- The debate between Afrobeats and Dancehall has resurfaced, with executive Murray Elias claiming that Afrobeats artists are superior in songwriting and commercial success.
- Elias argued that Afrobeats is more internationally appealing and well-funded than Dancehall, citing Shenseea as an example.
- Afrobeats artists such as Wizkid and Rema have recently achieved major chart success, while seasoned Dancehall acts such as Sean Paul have seen declining sales, but the debate continues.
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The age-old rivalry between Afrobeats and Dancehall has sparked new debate, with music executive Murray Elias claiming that Afrobeats artists are "better songwriters, singers, and artists" than their Dancehall peers.
In a heated Instagram exchange, Elias responded to producer Rvssian's statement that "Afrobeats is in trouble if Dancehall artists unite."
"First, dancehall and unity are oxymorons. "It will never happen," Elias shot back. "Secondly, even if it were to happen, the Afrobeats artists are better songwriters, better singers, better artists than anything coming out of Jamaica."
He contended that Afrobeats is "more commercial on an international crossover level" and "well-funded and well-run." Meanwhile, "all the dancehall signings have been flops or the jury is still out," he claimed.
Elias cited Protoje, Lila Ike, and Shenseea as examples. "Despite all the hype and all the money spent (and there has been a lot of money spent), Shensea has yet to have a bona fide hit record on her own," he said.
In contrast, Afrobeats artists such as Burna Boy, Wizkid, and Rema have recently achieved significant success. Wizkid's "One Dance" is a Diamond in the United States, and Rema's "Calm Down" spent a year in the Billboard Hot 100 top ten.
Meanwhile, even seasoned dancehall veterans such as Sean Paul have struggled to sell albums, with his last two albums failing to reach 2,000 first-week US sales.
Elias believes Messia and Teejay are likely to be "one-hit wonders." He concluded: "My money is that they are both one-hit wonders."
The Afrobeats boom shows no signs of slowing. However, the rivalry between African and Caribbean beats persists. Dancehall fans believe the genre can still dominate the musical landscape if artists work together. But skeptics wonder if unity is possible in the individualistic dancehall culture.
The verdict is still out, but one thing is certain: the Afrobeats vs Dancehall debate will not die down anytime soon. Both genres have ardent fans who believe theirs is the undisputed champion.
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