- Nigerian singer Jaywon claims that many gospel and Afrobeats artists are inspired by his 2012 hit “This Year.”
- He criticized Billboard for not including the song in its list of the Best Afrobeats Songs of All Time.
- Jaywon’s assertion highlights the influence of his work on the current music scene in Nigeria.
Nigerian singer, Jaywon, has asserted that many gospel and Afrobeats artists in Nigeria have been drawing inspiration from the style of his 2012 hit, This Year.
The artist made this claim while criticizing Billboard for omitting the track from its recently released list of the Best Afrobeats Songs of All Time.
According to him, no other song on the list carries as much cultural influence as This Year.
Taking to his X handle, Jaywon wrote:
“‘This Year’ by Jaywon had more viral moments and cultural impact than some of the tracks Billboard ranked. It has been trending since 2012 and is still relevant today. Who else has achieved that? Hate is inevitable. Year after year, both gospel and Afrobeats singers copy the same vibe, but we remain unshaken. I’ll say it again no song on that list has more cultural impact than #ThisYear by Jaywon.”
It will be recalled that 2Face’s African Queen claimed the number one spot on Billboard’s Top 50 Best Afrobeats Songs of All Time.
Other songs that made the top five include Wizkid’s Ojuelegba, Flavour’s Nwa Baby, Rema’s Calm Down, and CKay’s Love Nwantiti.
In other news, Veteran Afrobeats star Jaywon has voiced concerns over Ayra Starr’s dressing style.
The singer reacted after seeing a photo of the Grammy-nominated artist in a small blue bra that covered only part of her cleavage.
When a fan on X asked, “Bro, Ayra Starr just posted this hot photo. Any comments?” Jaywon responded, “She no get mama and papa?”
His statement drew mixed reactions, with some social media users criticising him for commenting on Ayra Starr’s personal life.
Ayra Starr has long faced criticism from some Nigerians over what they consider “indecent dressing.” She once revealed that she lost her father at a young age and was raised by her mother.
Despite the backlash, she has continued to maintain her signature style.
