Popular Nigerian music producer, Sarz, has asserted that late pioneer of Afrobeat, Fela Anikulapo Kuti was a great influence on modern Afrobeats stars like Burna Boy and Rema.
He stated this in a recent interview with ARZ while reflecting on how he inspires many artistes in Nigeria till date despite passing on over two decades ago.
Sarz, whose real name is Osabuohien Osaretin, also disclosed that from ocassionally he listens to Fela’s songs and samples the sounds for new music.
He said; “Recently, I listened to Fela’s catalog and I just find things I can sample or flip. Even in modern Afrobeats, you can tell his influence on a lot of us, from Burna Boy to Wizkid to Rema, and to the generation even coming. I’m sure they will still be inspired by the legend.”
Meanwhile, in other news…
On-Air-Personality, Daddy Freeze recently said music superstar, Wizkid is almost on the same level with late icon, Fela Kuti.
It may be recalled that during an interview with 10 magazine the “Essence” crooner said rap is dead while arguing in favour of Afrobeats dominating the Hip Hop genre.
According to the Starboy Entertainment founder, the Hip Hop artistes mostly rap on the same beats, and they have similar styles.
Wiz also said Nigerian rappers as non-rappers who lack development and went on to list the South Africa’s Nasty C and Ghana’s Sarkodie as the ‘real rappers’ in Africa.
Subsequently, Wizkid received backlash mostly from Nigerian rap artistes who either responded to him online or released diss raps.
In reaction, Freeze opined that for Wizkid to have made that comment, it comes from a place of objectivity soaked in experience.
He said the Ojuelegba crooner has achieved a lot and should be taken seriously whenever he gives constructive criticisms.
Daddy Freeze said; “When it comes to music in Nigeria as a whole, Wizkid is almost on the level of Fela then. What he (Wizkid) has been able to do, not many people can achieve it, when he says something, hear him out, there is one thing in me that makes me different from many people I might not like you but if you speak the truth I will support you…
The truth is the truth and it will set you free. When you see the truth and started ignoring the truth because of the person carrying the truth we become like Nigerian politicians, all of them are the same but they will make one look worse than the rest of them.”
