In a recent interview on the Afrobeats Podcast, veteran singer Terry G addressed the controversy surrounding his unreleased collaboration with Wizkid, “Mary Jane.” The song was removed from streaming platforms due to uncleared rights.
Terry G explained the situation from his perspective.
He highlighted the difference between how collaborations were done in his earlier days and current music industry practices. Back then, according to Terry G, collaborations stemmed from mutual respect and camaraderie among artists. There wasn’t a formal process of obtaining clearance before releasing a song together.
“When we did the song, it was all about love, and there was nothing like clearance,” Terry G tells host Adesope in pidgin.
Terry G, the hitmaker behind many songs, went on the Afrobeats Podcast to shed light on the situation with his unreleased Wizkid collaboration, “Mary Jane.”
While acknowledging the song’s removal from streaming platforms due to uncleared rights, Terry G explained the reasoning behind his actions. He mentioned that back in his day, collaborations were built on respect and camaraderie between artists. Formal clearances weren’t a requirement.
However, Terry G also recognised that the music industry has changed. He admitted the need to be professional and obtain the necessary clearances in today’s environment. Following a request from Wizkid’s legal team, Terry G confirmed he had instructed his team to take down the song.
The release of “Mary Jane” in 2024 surprised fans as it was an older recording. This surprise fueled questions about whether Wizkid had approved it. Despite the takedown, Terry G expressed his continued respect for Wizkid, even calling him the “Jay Z of his generation.”
The interview also offered a glimpse into the inspiration behind Terry G’s unique musical style, the very style that propelled him to mainstream success.
Watch Terry G’s full interview with the Afrobeats podcast below.
Burna Boy, a Nigerian musician, has become one of the world’s biggest artists since 2018. That year, his song ‘YE’ became very popular internationally. Since then, his songs, albums, and concerts have set many records for African music.
Recently, Burna Boy has set another record. His new song ‘Higher’ has achieved the most streams on its first day for a solo single on Spotify Nigeria. This information comes from TurnTable Charts, a company that tracks music popularity.
On its first full day after release, ‘Higher’ was played 530,792 times on Spotify Nigeria. This number is higher than the previous record. The old record was held by another Nigerian artist, Wizkid, whose song ‘Diamond’ was played 518,000 times on its first day.
.@burnaboy’s “Higher” sets a new record for the biggest opening day streams on Spotify Nigeria for a solo single
The song tallied 530,792 streams on Spotify Nigeria in its first full day of release— surpassing the previous record of @wizkidayo’s “Diamonds” 518K and @davido’s… pic.twitter.com/o9IrMf5eCY
Burna Boy’s ‘Higher’ also set a new record for the most streams on the first day for a solo song by any African artist. This information was shared by Chart Data, a platform that reports on music chart news. Before ‘Higher’, Burna Boy held this record with his 2023 song ‘City Boy’, which was nominated for a Grammy award.
.@burnaboy‘s “Higher” earns the biggest streaming debut for a solo song by an African artist in Spotify history, surpassing his own “City Boys”. pic.twitter.com/SPZcfmoudX
These achievements show that Burna Boy is a global superstar. His music is setting new standards for African artists and is becoming more popular worldwide.
Burna Boy has been setting many records throughout the year.
One of his biggest achievements was his concert at the London Stadium. He became the first African artist to sell out all tickets for this venue twice. He was also the first African artist to headline two stadium concerts in the United Kingdom.
In addition to his success in the UK, Burna Boy has set records in North America. He now holds the record for the highest-grossing concert by an African artist in the United States. This means his concert made more money than any other African artist’s concert in the US. He also set a record in Canada, achieving the highest-grossing tour by an African artist in that country.
All these accomplishments demonstrate Burna Boy’s growing popularity and influence in the global music industry. He is not only succeeding as an African artist but is competing at the highest levels of international music. His continued success is helping to bring more attention to African music on the world stage.
Burna Boy’s journey from his breakout hit ‘YE’ to his current status as a record-breaking global star shows his growth as an artist and the increasing global appeal of African music. His achievements are opening doors for other African artists and changing perceptions of African music worldwide.
The Black Entertainment Television (BET) Awards were established in 2001. Their purpose was to honour Black artists’ achievements in various entertainment fields in the United States. Later, the awards expanded to include Black artists from other countries.
The 2024 BET Awards ceremony took place on June 30. It was held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
Nigerian artists did not have much success at this year’s awards. Most of them did not win in their nominated categories.
Tems was the only Nigerian artist to win an award. She received the Best Gospel/Inspiration Song award for her single “Me & U”.
Burna Boy was nominated in two categories but did not win either of them. He lost the Best Hip Hop award to Kendrick Lamar. He also lost the Best R&B/Pop act award to Usher.
Ayra Starr was nominated for multiple awards but did not win any. She was nominated for Best New Artist, but this award went to Tyla instead. Tyla also beat Ayra Starr and another Nigerian artist, Asake, for the Best International Act award.
Seyi Vibez received his first-ever BET nomination this year. He was nominated for Best New International Act. However, he did not win. This award went to Makhadzi, an artist from South Africa.
Nigerian rap legend Olamide surprised fans on June 27th, 2024 with a new 7-track EP titled “Ikigai.” The project delves into “reason for being” or “life’s purpose.” This surprise release has already sent shockwaves through the Afrobeats scene.
“Ikigai” shattered the record for most opening day streams on Spotify Nigeria in 2024. It racked up a whopping 1.86 million streams in its first 24 hours. This dethrones the previous record holder, “Shakespopi” by Shallipopi, which garnered 1.59 million streams.
Biggest opening day streams of 2024 on Spotify Nigeria
These numbers solidify Olamide’s position as a dominant force in African music. He holds the title for the most streamed African rapper on Spotify and also boasts the most streamed album by a Nigerian rapper on the platform with his 2020 project “Carpe Diem.”
“Ikigai” isn’t just about Olamide flexing his solo muscles.
The EP features some exciting collaborations, showcasing the depth of talent within the YBNL label. Rising stars Fireboy and Asake light up track 3 “Uptown Disco” with their infectious energy, while the closing track “Synchro System” offers a dose of nostalgia for longtime fans. This song reunites Olamide with some former YBNL associates – Pheelz, Young Jonn, and Lil Kesh – bringing together a group of artists who have helped shape the Afrobeats sound.
This surprise release marks Olamide’s 10th solo project and 15th overall, further solidifying his place as a Nigerian music powerhouse since 1999. “Ikigai” also surpasses his own record for biggest first-day numbers, previously held by his 2023 album “Unruly” with 1.81 million streams.
Biggest first day streams by albums on Spotify Nigeria (all-time)
With “Ikigai,” Olamide lands at number 5 on the all-time list of opening day streams on Spotify Nigeria, following giants like Davido (“Timeless”), Burna Boy (“I Told Them”), Asake (“Work Of Art”), and Wizkid (“S2” EP).
l don’t also understand how it’s happening but God knows the best @olamide make a history for me yesterday 😩😩💞@jo_blaq02 my Friends thanks for the
support brother 💖🫵 pic.twitter.com/lE6vKm3EQg
Furthermore, Olamide wasted no time in dropping the music video for the track “Metaverse,” keeping fans visually engaged with the new project. He also hosted a virtual listening event on TikTok Live with content creator Peller, a savvy move to connect with fans on a popular social media platform and create a more interactive experience.
Olamide’s “Ikigai” is a powerful reminder of his enduring influence in the Afrobeats scene. The record-breaking streams and collaborations showcase his ability to evolve while staying true to his roots.
With a surprise EP, a hot music video, and a savvy social media push, Olamide is proving that he’s not going anywhere and remains a major force to be reckoned with in Nigerian music.
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