Veteran Nigerian rapper Jude Lemfani Abaga, better known as MI Abaga, has made it clear that he is not in any competition with Afrobeats superstars Davido or Wizkid.

Speaking in a recent interview, the 43-year-old Plateau-born artiste explained that he has carved his own lane in the music industry and is satisfied with his position.

“I’m not Davido. I’m not Wizkid. They are in the red-hot moment. But I am MI, and has MI lost something? I don’t see it,” he said.

MI acknowledged how much the Nigerian music scene has evolved, especially financially, noting that the industry’s growth has seen a surge in the prices of luxury items.

“The cars they’re buying now for 100 to 200 million, in our time, we bought them for 20 million,” he said. “I live in Nigeria in real life where people need money. I’m not buying a 50 million naira ticket to America when I have staff with real issues.”

He emphasized that while he respects the success of younger artistes, he feels no pressure to mirror their lifestyles or chase trends, preferring instead to spend his money wisely and stay grounded.

The rapper also spoke about his relationship with his brother and fellow rapper, Jesse Jagz, stressing that any personal issues between them are purely family matters and unrelated to music.

MI’s comments have sparked conversations among fans about the evolving nature of the Nigerian music industry, generational shifts, and the definition of success beyond the charts.