Nigerian Afrobeats star Joeboy has opened up about the growing problem of ego and unhealthy competition among artistes in the Nigerian music industry, saying it negatively affects collaborations and creativity.
Speaking in an interview on Cool FM Lagos alongside fellow musician Wizard Chan, Joeboy disclosed that he now prefers collaborating with artistes he shares genuine friendships with to avoid tension and rivalry in the studio.
According to the singer, collaborations should be about complementing each other’s strengths rather than competing for dominance on a song.
“It is easier for me to collaborate with artists that I am cool with or friends with because there will be no ego or inner competition. Personally, if I feature you, I expect you to outshine me on the song. That is why I featured you, so I don’t get the competition,” he said.
Wizard Chan, who recently worked with Joeboy on their joint project Agaba Romantic, shared similar concerns, criticising artists who attempt to control how collaborators record their verses.
“My problem with collaboration is just ego. I would never interfere when you’re recording; you just also do the same. Some artists will ask for a feature and want to tell you how to do your job. That is wrong. Let me do my thing,” he stated.
He further explained that the essence of collaboration is to introduce diversity and fresh ideas into music, not to imitate or compete with one another.
“The reason I would feature anybody is because I cannot do what they are doing. I cannot even tell them to sound like me or do my style. The aim of collaboration is to bring a different aspect to the song, and it is not a competition,” Wizard Chan added.
Joeboy also expressed frustration over artists who reportedly change or re-record their verses after hearing a collaborator deliver a stronger performance, describing the practice as counterproductive to the spirit of collaboration.
“But some artists would go as far as changing their verses when they hear their collaborator’s own and it sounds better than theirs. It is not supposed to be a competition,” he said.
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