CKay Slams Fellow Artists for Copying His Afrobeat Style

Nigerian singer CKay has called out his colleagues in the music industry, accusing them of copying the Afrobeat style he pioneered while mocking him early in his career. The ‘Love Nwantiti’ hitmaker, who is credited with popularizing Afrobeat on platforms like TikTok, expressed his frustration over what he sees as a rewrite of history.

Taking to his X handle, CKay claimed that many of the trends now dominant in the Afrobeat genre were introduced by him, including the rise of emo-afrobeat. Reflecting on how he was ridiculed for promoting his music on TikTok, CKay pointed out that those same critics are now following in his footsteps.

“History can’t be rewritten just because some people got paid to rewrite it… I’ll always be here to remind you,” CKay wrote. “CKay is the first. I pioneered many vibes Afrobeats artistes thrive off today… iykyk. Y’all laughed when I came up with emo-afrobeat and was on TikTok all day but many are now doing the same thing, calling it ridiculous names (& making $$). You’re welcome sha.”

CKay’s bold statement has sparked conversations about innovation and originality in the Afrobeat scene, as fans debate the evolution of the genre and the influence of key figures like CKay.