Nigerian street-hop artist Slimcase has stirred widespread controversy after claiming that any Afrobeats musician who hasn’t watched Michael B. Jordan’s new film Sinners cannot be regarded as a true Afrobeats artiste.
The statement, made during a recent interview with Online Personality, Teddy A on Echoo Room, quickly spread across social media and triggered intense reactions.
In the viral snippet, Slimcase declared, “Any Afrobeats artiste who hasn’t seen Sinners by Michael Jordan is not an Afrobeats artiste,” a comment many found confusing and unnecessarily provocative. His remark refers to the 2025 Hollywood supernatural thriller Sinners, written and directed by Ryan Coogler, which features Jordan playing twin brothers in 1930s Mississippi.
Slimcase explained with a mix of English and Yoruba why he felt the film, rooted in American folklore, trauma, and horror, determines the cultural credibility of a Nigerian and African Afrobeats artiste. His abrupt comparison has left fans questioning the relevance of a Hollywood movie to the authenticity of a music genre built on African rhythms and experiences.
The debate has intensified as social media users argue over whether Slimcase was simply attempting to spark conversation, making a metaphorical point about artistic exposure, or pushing an ill-fitting opinion. Many have called the statement exaggerated, while others see it as another example of Slimcase’s penchant for dramatic commentary.
With Afrobeats continuing to expand internationally and draw creative influences from various cultures, Slimcase’s comment has opened a new discussion about what truly defines an Afrobeats artist and whether global pop culture consumption should play any role in that definition.
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