Nigerian singer Jaywon has sparked a fresh debate in the music scene, claiming that both gospel and Afrobeats artists have been borrowing heavily from the style of his classic hit song, “This Year”.

The singer, who released the track in 2012, took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to express his disappointment after Billboard left his record off its recently released list of the Top 50 Best Afrobeats Songs of All Time.

Jaywon argued that “This Year” has had more cultural impact and staying power than many of the songs that made the list.

“‘This Year’ by Jaywon had more viral moments and cultural impact than some tracks Billboard decided to rank. Trending since 2012 and still going strong. Tell me, who else has pulled that off?” he wrote.

He further insisted that despite being copied repeatedly, his song remains unmatched:

“Year after year, both gospel and Afrobeats acts copy the same vibe, yet we remain unshaken. No song on that list has more cultural impact than #ThisYear by Jaywon!”

Billboard’s ranking placed 2Face’s “African Queen” at the top, followed by Wizkid’s “Ojuelegba”, Flavour’s “Nwa Baby”, Rema’s “Calm Down”, and CKay’s “Love Nwantiti”, rounding out the top five.

Jaywon’s comments have since stirred reactions among fans, with some agreeing that his song has become a New Year's anthem across churches, clubs, and homes, while others believe Billboard’s list reflects global recognition rather than local influence.

Either way, Jaywon’s “This Year” continues to prove its staying power—over a decade since release.