Taves Samples Wizkid’s “Don’t Dull” for the First Time Ever on New Single “Uche Jumbo”

Taves just pulled off something no one else has done in over a decade of Afrobeats evolution—he’s officially sampled Wizkid’s legendary 2011 track “Don’t Dull” on his brand new single “Uche Jumbo.” This isn’t just another interpolation or a sneaky production nod; it’s the first authorized sample of a record that helped define an entire generation of Nigerian pop music. The Ibadan-born artist is threading the needle between nostalgia and innovation, creating a bridge between Afrobeats’ foundational era and where the genre is headed next.

Produced by Arieenati and OG Sterling, “Uche Jumbo” takes the infectious DNA of Wizkid’s classic and reimagines it through Taves’ contemporary lens. Rather than simply riding the coattails of a beloved hit, he transforms the sample into something that feels both familiar and entirely new. For anyone who’s followed Taves’ trajectory—from his early viral acoustic covers to his genre-blurring experiments with trap-infused R&B and synth-pop—this bold creative move tracks perfectly. His 2024 breakout project “Are You Listening?” already showcased his refusal to color inside the lines, and “Uche Jumbo” doubles down on that artistic ambition.

Released through the Mother Africa Reigns Supreme (MARS) imprint, this single positions Taves as more than just a rising star in the Afrobeats ecosystem. He’s actively reshaping the conversation about how the genre honors its history while pushing into uncharted territory. By sampling “Don’t Dull,” Taves isn’t asking for permission to sit at the table—he’s rearranging the furniture and setting his own place. The track proves he’s got the creative audacity to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the icons who paved the way, all while carving out a distinctly unique sonic identity.

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