Afrobeats star Bella Shmurda is calling on fellow Nigerian musicians to shift their focus from materialism to making meaningful music that inspires and leaves a legacy.

Speaking on Afrobeats Intelligence, the "Vision 2020" crooner expressed concern over what he sees as the growing obsession with Western hip-hop culture — where success is often measured by luxury cars, flashy jewelry, and social media clout.

“Many in the music industry are not on their own lane,” Bella said. “Our industry now is a shine shine thing. Everybody is copying the American hip-hop lifestyle — buying expensive jewelry and exotic cars. It’s sending the wrong message to the young ones.”

Bella Shmurda, known for his conscious lyrics and socially-driven music, believes this focus on image and fame is undermining the purpose behind artistry.

He stressed that upcoming artists need to be given more than just glitz — they need purpose, vision, and a reason to create music beyond financial gain.

“You need to have a reason for doing music aside from material things,” he added. “There’s no rollout plan without showing off luxury. There’s no message. No purpose. No impact. What legacy are we even leaving?”

Citing his own shift in perspective, Bella revealed he’s stopped wearing his jewelry because he felt it didn’t align with his message or mission.

“I came out with Vision 2020, and that’s the vision — music with purpose.”

Bella Shmurda’s message is clear: while it’s okay to enjoy the rewards of success, artists have a responsibility to influence younger generations with substance, not just style.