Nigerian rapper Odumodublvck has stirred controversy on social media after declaring that hip-hop is no longer relevant, reigniting an ongoing debate about the genre’s place in Nigeria’s music industry.
The rapper made the remark while reacting to a ranking of Nigerian artists with the highest monthly listeners on Spotify. Pointing to the absence of rappers from the list, he posted, “Hip Hop is dead.”
His statement quickly sparked reactions from music fans, with many disagreeing and arguing that hip-hop remains one of the most influential genres globally. Others, however, noted that rap music currently struggles to match the commercial dominance of Afrobeats in Nigeria.
The discussion gained momentum because the top 10 Nigerian artists on Spotify’s monthly listeners chart are all singers, with no rapper making the list.
Burna Boy currently leads the ranking with over 40 million monthly listeners, narrowly ahead of Tems. Rema occupies third place, while Ayra Starr and Wizkid complete the top five.
Other artists in the top 10 include Omah Lay, Davido, CKay, Fireboy DML, and Asake.Odumodublvck’s comments have added fuel to the long-running conversation about whether hip-hop has lost its mainstream appeal in Nigeria or is simply evolving in a music landscape increasingly dominated by Afrobeats.Despite the debate, many fans maintain that Nigerian rap continues to produce talented artists and remains an important part of the country’s music culture.
