I Contributed To Rise Of Afrobeats In U.S — Rotimi

Nigerian-American actor and singer, Rotimi Akinosho, said he played a role in bringing Afrobeats to mainstream in the U.S.

Speaking in an interview on the Afrobeats Podcast hosted by Adesope Olajide, Rotimi shared his experiences during the genre’s early stages of international recognition.

Rotimi recalled going on a tour with Banky W and Wizkid and partook in what he said was their first U.S. concert in 2012.

According to him, he visited American radio stations to promote Afrobeats and his involvement was about “bridging the gap” as an African-American artist and making the genre relatable to a Western audience.

Rotimi acknowledged the contributions of artists like Don Jazzy, 2Face Idibia, and P-Square while crediting Drake and Wizkid’s ‘One Dance’ as a major moment in the genre’s global ascent.

Although his comments sparked mixed reactions online, Rotimi defended his claim, stating that his role was key in creating awareness and easing Afrobeats’ transition into U.S. mainstream music.

“There’s too much talk regarding what I said with Afrobeat, being a pioneer. There are no lies told. I will start from the beginning with what it is. First and foremost, a major shoutout to Don Jazzy, 2face Idibia, P-squared, Banky W, Dbanj and others. Those names are global names and were pioneering in other countries. There was a time in the state when they were not the mainstream names.

“It didn’t take away anything from them, but America was not just ready for that yet at the time. In 2014, 2015, and 2016, I had a record called ‘One More’ with cranium. In 2017 we were working on other records of mine that were Afrobeats vibes, I was aware of the Afrobeats vibes that were coming. In 2011, I was on a tour with Banky W, Wizkid and that was the first time in the state when they did their first tour.

“I was going around to all of the radio stations in Arkansas Mississippi, Philadelphia, and Connecticut, all representing Afrobeats because that is my culture.

“It was like Rotimi what is this music? I was playing records of mine that they were like, I don’t know this sound. In 2016, I was getting calls from Radio programmes, it’s like it was a Drake record, but it was fresh… it still didn’t click fully but the conversation that I was having from Radio programmes was like, Rotimi I get it, that sound you were telling me about seven months ago, and I said yes.

“When I say I contributed to making Afrobeats go mainstream in the US, the point that I was saying was not wrong but I couldn’t flesh it up because that’s not what I was there for during that interview but here we can have the conversation.

“It was like yo, I was here when it was 2011 and 300 people were coming because no one else was there. I was there before it became mainstream. I was the one getting the calls in 2015, 2016. I was the African in America that was the bridge that was like they could reach out to.

“They can reach out to Rotimi and say oh bro, I get it now. OK, I love the Freedom record that you have. Can you explain the tempo to me so I make it comfortable for these guys?”

Rotimi has released several mixtapes, EPs, and albums, including Walk With Me, The Beauty Of Becoming, Unplugged Sessions, and All or Nothing. Some of his songs include “Love Riddim”, “In My Bed”, “Love Somebody”, “What To Do”, “Decide”, and “Don’t You Ever.

Rotini has acted in movies like Darius Morrison on Boss, Andre Coleman on Power, and Charles on The Chi.