RibsNPacks Republic boss BlackFada has challenged the growing social-media narrative that Nigerian Afrobeats star Asake is not versatile, insisting that the singer’s musical range is being underestimated.
Reacting to the release of “IKEBE 3000,” a new collaboration between rapper Blaqbonez and Asake, BlackFada argued that the latest record offers another example of Asake's ability to adapt to different sounds.
“Social Media will tell you that Asake isn't versatile but this is the reality. IKEBE 3000 OUT NOW. I tell you Asake is over versatile,” BlackFada said.
He further pointed to Asake's impact when his music began making waves, arguing that the singer's emergence significantly changed the sound and direction of contemporary Nigerian popular music.
“Look at when ‘Wave’ came out, everything changed,” he added.
The comments came as Blaqbonez released “IKEBE 3000” featuring Asake on October 2, 2026.
The track brings the two artists together on an energetic, dance-oriented record, with Blaqbonez handling the rap-led sections while Asake contributes his distinctive melodic and Yoruba-influenced vocal style.
The collaboration also marks another link-up between the pair in 2026, following their earlier song “Chanel.” The new record has already appeared on Spotify's New Music Friday playlists and other streaming playlists following its release.
BlackFada's comments come amid continuing debates among music fans about Asake's artistic range.
While some social-media users have criticised the singer for maintaining a recognisable sound, BlackFada's argument is that versatility should not necessarily mean abandoning an established musical identity.
He pointed to Asake's ability to fit into collaborations and records with different artists and production styles as evidence of what he described as his “over versatility.”
Asake's recent catalogue includes collaborations and releases spanning different musical settings, including “WORSHIP” with DJ Snake, “Eja Meja” with BNXN, “Asambe” with Kabza De Small, “Turbulence” with Wizkid, and his latest collaboration with Blaqbonez.
For BlackFada, “IKEBE 3000” is another opportunity for listeners to judge Asake's adaptability for themselves.
The debate over whether the singer should be described as versatile ultimately remains a matter of musical interpretation, but his latest collaboration has added another entry to his growing list of cross-artist releases.
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