Nigerian rapper Odumodublvck has ignited a fresh wave of controversy by asserting that hip-hop music is no longer a vibrant force. The artist, best known for his track ‘Declan Rice,’ recently echoed a sentiment previously voiced by Wizkid, declaring the genre’s demise. This bold claim emerged as he scrutinized a Spotify ranking of Nigerian artists based on monthly listeners, where no rappers appeared among the top ten.
Odumodublvck took to X to express his view, stating unequivocally that ‘Hip Hop is dead.’ His observation was triggered by the absence of any Nigerian hip-hop acts on the list, which is dominated by singers. The post quickly drew a wide range of reactions, with many critics accusing him of disrespecting a genre that remains influential globally, even if its Nigerian representation is lacking.
The top ten list is headed by Burna Boy with 40.68 million listeners, followed closely by Tems at 40.64 million. Rema holds the third spot with 29.43 million, while Ayra Starr and Wizkid occupy fourth and fifth with 16.84 million and 16.81 million, respectively. The remaining slots are filled by Omah Lay (11.24m), Davido (10.83m), CKay (10.71m), Fireboy DML (9.23m), and Asake (8.69m). Despite Nigeria boasting both veteran and emerging rappers, none have cracked this elite group, a fact that Odumodublvck used to support his controversial stance.
The rapper’s declaration has reopened debates about the state of hip-hop in Nigeria, with many arguing that the genre’s global relevance remains strong, even if local streaming numbers tell a different story.