Odumodublvck Sparks Debate After Declaring ‘Hip-Hop is Dead’
Nigerian rapper Odumodublvck has stirred controversy on social media after claiming that hip-hop is no longer relevant, reigniting an ongoing conversation about the genre’s place in Nigeria’s music industry.
The rapper made the statement while reacting to a ranking of Nigerian artists with the highest number of monthly listeners on Spotify. Notably, the list was dominated by Afrobeats and contemporary music stars, with no rapper featured among the top performers.
Responding to the rankings on X, Odumodublvck posted a brief but provocative message, stating that “Hip Hop is dead,” a remark that many interpreted as a reflection of the genre’s declining commercial dominance in Nigeria.
His comment immediately generated mixed reactions from fans and industry observers. While some agreed that hip-hop currently lacks the streaming power enjoyed by Afrobeats artists, others argued that the genre remains influential both within and outside Nigeria.
Critics of the statement accused the rapper of dismissing a genre that helped shape modern Nigerian music culture, while supporters suggested he was merely highlighting the reality of current audience preferences and streaming trends.
The debate was further fueled by the latest Spotify monthly listener figures, which were led by Burna Boy with more than 40 million monthly listeners. He was closely followed by Tems, while Rema, Ayra Starr and Wizkid rounded out the top five positions.
Other artists featured in the top ten included Omah Lay, Davido, CKay, Fireboy DML and Asake.
The absence of rappers from the rankings has led some commentators to question whether hip-hop is struggling commercially in Nigeria compared to Afrobeats, which continues to enjoy widespread global appeal and streaming success.
Odumodublvck’s remarks also echoed a similar statement previously made by Wizkid, who attracted criticism when he suggested that hip-hop had lost much of its influence in contemporary music culture.
Despite the controversy, many fans maintain that hip-hop remains an important part of Nigeria’s music ecosystem, pointing to the continued success of several rap artists and the genre’s enduring influence on popular culture.
