Ric Hassani throws shade on current state of Nigerian Music

Nigerian singer Ric Hassani has ignited a debate within the Afrobeats community with his recent comments on the genre's quality.

During an appearance on Channels TV's Rubbin' Minds, Hassani bluntly stated, "Most of the hit songs in Nigeria now are not very good music."

He elaborated on his opinion, suggesting a decline in songwriting quality compared to the past. "Back in the days, hit songs were serious music," Hassani said. "Now almost anybody is just coming in [to the industry]." He attributes this decline to Afrobeats' global success, suggesting a rush of new artists entering the scene: "Because Afrobeats is Nigerian music... our guys are top 10... I feel like the quality of music might be dropping because more people want to get in."

Hassani further criticized the perceived emphasis on money over artistry. "Everybody is just dropping whatever they like and throwing money behind it," he said, implying that financial resources are prioritized over crafting quality music.

These comments have sparked mixed reactions online. Some fans agree with Hassani, lamenting a perceived decline in lyrical depth and musical complexity within Afrobeats. Others defend the current sound, arguing that catchy melodies and vibrant production are hallmarks of the genre's success.

Ric Hassani's critique is sure to fuel discussions about the evolution of Afrobeats. Whether his comments spark a return to more focused songwriting or simply stir debate remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the conversation about artistic merit within Nigeria's booming music scene has been reignited.

"Most of the hit songs in Nigeria now are not very good music"

- Ric Hassani pic.twitter.com/xtuHicmchG

— 🐬 @𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗷𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗯𝗼𝘆 (@OneJoblessBoy) April 22, 2024