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Ric Hassani throws shade on current state of Nigerian Music
Nigerian artist Ric Hassani has sparked a debate within the Afrobeats community with his recent comments on the genre’s quality.
In a candid statement during an appearance on Channels TV’s Rubbin’ Minds, Hassani asserted, “Most of the hit songs in Nigeria now are not very good music.”
Expanding on his viewpoint, he indicated a perceived decline in the quality of songwriting compared to previous standards.
“Back in the days, hit songs were serious music,” Hassani said. “Now almost anybody is just coming in [to the industry].” He attributes this decline to Afrobeats’ global success, suggesting a rush of new artists entering the scene: “Because Afrobeats is Nigerian music… our guys are top 10… I feel like the quality of music might be dropping because more people want to get in.”
Hassani further criticized what he perceived as an emphasis on money over artistry, stating, “Everybody is just dropping whatever they like and throwing money behind it.” This suggests that financial resources are prioritized over crafting quality music.
These remarks have elicited mixed reactions online. Some fans agree with Hassani, expressing concerns about a perceived decline in lyrical depth and musical complexity within Afrobeats. On the other hand, others defend the current sound, arguing that catchy melodies and vibrant production are integral to the genre’s success.
Ric Hassani’s critique is bound to stimulate discussions about the evolution of Afrobeats. Whether his comments catalyze a return to more focused songwriting or simply ignite debate remains to be seen. Nonetheless, one thing is clear: the conversation about artistic merit within Nigeria’s thriving music scene has been reignited.
"Most of the hit songs in Nigeria now are not very good music"
– Ric Hassani pic.twitter.com/xtuHicmchG
— 🐬 @𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗷𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗯𝗼𝘆 (@OneJoblessBoy) April 22, 2024