Nigerian singer, Joseph Akinwale Akinfenwa-Donus, popularly known as Joeboy, has responded to those criticizing his music.

Joeboy has been under heavy criticism on social media, with some of his critics describing his music as “mid.”

Addressing the criticisms, Joeboy insisted that there is nothing “mid” about him.

He argued that most of his critics are just unhappy with their lives, hence the negative criticisms.

“There is nothing ‘mid’ about my existence. The fact that I have been able to get so far at such a young age in my career and still have my head on my shoulders is not ‘mid’ in any way. I also feel like the people criticizing me are generally not happy with life.
“Because if you’re genuinely happy with your life, you would not pick up your phone and start attacking somebody. What exactly is ‘mid’? I think it was just a word that got too popular, and people just started using it.”
Joeboy

In February 2024, Joeboy unveiled his record label ‘Young Legend’ after he exited emPawa Africa, a label owned by Mr Eazi.

He accompanied the announcement with a documentary of himself which he described as the “dawn of a new era”.

He also signed a record deal with Warner Music, a US-based company that facilitates global music distribution from his label.

Joeboy who signed his very first artiste in October 2024 has won several awards and recognition for his craft.

In 2019, he won the ‘Best Artiste in African Pop’ prize at the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA).

The singer also snagged the ‘Best Pop’ category at the Soundcity MVP Awards Festival in 2020.

In November 2023, he released a 5-track extended play (EP) titled ‘Body, Soul & Spirit’.

Joeboy earlier said he knew he would be successful in the music industry after meeting Wizkid, the award-winning music star.

Joeboy Shares Inspiration Behind His Foundation

The Nigerian singer shared a heartwarming story of how his childhood struggles inspired him to open a foundation to support children in similar situations.

Joeboy recounted his experiences of being sent home from school due to unpaid fees and how this motivated him to make a positive change.

The ‘Alcohol’ crooner revealed that during his junior secondary school days, he frequently owed school fees, leading to embarrassing situations.

He shared a particular incident where his classmates would tease him, anticipating that he would be sent home due to unpaid fees.

“It hurt me so much and I went back home and told my parents that I was never going back to that school again. I didn’t care, I pulled myself out that I wasn’t going anywhere. When I was younger, I used to owe school fees a lot and it used to get embarrassing.
“When I was in jss3, the secretary that used to call names of those owing fees came and before she even began announcing, the whole class said my name ‘Akinfewa Joseph’. It pained me!”
Joeboy

This experience according to him, left a lasting impact on him.

He stated that this painful memory sparked a desire in him to help others who face similar challenges.

“That gave me the dream to do something, which was to help people who can’t afford to pay their school fees so I just opened a foundation; the Young Legend Foundation. I opened it two months ago and we’ve been paying people’s school fees, so my inner child is very excited about that.
“It’s crazy what something like that can do to someone mentally. I mean it’s not the child’s fault that they can’t pay their fees right? But people made it seem like it was my fault and it was embarrassing and it pained me that time.”
Joeboy