In the high-stakes world of Afrobeats, where rivalries fuel headlines as much as hits, music executive Ubi Franklin has weighed in on the elephant in the room: the dream collaboration between Wizkid, Davido, and Burna Boy. Speaking on the latest episode of the Afropolitan podcast, Franklin didn’t mince words, explaining that the “Big 3” of Nigerian music are more likely to stay in their lanes than link up for a track. “It would be difficult for Wizkid, Davido, and Burna Boy to come together,” he said, attributing the standoff to their entrenched positions as industry titans who thrive on competition rather than camaraderie.
Franklin, a longtime associate of Davido through his Made Men Music Group days, painted a picture of mutual respect behind the scenes despite the public spats. “I will speak for Davido—I have never heard him for once say something ill about Wizkid or Burna Boy. And I’m sure it’s the same for them,” he emphasized, suggesting the beef is largely performative, amplified by fans and social media for clicks and clout. This comes amid years of subtle (and not-so-subtle) shade-throwing: Wizkid’s cryptic tweets, Burna Boy’s pointed lyrics, and Davido’s clapbacks, all of which have kept the internet in a perpetual stan war.
The “Big 3” dynamic isn’t new—coined to highlight Wizkid’s global pioneer status, Davido’s relentless energy and philanthropy, and Burna Boy’s Grammy-winning fusion of Afro-fusion. Yet, as Davido himself admitted in an April 2025 Breakfast Club interview, personal ties have frayed: “I don’t have a personal relationship with them [Wizkid and Burna Boy]. I did at some point in time… The conversation is bigger than the ‘Big 3’ right now; there’s Rema, there’s Ayra Starr and other artists.” He hinted at fan-driven division, even joking about paying a fan $5,000 to track down a diss track source, underscoring how stans profit from the drama.
Franklin’s take echoes broader sentiments in the industry. Davido’s manager, Asa Asika, lamented in July 2025 that a joint project could supercharge Afrobeats’ global reach, boosting ticket sales and unity. Comedian Nasboi, in a cheeky twist, confessed he secretly hopes the feud lingers for the endless “bants” it inspires, quipping that even a collab would spark verse-vs-verse debates. Meanwhile, emerging stars like Rema are already expanding the narrative, name-dropping the trio in his track “Heis” while carving out space as the “Big 4.”
For now, fans can only dream of that ultimate Afrobeats summit—perhaps on a track produced by someone like Pheelz or Sarz. Until then, the rivalry keeps the genre’s pulse racing. As clips from Franklin’s interview rack up views on X, with users like @OneJoblessBoy and @instablog9ja amplifying his words, one thing’s clear: in Afrobeats, competition isn’t just business—it’s the beat that drives the culture forward.
Catch the full Afropolitan episode for more insider tea, and keep an eye on the Big 3’s feeds—who knows, a subtle like might be the closest we get to harmony.