Kenyan gospel artiste Wilson Abubakar Radido, popularly known as Willy Paul, recently spoke about the gospel music industry, labelling it as a “dirty game” and a “big scam.”
In a recent post on his Instagram account, Willy Paul expressed his relief at no longer being part of the gospel music scene and hinted that things are about to heat up, without specifying further.
“Kenyan Gospel is a dirty game, big scam! Thank God I’m not part of it. It’s about to get hot,” he stated.
Willy Paul’s music journey
Willy Paul’s journey in the gospel music scene began with his hit “Rabuka,” and his major breakthrough came in 2010.
One of his most significant collaborations with Gloria Muliro on the single “Sitolia,” which reflected his life struggles and newfound hope in God, propelling him to the limelight.
The artiste’s first album, “You never know,” was launched in December 2013 at KICC, graced by various gospel music stars. The album featured songs such as “You never know,” “Lala Salama,” “Mpenzi,” and “Kitanzi.”
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Willy Paul’s hit “Tam Tam,” featuring Size 8, earned him two Mdundo Awards for Most Downloaded Gospel Artist and Most Downloaded Male Single.
The song garnered him four nominations, including Collabo of the Year, Video of the Year, Song of the Year, and Male Artist of the Year.
The musician, who gained fame with his gospel hits, faced constant accusations of secularism, leading him to halt the release of gospel songs altogether.
Willy Paul’s candid comments about the gospel industry come in the wake of comments from fellow musician Bahati.
Bahati, known for his gospel hits, said he transitioned to secular music due to the judgmental and hypocritical attitudes prevalent within the gospel community.
In an interview on Diana Bahati’s YouTube channel, Bahati expressed his frustration with the self-righteousness and judgment of some individuals in the gospel industry, leading him to feel uncomfortable and ultimately step away from gospel music.
