In a now-viral video, MI said rap has always been criticised since inception — indicating he is not surprised by Wizkid’s recent comment about the genre.

Jude Abaga, the world-famous Nigerian rapper, who is popularly known as MI, has talked about his career.

He says he has survived a plethora of criticisms since he became a rapper.

In a now-viral video, MI said rap has always been criticized since inception — indicating he is not surprised by Wizkid’s recent comment about the genre.

Abaga also declared that 2022 has been a great year for rappers.

“People get upset when I talk with an authoritative voice about hip hop. I’m MI, na me be MI, na me don suffer for this game for where he dey now. It’s undisputed. So when I speak I’m speaking with the experience, with the weight of my contributions,” he said in a mixture of pidgin and English.

“This is a great year for the rap genre and that’s what it’s important. Because since I came to the rap genre, we have been criticised. I came in through criticisms, I entered into rap and people say why would you do that.

“In life, you are gonna have to attempt hard things. Sometimes you have to do things against the green. People are going to go against it but that’s why we love hip hop. It’s against the green, we know and we’re still here.”

MI’s comment comes a few weeks after Wizkid said he doesn’t listen to rap music any more, adding that the genre is “boring” and “dead”.

His comment attracted a chorus of condemnation from several hip-hop artists and lovers of rap music.

MI Abaga had earlier countered Wizkid, saying rap is “still on the rise”.