Jamaican dancehall legend, Buju Banton, said Afrobeats artists are only in it for the money and with time the genre will fade because it lacks soul
Buja Banton who was speaking during a chat on ‘Drink Champs’ podcast co-hosted by N.O.R.E and DJ EFN, said all Afrobeats artists sing about is ‘fuckery’ rather than to project cultural and societal values.
“When you look at what they’re doing their music is not freeing Africa,” said the musician.
“It’s fuckery. They are supposed to use their music to preach freedom but what they’re singing is fuckery. We desire more from them. If you want the money, go get it. But what’s going to be said about you later on and your posterity? You didn’t make any impact. So reggae music still stands predominant. It’s still the King’s music.”
“This [reggae] is the King’s music. Your music [afrobeats] shall come and go because it has nothing to do with soul, building energy. Our music is a time marker. You can remember when you went on your first date, when you got married, when you are happy and when you are sad. Because it’s the King’s music.
“I went to Africa in 1991, I spent three weeks educating people from Ghana and all over the continent about reggae music and dancehall.
“I was happy when they came to their senses to realise that music is the bridge that’s going to connect us. But I was disappointed because they didn’t try to connect with Jamaica, the root. They connected with everyone else except us. I’m talking about afrobeats [artists].