In a recent chat on Cool FM Lagos, singer Joeboy opened up about a troubling trend in the Nigerian music scene. Alongside his guest, Wizkid Chan, Joeboy argued that excessive pride and rivalry are increasingly spoiling the spirit of collaboration among artists.
According to Joeboy, some musicians view collaborations as contests rather than opportunities to blend talents. He noted that he personally avoids such situations by working only with artists he shares a close bond with. “It’s much smoother when I team up with someone I’m cool with,” he explained. “That way, ego and hidden competition don’t creep in. When I invite someone for a feature, my goal is for them to shine even brighter than me on that track. That’s the whole point of bringing them in. So I don’t understand the need to compete.”
Wizkid Chan echoed similar sentiments, highlighting how ego often derails the creative process. “My biggest issue with collaborations is pride,” he said. “I never try to control how you record; all I ask is the same respect. But some artists request a feature and then try to dictate how you should perform your own part. That’s not right. Let me do my thing.”
He further stressed that the purpose of a feature is to introduce a fresh perspective to a song, not to turn it into a battle. “I seek out artists specifically because they bring something I can’t. I would never ask them to copy my style. Yet, there are those who, after hearing their collaborator’s verse, go back and rewrite their own just to sound better. That’s not what collaboration is about. It’s not a competition.”