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March 17, 2025

Everything you need to know as Blaqbonez revisits his 2017 freestyle diss, blasts YBNL rapper

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Nigerian rapper Blaqbonez has sparked fresh controversy after calling out an unnamed YBNL rapper who dissed him in 2017, suggesting he would never make it in the music industry.

Blaqbonez took to X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, March 16, 2025, to reveal details about the incident, pointing out that the unnamed rapper was signed to Olamide’s YBNL Nation at the time.

While Blaqbonez did not directly name the artist, his tweets have led to speculations and resurfaced discussions around fraud glorification in Nigerian music, a debate that has lingered over the years.

What happened? The 2017 diss freestyle

According to Blaqbonez, the controversy started in 2017, when unnamed rapper who had just been signed to YBNL Nation released a freestyle in which he mentioned Blaqbonez’s name, suggesting he would never succeed.

In his tweets, Blaqbonez recounted the experience: Because u got a deal before me, you added my name to your freestyles, ‘you no go ever blow like Blaqbonez,’ all because Olamide signed you, you thought he was God abi??”

Blaqbonez went on to recall how the incident had affected him, stating that despite being in the same rap battle groups for years, the artist was quick to ridicule him as soon as he secured a record deal.

“I pray u see these tweets and reflect on your life, at how quick u were ready to sht on people. We were in rap battle groups together for years, but as them sign you, it was time to sht on me, my work ethic & everything because you saw into the future and knew I was never going to blow up, right??”

Although Blaqbonez did not mention the rapper’s name, online speculations suggested that he was referring to Limerick, a former YBNL signee.

Speculations around Davolee & Blaqbonez’s clarification

Following Blaqbonez’s tweets, fans quickly speculated that the artist he was referring to might be Davolee, a former YBNL signee, due to a recently posted rap freestyle diss in which Davolee mentioned “Bad Boy Black” multiple times.

However, Blaqbonez swiftly addressed the rumors, stating that Davolee was not the person in question. "Naah, no be Davolee, that one actually sabi," he clarified, implying that the person who dissed him in 2017 was not as skilled. This clarification put an end to speculations about Davolee’s involvement but still left fans wondering which YBNL-affiliated rapper Blaqbonez was referring to.

Blaqbonez on longevity in the industry

In the same thread, Blaqbonez emphasized his confidence in his talent, stating that while not every artist remains relevant over time, he is certain about his own career longevity.

“No be every kind of talent fit last for years. I know who I am. I will be here for as long as I want to be. The music I make, nobody can make it. I have fans that have been there since the very beginning, not the ones wey discover me with ‘Bling’ or all that sht. The ones I’m talking about know themselves.”

The rapper also reflected on his reaction at the time, stating that he chose to remain silent and focus on his craft rather than respond publicly.

“I never said a word all those years because when I really dislike u, your name no go ever come out of my mouth. I will stand by and watch you choke on yourself. I won’t antagonize u, I’d face my work and let life run its course. U must have thought I never saw sht. I saw it in 4K and I used it as motivation.”

Blaqbonez responds to skepticism

As the conversation gained traction online, one social media user, @BigCreditted, questioned the accuracy of Blaqbonez’s claims, stating: “No one said this.”

In response, Blaqbonez maintained that the freestyle did happen, even though it was not widely publicized at the time. “Those wey know, know. I no loud am that year, was like 2017 or some sht. Imagine me broke and hustling, hearing someone I came up with singing about how I’d never make it on stage. Who’s the punchline now?”

Clapbacks from former YBNL signees

It appears Blaqbonez had responded to the 2017 diss freestyle when it happened. He revealed that he had dropped a comment under the post made by the unnamed rapper at the time.

His response triggered reactions from the artist and other YBNL-affiliated rappers, which led to multiple back-and-forths on social media.

Limerick replied directly: “@blaqbonez, most senseless comment ever!” Picazo and Lyta also dropped brief responses: “Your mumu dey smell, nigga.” and “@blaqbonez, your mumu don do, guy.”

Realizing the significance of the incident, Blaqbonez screenshotted and saved the replies for future reference. Today, he shared it with the caption: “2-16… Back then, I was a lowlife.”

The Yahoo boy controversy: Blaqbonez vs YBNL (2018)

This feud is not the first time Blaqbonez has clashed with YBNL-affiliated rappers. Back in 2018, he publicly criticized some of them for performing lyrics that glorified internet fraud (Yahoo Yahoo).

During a King’s College, Lagos performance, YBNL signees Picazo Rhap, Limerick, Yomi Blaize, and another rapper, Kayzmoore, rapped controversial lyrics from Kayzmoore’s song Jaro.

The lyrics, originally rapped in Yoruba, translate to: "At your age, shouldn’t you have bought a Benz? At your age, shouldn’t you be doing Yahoo?"

Blaqbonez immediately condemned the song, stating that it was offensive and promoted fraudulent lifestyles among Nigerian youths. He took to X, expressing his concerns: "There’s this song that’s so offensive to me, something about ...at this your age, blah blah benz o... Putting undue pressure on Nigerians, directly telling everyone who isn’t driving a Benz or a high-end car that they’re failures. Now some more people are thinking about rituals. It’s a shame that people would sing this nonsense and go unchallenged, not realizing how much influence music has on our daily lives. People are ruining their lives every day because they don’t have a Benz. Shame on such logic."

His stance triggered a backlash from the YBNL-affiliated rappers, who took to Instagram to mock him, calling him ignorant and a struggling artist.

The exchange reignited concerns about how Nigerian music often normalizes Yahoo Yahoo, with lyrics that subtly or blatantly encourage fraud as a means of acquiring wealth.

The bigger picture: Yahoo culture in Nigerian music

The Blaqbonez vs YBNL feud is part of a larger societal conversation on how Nigerian music continues to promote fraudulent lifestyles. In the past, artists like Falz have called out musicians for glorifying internet fraud. In 2018, Falz criticized veteran singer 9ice for lyrics that allegedly praised Yahoo boys. Similarly, Victor AD’s hit song, Wetin We Gain, and Chinko Ekun’s Able God have been cited as examples of how street music promotes fraudulent wealth acquisition.

Blaqbonez’s 2018 tweets reflect his frustration with this trend: "So I talked about how offensive the lyrics of a particular song were, and the whole YBNL mafia came out to throw insults. In your opinion, should we be encouraging songs with lines like: ‘At this your age, se ko ye ko ma ti ra Benz ni? At this your age, se ko ye ko ma ti se Yahoo?’"

Despite ongoing criticism, Yahoo Yahoo culture remains deeply ingrained in Nigerian street music, reflecting a larger societal issue where success is measured by wealth—regardless of how it is acquired.

What happens next?

While Blaqbonez has not directly named the rapper who dissed him in 2017, his revelations have reignited discussions about rap feuds, industry rivalries, and the glorification of internet fraud in Nigerian music.

Fans are now watching closely to see if:

  • The mystery rapper responds to Blaqbonez’s claims.
  • Other artists address the Yahoo Yahoo narrative in Nigerian music.
  • Blaqbonez continues to call out industry practices that he finds problematic.

As this controversy unfolds, one thing is certain—Blaqbonez is not afraid to speak his mind.

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9iceBlaqBonezChinko EkunFalz TheBahdGuyLimerickLytaOlamideVictor ADYomi Blaze

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