Afrobeats legend P-square speaks on "Winning" controversy, insists on giving credit

Afrobeats music legend Peter Okoye, popularly known as Mr. P, one half of the iconic Nigerian music duo P-Square, has spoken out amid ongoing controversy surrounding his latest single, Winning.

The artist, renowned for his longstanding contributions to Afrobeats alongside his twin brother Paul Okoye, addressed claims that he improperly took credit for the track’s production process.

In an open statement, Peter reiterated his commitment to teamwork and to recognizing collaborators, emphasizing that the creative process behind Winning was entirely collaborative.

“I have always believed in teamwork and giving people their due credit; it’s the essence of my creative process and what makes every project truly unique.”

The P-Square duo, famous for hits like Do Me and No One Like You, gained widespread recognition in the 2000s and has remained an influential force in African music. Although the brothers have had differences over the years, resulting in a temporary split, they reunited in 2021 to the delight of fans worldwide.

Peter’s recent project, Winning, has seen him collaborating closely with talented creatives, including Vampire, a Ghanaian producer, and Calypso, a songwriter, each contributing to the song’s distinctive sound and vibe.

In his statement, Peter recounted first connecting with Vampire in mid-2022, personally inviting the Ghanaian producer to Lagos to work on several tracks slated for P-Square’s anticipated album.

He revealed that Winning was born from one of Vampire’s beats, with Peter himself adding a unique touch to the chord progression in partnership with co-producer Goldswarm. To develop the song’s lyrics and melody, he teamed up with Calypso, who composed the initial track and shared vocal samples that shaped the chorus.

Peter noted that his brother, Paul, showed interest in adding his own verse to Winning, despite it being Peter’s individual submission for the album.

The artist expressed disappointment over recent disputes within their creative process but affirmed his commitment to releasing music, conducting business, and finding peace amidst the industry’s challenges.

“All I want to do is release my music, conduct my business, and live my life in peace. Enough of the negativity—let’s keep Winning together.”

Peter concluded his message with an appeal for positivity, urging fans to continue supporting Winning, which is now streaming on all major platforms, and allow him to celebrate his music without distraction.