My music genre is Rapfrobeats, says Vector

Vector, the Nigerian rapper, has described his genre of music as ‘Rapfrobeats’.

In an interview with Arise TV, the 40-year-old rapper discussed his music style and weighed in on the debate surrounding the classification of Nigerian artistes as Afrobeats musicians.

Vector emphasised that he cannot be “boxed” into a specific genre due to his diverse musical influences.

He said growing up in Lagos as a Yoruba boy, he was exposed to various forms of music, including traditional Yoruba sounds and church music which shaped his sound.

Vector said he created the term ‘Rapfrobeats’ to challenge the misconception that rappers cannot sing.

He said he believes that African rappers should be able to blend rap with African beats seamlessly.

“I just make music. I think no matter how much we break it down, it just makes sense for us to give respect to music. But that said, every artiste has a right to affiliate with music the how they wish, let us not box anything in. But how I’ve always been is that I have been honest to my music,” he said.

“As a Yoruba boy in Lagos, you were raised with words, proverbs and wise sayings. Those things form a core background and foundation of what you do lyrically speaking. But I was also exposed to music properly in a white garment church, so how do I box myself. That is why I said I am just within the confines of music.

“However with Rapfrobeats, I realize that majority of the things that we claim, we always leave it to foreign intelligence to define. I have done a little academic research and Afrobeats is the only genre of music that can embody different types of genres of music and still maintain its original identity.

“Yes there is Afrobeat that Fela has done which is legendary but the way that the contemporary artistes have been able to fuse things together. I then made Rapfrobeats in the sense that I feel like especially for those of us that came into the rap game, there is this misrepresentation that rappers cannot sing or as a rapper, you cannot be this way.

“… So averagely, an African rapper should be able to rap on African beats.”