given them a broader audience but has also allowed them to achieve global stardom, something that might have been more difficult within the confines of the Nigerian hip-hop scene.
However, Illbliss’s comments also highlight a sense of what could have been—a parallel universe where these artists might have remained in the hip-hop space, potentially elevating the genre to greater heights within Nigeria and beyond. Instead, the allure of Afrobeats, with its infectious rhythms and worldwide appeal, proved irresistible.
As Afrobeats continues to dominate the global music scene, the question remains: What is the future of Nigerian hip-hop? Illbliss and other stalwarts of the genre continue to push the boundaries, but the loss of Burna Boy, Wizkid, and Davido to Afrobeats is a poignant reminder of the challenges that hip-hop faces in the Nigerian music industry.
Ultimately, Illbliss’s reflection serves as both a tribute to the versatility of these artists and a call to action for the hip-hop community to find new ways to innovate and thrive. While the departure of these “soldiers” to Afrobeats may have been a blow to Nigerian hip-hop, it also underscores the dynamic and ever-evolving nature of the music industry—a space where the lines between genres are increasingly blurred, and where artists must constantly adapt to stay relevant.
Was he right in his submission? Were the “big 3” ever rappers?
