By Ibrahim Kegbegbe
Veteran Fuji musician, Alhaji Wasiu Alabi Pasuma, popularly known as Oganla Fuji, has showered praises on Nigerian hip-hop artistes, stating that they are the most respected in the music industry due to their humility and professionalism.
Pasuma, who has been a prominent figure in the Fuji music scene for decades, made these remarks during an interview on the popular online podcast, Rafqat Entertainment International. He highlighted the discipline and mutual respect among hip-hop artistes, contrasting it with the Fuji industry, where he noted that some younger artistes show a lack of respect for their seniors.
“No hip-hop artiste has ever disrespected me. Even the veterans among them always give me my due respect whenever we meet,” Pasuma stated. “It is in the Fuji industry that you will see junior artistes disrespecting their senior colleagues.”
The Fuji icon further emphasized that he was the pioneer Fuji artiste to collaborate with hip-hop artistes, bridging the gap between both genres and expanding the reach of Fuji music.
“There is no crime in collaborating with any of the known hip-hop artistes like Olamide or Tiwa Savage because the hip-hop genre of music is highly appreciated across the globe,” he added. “Their humility and hard work have kept them relevant in the industry for so long. That is why artistes like Tiwa Savage, Olamide, and 2Baba remain forces to reckon with.”
Pasuma’s admiration for the Nigerian hip-hop industry underscores the growing influence of the genre on the global stage, as well as the importance of professionalism and mutual respect in sustaining a successful career in the music industry. His remarks also highlight the need for Fuji artistes to embrace unity and collaboration to further elevate their genre.
With the evolving Nigerian music landscape, collaborations between Fuji and hip-hop artistes continue to gain traction, reinforcing the rich diversity and cross-genre influence within the country’s entertainment industry.
