Ayomide Tayo Challenges American Rap Star Fat Joe Over Claims On Afrobeats Creation

According to Ireporter Online, Nigerian content creator and pop culture commentator, Ayomide Oluwasegun Tayo, popularly known as AOT2, has strongly reacted to claims made by American rapper Joseph Antonio Cartagena, better known as Fat Joe, over the origin of Afrobeats.

Fat Joe, during a recent episode of the “Joe and Jada” podcast featuring reggae and dancehall star Buju Banton, suggested that Jamaica played a role in the creation of Afrobeats, a statement that has since sparked widespread debate across the global music space.

Responding to the claim, AOT2 dismissed it as misleading, insisting that Afrobeats is a product of African creativity, particularly from Nigeria and Ghana. He maintained that no foreign country should be credited with the genre’s origin.

“It’s 2026, people, let’s stop this nonsense. Jamaica did not start Afrobeats, England did not start Afrobeats, Liberia did not start Afrobeats. Ghana and Nigeria created Afrobeats. It’s frustrating when people who should know better use their platforms to spread misinformation,” he said.

He further acknowledged that Afrobeats may contain elements influenced by dancehall but stressed that such influence does not equate to ownership or origin of the genre.

“There are dancehall elements in Afrobeats, yes, but that doesn’t mean Jamaica created Afrobeats. People need to stop distorting history. When you don’t protect your culture, others rewrite it,” he added.

Fat Joe’s comments have continued to generate reactions from African music enthusiasts and industry observers, with many Nigerians pushing back against the narrative.

In the same podcast episode, Fat Joe also referenced Nigerian singer BNXN, formerly known as Buju, joking about his stage name and suggesting confusion with Jamaican reggae icon Buju Banton.

In response, Buju Banton clarified that his name itself was derived from personal and cultural influences, noting that he does not claim exclusive ownership of the stage name.

The ongoing exchange has reignited discussions around Afrobeats’ global identity and the importance of preserving its African roots amid international recognition.