The Nigerian music industry has been rocked again by a fiery diss track, this time from rapper Oladips, who aimed the Headies and the current rap scene. The release of the Headies nominees for “Best Rap Single of the Year” featured tracks like Cast by Shallipopi featuring ODUMODUBLVCK, Blood on the Dance Floor by ODUMODUBLVCK featuring Bloody Civilian and Wale, Hallelujah by LADIPOE, ROZZZ & MORRELO, Canada by Magnito, and Ije Nwoke by Jeriq, and the list quickly became a flashpoint for Oladips’ frustration.
On February 17, just days after the nominees were revealed, Oladips released a scathing diss track titled ‘Tospi’ that called out the award show organizers and questioned why his work was excluded from consideration. In his track, Oladips not only aimed at the Headies’ nomination process but also accused the organizers of deliberately undermining his efforts and the work of other deserving artists in the rap community.
He boldly paid homage to rap veterans like Lord of Ajasa, MI, Olamide, Reminisce, Dagrin, Seriki, and other OGs in the Nigerian Rap game. while directly accusing the Headies of ignoring his contributions to the culture. Oladips even went so far as to declare that no one on the nominee list could compete with him in a rap battle, making a powerful statement about his position in the game.
The controversy didn’t stop there. Oladips expressed his belief that the rap culture in Nigeria was on the decline, with many of today’s top artists failing to speak out about the truth behind the industry’s politics. “If you pay attention, all your favorite rappers don’t talk, even though they know the truth,” Oladips rapped. “That’s why the culture is so done.”
He went on to claim that his 2023 album Superhero Adugbo deserved the Best Rap Album award and that his 2024 album Lazarus (The Apparition) also deserved the same recognition. He further criticized the Headies for being biased with their nominations, humorously adding that they almost included Portable’s name in the category, highlighting the mediocrity that, according to him, has overtaken the rap award category.
In one of the most dramatic moments of the track, Oladips acknowledged Wizkid’s 2021 statement that “hip-hop is dead” in Nigeria. To wrap up the song, Oladips admitted it was time to apologize to Wizkid, conceding that Nigerian hip-hop truly is dead. When Wizkid first made the bold claim, he was met with heavy backlash, and Oladips even dropped a diss track in response.
But now, in 2025, Oladips has come to agree with the superstar, pointing out that the current Headies nomination list is proof that hip-hop is no longer thriving in Nigeria. The lack of serious rap representation in the nominations, he argues, reflects the decline of the genre in the country.
The track immediately stirred reactions, and one notable response came from Magnito, whose song Canada earned a nomination in the same category. In an interview with HipTV, Magnito downplayed Oladips’ criticisms, stating that he wasn’t concerned with the snub. “I’m focused on making money,” he said. “Oladips needs the award more than any of us in the category. If it were me, I wouldn’t even care about the nomination.” Magnito added that rappers, by nature, are controversial, so a diss track was par for the course in the rap game.
Could Oladips’ bold move breathe new life into Nigerian rap?
Diss is important to the rap culture; if you do not agree, check out the Song of the Year at the 2025 Grammys. Many argue that the track is reminiscent of the kind of energy that reshaped rap culture in the West when Kendrick Lamar and Drake famously engaged in a public beef.
Kendrick’s diss track, Not Like Us, which was part of the larger feud between the two, not only made waves but helped him secure five Grammy wins at the 2025 ceremony. The drama surrounding Lamar’s verse on Like That became one of the year’s most talked-about topics, marking a turning point in rap’s cultural relevance.
Could Oladips’s fiery diss track have a similar impact on the Nigerian rap scene? Just as Kendrick Lamar’s lyrical shots at Drake reignited the debate about the true essence of rap, Oladips’ bold stance could spark a much-needed reckoning in Nigerian hip-hop.
His move could encourage artists to speak out more on the issues plaguing the culture, pushing the boundaries of what rap is meant to represent. However, nobody has responded with an equal or better rap song.
