Odumodublvck under fire over claim he made Declan Rice famous in Nigeria

By Segun Adebayo

Nigerian rapper Odumodublvck has come under criticism after claiming that he introduced Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice to Nigerians and that his music played a major role in the footballer’s rise to prominence.

The rapper sparked debate with his assertion that Rice was largely unknown in Nigeria before he released his song dedicated to the England international.

“I introduced Declan Rice to Nigerians. Before I sang about him, nobody knew about him. It was after I sang about him that he blew up, and Arsenal discovered and signed him,” Odumodublvck said.

His remarks have drawn reactions from football fans, particularly those who argue that Rice had already established himself as a prominent Premier League midfielder before Odumodublvck released the song.

Rice was captain of West Ham United and had become one of the most sought-after midfielders in English football before completing his move to Arsenal in July 2023.

The midfielder joined the Gunners in a deal worth an initial £100 million, with a further £5 million in potential add-ons, after helping West Ham win the UEFA Europa Conference League in his final season at the club.

Critics of Odumodublvck’s claim have argued that Rice’s performances for West Ham and his growing reputation in English football preceded the rapper’s musical tribute.

Some football followers have also questioned the suggestion that Nigerians were unfamiliar with Rice before the song, pointing to the country’s large following of the English Premier League.

However, the rapper’s supporters could argue that his song helped introduce Rice to a wider Nigerian audience beyond regular football followers, giving the midfielder additional visibility through music and popular culture.

Released in 2023, Odumodublvck’s song, titled Declan Rice, gained significant attention and became closely associated with the footballer’s move to Arsenal.

The connection reached a wider audience when Arsenal used the song in a video announcing Rice’s signing, a move that brought the Nigerian rapper additional international exposure.

Rice also reacted positively to the song before the transfer, sharing a video of himself listening to it.