Kanye West was first international artist to embrace Afrobeats – D’banj

Nigerian singer, D’banj has revealed the role American rapper and music executive Kanye West played in popularising Afrobeats in the Western world.

According to the Koko Master, Ye was the first international artist to embrace Afrobeats.

Featuring in a recent episode of the ‘Listen’ podcast, D’banj stated that West’s love for African music was the reason he signed him and Don Jazzy to his record label, Good Music.

He said, “The first time I met Kanye West in Dubai, he told me that he had enquired about afrobeats from students in the university. So, he actually wanted to pick up the sound.

“He was interested in the sound. That was what gave us [Don Jazzy and me] the deal and the opportunity to be signed to his record label [Good Music]. So, Kanye is the first person [international artist] to buy into it [Afrobeats]. Not just buy into it but is taking it to the next level.

Kanye West made a cameo in the video of D’banj’s 2012 international hit ‘Oliver Twist.’