Afrobeats sensation Omah Lay has boldly claimed that fellow artists, both in Nigeria and internationally, are imitating his unique style.
In a recent interview with Billboard, the “Soso” hitmaker stated that he pioneered a new sound within the Afrobeats genre that many of his peers are replicating.
“The artists coming out from Nigeria right now, not just Nigeria but Afrobeats in general, are taking a bit of my stuff, the stuff I started. Everybody tryna copy something,” Omah Lay said.
The singer further expressed concern about the direction Afrobeats is heading. He criticized the genre’s leading figures for “watering down” the music in a bid to appeal to foreign audiences and maximize earnings.
“I don’t think I am happy with what the pioneers of Afrobeats are doing right now. The front guys are watering it down by just chasing the bags,” he remarked.
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Omah Lay also voiced his displeasure with the growing presence of the South African genre Amapiano in Afrobeats clubs, lamenting that it has overshadowed traditional Afrobeats.
“I can’t remember the last time I heard a proper Afrobeats song. It’s now Amapiano in Afrobeats clubs, not a proper Afrobeats song,” he added.
