Nigerian artist BNXN has launched a blistering response to American rapper Fat Joe after the hip-hop veteran claimed to have “dissed” and bullied him into changing his name from Buju to BNXN.
In a sharp social media post on April 23, 2026, BNXN wrote: “The hate in your heart and your misinformation about African music and its artists is why your chromosomes are all fucked up. Educate yourself bozo. All my genuine love and respect to everyone who gave a voice or a reaction in support.”
The dispute stems from a recent episode of Fat Joe’s “Joe and Jada” podcast featuring dancehall legend Buju Banton. On the show, Fat Joe recounted publicly calling out a “fake guy in Africa” for using the “Buju” name while he was hosting a TV show in 2022, claiming his intervention “shut him down” and forced the rebranding to BNXN.
BNXN expressed disappointment in the rapper, whom he once considered a childhood hero. He noted it was “weird” to watch his heroes “crumble” and described their legacies as tarnished by an inability to admit being mistaken.
While BNXN did change his name in 2022 to avoid confusion and improve global branding, his team and fans have characterised the move as a strategic reinvention rather than a result of being “bullied” by the American rapper.
Fans and observers also pointed out the irony in Fat Joe’s stance, noting that Buju Banton himself adopted his name in honour of Jamaican DJ Burro Banton.
BNXN’s response has since gone viral, with many applauding him for standing up against what they see as disrespect toward African artists.
BNXN concluded by reflecting on what he called the “Death of Hip Hop,” suggesting that older artists are losing respect by trying to control narratives that no longer align with their public personas.
Fat Joe has yet to respond.
