Fat Joe Claims Afrobeats Originated from Jamaica

In a recent episode of the Joe Budden Podcast featuring Jamaican dancehall star Buju Banton, American rapper Fat Joe asserted that Afrobeats has its roots in Jamaica. He made this statement while discussing the evolution of music genres, although Banton did not challenge the assertion.

Instead, he shifted the conversation to the influence of Panamanian artist El General, who is credited with pioneering reggaeton and its global impact. Fat Joe's comments have drawn criticism, particularly regarding the recognition of Afrobeats as an emerging genre from West Africa, which has been heavily inspired by the sound developed by Nigerian legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti.

This discussion reignited past comments from Buju Banton, who previously accused Afrobeats artists of borrowing heavily from Jamaican reggae and dancehall without proper acknowledgment. In a 2024 interview on the Drink Champs Podcast, Banton argued that Afrobeats lacks depth and predicted a decline in the genre's popularity.