Nigerian rapper Odumodublvck has responded to the heavy criticism trailing his recent interview with BET Network, where he was quoted as referring to female artists such as Bloody Civilian and Smur Lee as “Z-list artists.”
During the interview, the rapper had discussed his passion for supporting upcoming talents, particularly women, without expecting anything in return.
While emphasising his desire to help female artists succeed without compromising their values, Odumodublvck cited his previous collaborations with Bloody Civilian and Smur Lee as examples of rising stars who had achieved success despite being relatively unknown at the time.
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He said,
“I can help you without taking anything from you, same thing with the girls. I want to be able to give girls deals without having to compromise themselves.
The last time a Nigerian girl was number one on the chart, I think it was probably me. I’ve gone number one with two girls, Smur Lee and Bloody Civilian, and they were not A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H artists – they were Z artists. But yes, they went number one. That’s to show you that girls out there, you can do your thing without compromising.”
However, the comment sparked outrage on social media, with fans and fellow artists accusing Odumodublvck of being disrespectful and dismissive toward the women he had worked with. Many argued that his choice of words undermined the achievements of female artists who are steadily building their careers in a male-dominated industry.
Amid the backlash, Odumodublvck took to X (formerly Twitter) to clarify his statement, insisting that his remark was misunderstood and taken out of context. He explained that he used the term “Z-list” merely as an exaggeration to describe artists who were still emerging at the time of their collaborations, not to discredit or insult them.
He wrote,
“BLOODY IS NOT A Z LIST ARTIST. NEITHER ARE THE NAMES I CALLED.
Z WAS JUST AN EXAGGERATION TO AMAZING FEMALE ARTISTS LIKE SMUR LEE, KENKÉ & VALENTINO, WHO ARE MAKING A NAME FOR THEMSELVES. – THE MACHINE.”
Odumodublvck’s clarification was met with mixed reactions. While some fans appreciated his attempt to explain the context of his words, others maintained that his original phrasing was careless and unnecessary.
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Despite the controversy, Odumodublvck continues to receive praise for consistently supporting emerging artists and advocating for fair recognition in the music scene.
His collaborations with rising talents have played a significant role in spotlighting new voices within Nigeria’s rapidly evolving hip-hop and alternative music spaces.
The rapper, known for his bold opinions and outspoken nature, appears determined to move past the controversy, using it as a reminder of the power and responsibility that come with influence and words in the digital age.
