Nigerian singer Omah Lay has once again sparked conversation in the Afrobeats space with a mix of admiration, honesty, and bold self-belief during a recent chat with Capital Xtra.
While reflecting on the Afrobeats albums that have shaped his generation, the Understand hitmaker gave a heartfelt shoutout to Burna Boy, specifically highlighting his 2018 project Outside.
“See, don’t play with Burna Boy… it’s definitely one of Burna’s. My favorite Burna album is Outside. I’m not going to say it’s the greatest, but it’s my favorite,” he said.
For Omah Lay, Outside stands out as a defining body of work in Burna Boy’s catalogue—one that played a key role in shaping the artist’s global identity and pushing Afrobeats further onto the world stage.
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But the conversation didn’t end on a reflective note. In the same interview, Omah Lay shifted into a more assertive stance when discussing his own place in the genre.
“I am the greatest Afrobeats artiste of the decade. I am the greatest,” he declared.
He was quick, however, to clarify that his definition of greatness isn’t tied to commercial success or popularity metrics.
“Well, you can say numbers, and personality, and the level of fame, and stardom, maybe you would not consider me. When it comes to the art itself, I am the greatest.”
The comments once again highlight Omah Lay’s dual persona—deeply appreciative of the artists who paved the way, while still unapologetically confident about his own artistic identity and contribution to the sound of a new Afrobeats generation.