Skales clarifies that only Banky W, Olamide, and Timaya provided career support, despite perceptions of help from Burna Boy and Wizkid.
[dropcap]N[/dropcap]igerian singer Raoul John Njeng-Njeng, better known as Skales, has publicly addressed claims about the role his industry colleagues played in his career.
The “Shake Body” singer stated that only his former label boss, Banky W, alongside Olamide and Timaya, have been instrumental in his career success, clarifying that Burna Boy and Wizkid, contrary to popular belief, did not offer him substantial help.
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Taking to his X handle on Monday, Skales explained his stance, writing, “Put some respect on my name… the only people who helped me are Olamide, Timaya, and Banky W… much respect to Burna.”
He went on to express frustration over ongoing rumours of rivalry, adding, “You guys always love to see artistes go against each other, but I’m here to set the record straight. I’m here to make music and stay away from negative toxic stories.”
The artist’s remarks came in response to online discussions that suggested his success could be attributed to the support of Burna Boy and Wizkid.
One X user, @Perfect_Mipo, claimed that Wizkid was a significant influence in Skales’ career, to which Skales replied, “Ask him to tell you how… I respect him, but he didn’t help me. Banky deserves the praise for believing in us when we were just teenagers.”
Skales also addressed assumptions regarding Burna Boy’s influence on his career, responding to a user’s comment that Burna had helped him rise.
“Listen, I will defend myself always… I love Burna, but don’t ever say he helped me. No one helped me! Only my fans and God’s grace. We did collaborations where we all benefited; if it didn’t work for us, we wouldn’t keep performing together.”
Skales, who was among the first artists signed to Banky W’s Empire Mates Entertainment (EME) label in the early 2010s, eventually left the label after reaching stardom. Both he and Wizkid were EME’s early signees, though their career paths diverged post-EME.
Through his posts, Skales emphasised a focus on positive growth in his music career, calling for respect for his contributions and the role of those who genuinely supported him.
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
