Interview: Afro B Speaks On Buju Banton’s Criticism Of Afrobeats, His Jamaican Collabs And More
Popular Afrobeats star Afro B— known for hits such as Drogba (Joanna), Shape Nice (with Vybz Kartel and Dre Skull), Fine Wine & Hennessy (featuring Slim Jxmmi) and much more—has disagreed with Buju Banton’s criticisms of the genre.
Afro B, who is currently in Jamaica along with fellow UK artist Lahrel to shoot a music video for the unreleased track Sit Down, told DancehallMag that Banton erred when he stated that Afrobeats has failed to liberate Africans as has reggae music.
“I disagree with that because those songs are not as commercial as the ones that are fun. Even the fun ones, although they might not be giving those messages are still connecting the African Americans to the roots, and the Caribbeans to the roots,” he said in an interview.
He added,” So that’s a whole movement in itself that Marcus Garvey called the repatriation movement, where they connected people; well—people who are of African origin—back to their roots. And then we’re doing that via the music.”
In the same breath, Afro B challenged additional sentiments that by the Champion deejay that Afrobeats did not seek to connect with Jamaica, the roots of the music, but instead opted to forge connections elsewhere.
He cited that artists of the genre have continuously shown their respect for Jamaican acts and Dancehall.
“You know, there are so many of us that have collaborated and shown influences from Dancehall so that’s why I disagree the most of the narrative. I’ve collaborated with Busy Signal, Stefflon Don, Konshens, and that’s just me. Other artists have collaborated with so many (Jamaican artists); from Stonebwoy, to Burna Boy…I can go on. So, we show a lot of love, and we’ve come to the country to perform with you because, you know, you’ve influenced us,” he said.
Speaking of which, Afro B has tapped Stefflon Don, Busy Signal and Rygin King for his latest album titled Elephant In The Room. He is looking to release at the end of October. He says this project will mark a rebirth of sorts for him.
“Technically, it feels like a debut album because I’ve evolved as an artist, and during the pandemic, I had more time to just sit down and concentrate on recording, because before that I was making the transition from DJ to to making music. I was just making music on a go. I wasn’t actually sitting on anything. It was just like I recorded something and then just released it the next day or week. This is the first time I’ve sat down and really tried to muscle the crop and transition from being the DJ,” he said.
Afro B says he will continue to visit Jamaica and opt to collaborate with local artists because of his chemistry with them over the years.
“The people I collab with, there’s some form of relationship. It’s not a thing where it’s just random and then we come together. So even if, as artists, I haven’t even made music with, I can call them and say, ‘Yo, I’m in studio listening to something’ and if something happens, it happens.”
This trip has been memorable so far because of the ‘tropical video shoot’ in the beautiful, rural area of Portland.
This is Afro B’s first time visiting that parish. However, Lahrel—who is of Jamaican lineage—is enthusiastic about revisiting to make the visuals for the dancehall-infused track.
“This isn’t my first time doing Dancehall-related music and definitely not for Afro, as well, as he’s worked with many Jamaican artists already. So it wouldn’t be the first time. You know, we always try to create art, create something that we’ve done, but better, something a bit more different, so we don’t try to repeat ourselves,” she told DancehallMag.
Sit Down will be released on October 18, while the music video will follow soon after.