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Kanye West was first international artist to embrace Afrobeats – D’banj
Nigerian music icon D’banj has opened up about the significant role American rapper and music mogul Kanye West played in popularizing Afrobeats in the Western world.
During a recent appearance on the ‘Listen’ podcast, D’banj revealed that YE was the first international artist to fully embrace the Afrobeats genre, which played a pivotal role in his collaboration with D’banj and renowned producer Don Jazzy.
According to D’banj, Kanye’s interest in Afrobeats was sparked when he inquired about the genre from university students.
This curiosity led to Kanye seeking out D’banj and Don Jazzy, eventually signing them to his record label, Good Music. D’banj shared that Kanye’s love for African music and his desire to elevate the Afrobeats sound to international heights were key factors in the deal.
He stated: “The first time I met Kanye West in Dubai, he told me that he had enquired about Afrobeats from students in the university. So, he actually wanted to pick up the sound. He was interested in the sound.
That was what gave us [Don Jazzy and me] the deal and the opportunity to be signed to his record label [Good Music]. So, Kanye is the first person [international artist] to buy into it [Afrobeats]. Not just buy into it but is taking it to the next level.”
D’banj’s revelation highlights Kanye West’s early recognition of Afrobeats’ potential, further solidifying the genre’s global influence and the role of international collaborations in shaping its rise in the Western market.
Kanye West was the first person to have bought into Afrobeats
– Dbanj pic.twitter.com/aRum5nqE3n
— @𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗷𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗯𝗼𝘆 (@OneJoblessBoy) January 4, 2025