Nigerian rapper and YBNL record label founder Olamide has reaffirmed his belief that singer Wizkid is the greatest Afrobeats artiste after music icon Fela Kuti.

The rapper had made the claim during a media briefing in Toronto ahead of his November 14 show.

A viral clip from the conference captured the moment he praised Wizkid’s influence on global music. He was responding to a question about their partnership by highlighting Wizkid’s cultural impact.

“You know that after Fela, Wizkid is the greatest Afrobeats artiste ever,” he stated.

READ ALSO: If Davido, Wizkid, Others Collaborated More, Afrobeats Would Be Bigger Today — Asa Asika

The comment triggered mixed reactions from music lovers, with some critics arguing that no new-age artiste comes close to Fela’s legacy.

Others applauded Olamide for acknowledging Wizkid despite his own massive achievements.

‘Not Narrow-minded’

But responding to an X post, Olamide insisted the remark reflected “his opinion or perspective”.

He stressed that he would never undermine any artiste’s greatness, including Wizkid’s.

He added that the often ascribed ‘Big 3’ Burna Boy, Davido, and Wizkid would not take offence at his view because “they are not narrow-minded”.

“Honestly, this whole lengthy 3-way conversation is pretty much whatever. You can’t diminish anyone’s greatness, whether they’re A-list, B-list, or anything else.

“Feel free to believe what you want or support whoever you choose, there’s plenty of room in the sky for everyone. However, one thing to remember is that Burna, David, and Wiz aren’t narrow-minded enough to get offended by someone else’s opinion or perspective. That’s part of why they’ve reached where they are today,” he wrote.

Honestly, this whole lengthy 3-way conversation is pretty much whatever. You can’t diminish anyone’s greatness, whether they’re A-list, B-list, or anything else. Feel free to believe what you want or support whoever you choose—there’s plenty of room in the sky for everyone.…

— Olamidé (@Olamide) November 14, 2025

Meanwhile, it’s not the first time the YBNL boss has described Wizkid as a “solid dude” who shows him “endless love and support”.

In September, Olamide, in an interview with Adesope Shopsydoo, spoke about the mutual respect he shares with Wizkid, Davido, and Burna Boy.

“They are all my friends. They just like making trouble, Wiz, David, and Burna. They are cool dudes. Many people will not just align with not many things,” he said.

The debate again underlined the long-standing distinction between Afrobeat and Afrobeats.

Afrobeat refers to Fela Kuti’s politically charged, instrument-heavy sound, while Afrobeats describes today’s global urban fusion from West Africa and its diaspora.

The genre blends Afrobeat influences with hip-hop, R&B, dancehall, and electronic music.

The “Big Three,” Wizkid, Davido, and Burna Boy, remain its most dominant global forces. Early pioneers like D’banj, Timaya, and Tiwa Savage first pushed the sound internationally.

Newer stars like Rema, Tems, Ayra Starr, and Asake now drive the momentum worldwide. Rema’s rapid rise has led many fans to describe a “Top Four” rather than the usual trio.

Despite the friction, the artistes’ friendly rivalry and fewer collaborations keep the genre vibrant and competitive, with each artiste contributing unique strengths that drive Afrobeats’ global rise.

The genre continues to dominate major international awards, including the Grammys and BET Awards.

The 2026 Grammy nominations underline this expanding influence. Burna Boy, Davido, Wizkid, Ayra Starr, and Wizkid feature prominently in next year’s African categories.

The Best African Music Performance nominees include: Love by Burna Boy; With You by Davido featuring Omah Lay; Hope & Love by Eddy Kenzo and Mehran Matin; Gimme Dat by Ayra Starr featuring Wizkid; and PUSH 2 START by Tyla.

Burna Boy also leads the Best Global Album category with No Sign of Weakness.
The 68th Annual Grammy Awards will be held on 1 February 2026.