Renowned Nigerian disc jockey DJ Obi is calling on the Afrobeats community to give British-Nigerian rapper Skepta his due credit for helping the genre achieve global visibility.
Speaking on a recent podcast, DJ Obi pointed to the 2015 remix of Wizkid’s “Ojuelegba” featuring Skepta and Drake as a defining moment in Afrobeats history. According to him, the collaboration served as a breakthrough that introduced African music to a wider international audience.
“Skepta did a lot for Afrobeats. I don’t think we give him his flowers and respect,” Obi remarked, stressing that while Nigerian artists were already thriving locally, it took global allies like Skepta to help bridge the gap to overseas markets.
He further explained that Skepta’s influence in the UK music scene and his support for Wizkid laid the groundwork for Drake’s involvement, leading to one of the genre’s first major crossovers and setting a precedent for future collaborations.
“When there was need for help to cross over, certain people stood up. And Skepta was one of those people,” Obi emphasized, noting that the move went beyond music and symbolized cultural representation and global access.
While he acknowledged the relentless work of Nigerian artists in building Afrobeats, DJ Obi maintained that contributors like Skepta played key behind-the-scenes roles and should be celebrated as part of the genre’s success story.
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