Nigerian singers Bella Shmurda and Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, are in the public eye following a back-and-forth exchange that has caught the attention of fans and music lovers. The conflict stems from Bella Shmurda’s recent comments about his musical style and his preference to avoid “wahala,” or trouble. This comes as Shmurda also speaks openly about how the death of his friend and collaborator, Mohbad, has had a profound impact on his life.
In a recent livestream with TikToker Joblaq, Bella Shmurda shared that the passing of Mohbad has brought about a significant shift in his perspective. “RIP Mohbad. After he passed away my brain reset, everything changed,” he said. He explained that he’s currently in a phase of rediscovery, approaching life with newfound clarity and understanding, a sentiment he attributes to the lessons his parents shared with him.
The emotional comments about Mohbad, who died under controversial circumstances on September 12, 2023, follow a separate public disagreement between Shmurda and Portable. During an appearance on the podcast Curiosity Made Me Ask, Shmurda stated that he couldn’t collaborate with Portable because he didn’t see a musical connection between their styles and wanted to maintain a peaceful, drama-free career.
This statement drew a sharp reaction from Portable, who took to his Instagram page to respond. Portable referred to Bella Shmurda as a “failed musician” and emphasized that he does not work with what he considers failures. While highlighting his own global presence and influence, Portable warned his colleague to stop mentioning his name, suggesting that Shmurda could never reach his level of fame and success.
The public exchange has created a stir online, with fans of both artists weighing in on the comments and the nature of their artistic and personal differences.
