30/05/2025
Give CIC His Flowers: The Real GOAT of Liberian Music, let’s be honest—CIC truly deserves his flowers.
Staying relevant in the Liberian music industry for over a decade is not a small thing.
He’s been dropping hits back to back, keeping his cultural influence strong, staying connected to the streets, and representing Liberia across borders—that’s what greatness looks like.Many artists who started around the same time as him are now quiet or forgotten, but CIC is still a household name.That alone shows his consistency, creativity, and long-term impact.
Views Don’t Define Greatness
Let’s talk about what people keep saying:
“JZyNo has more views than any other Liberian artist.”Yes, that might be true. But views alone don’t make someone the GOAT.
If numbers were all that mattered, then Rema would be Nigeria’s number one, just because his song Calm Down with Selena Gomez passed a billion views making him of the first African artist.
But is Rema placed ahead of Wizkid, Davido, or Burna Boy in Nigeria’s GOAT conversation?
No.
Even Rema understands how the game works—it's legacy that defines greatness, not just going viral.
Rema is a fast-rising international star, no doubt likewise Jzyno, He's doing incredibly well for his generation, but he’s still early in his career. One or two global songs don’t equal overall greatness—not yet. Greatness includes consistency, influence, legacy, leadership, innovation, and a body of work that stands the test of time.
One international hit can’t compare to years of hard work and consistent contributions to a country's music journey
And that’s why CIC remains the real GOAT of Liberian music.
He’s earned it—not just with numbers, but with impact, consistency, and real love from the people
Let’s Talk About International Collaborations
Before JZyNo ever featured a Ghanaian artist, let’s not forget—Flex had already worked with Akon, one of the biggest global stars of our time.
That track carried a true Liberian sound—raw, authentic, and proudly ours.
Tell anyone it was a Liberian song, and they wouldn’t argue for a second.
So here’s the question—where’s the recognition for that milestone?
Why is it that when others break ground, we cheer loudly, but when others make bigger moves earlier, we stay quiet?
Let’s be clear: this isn’t about discrediting JZyNo.Butter My Bread was a major achievement, no doubt.
But let’s also be honest—one hit song doesn’t make you a GOAT.
Since its peak in early 2023, what’s come next?
Consistency, growth, and impact—that’s what defines greatness, not just going viral.
We are now in 2025, we still haven’t seen any solid follow-up from JZyNo that has shaken the Liberian music scene the way Butter My Bread did.Aside from that one hit, there’s really no other song from JZyNo that is well known all over Liberia.This is the same country where he claims to be the greatest of all time, yet many citizens can’t even relate to his music.
In fact, most people only know him for Butter My Bread, and even that song has already faded away from the spotlight.
Meanwhile, CIC keeps dropping back-to-back hits every single year that shake every corner of Liberia.How can someone claim to be the king of a land where the people barely even know your songs?
CIC continues to release bangers that echo in bars, clubs, restaurants, and street corners across the entire country year after year.
Just look at these tracks that rang loud in yesteryears and are still relatable—even to an old woman living in the remotest part of Liberia today:
Jon Butty ft FA 🇱🇷
Weekend ft Iyanya 🇳🇬
Big Papa
Hello ft Joey B 🇬🇭
Brother ft Casimoney 🇱🇷
Congratulations
One Day ft Kelvin 🇬🇭
Don't Give Up On Me
Happy ft Stunn 🇱🇷
These are not just songs—they are sounds that connect with the streets, the people, and the culture. So again, how do you crown yourself as the king of a place where your music barely makes an impact?
What Makes a GOAT? Let’s Set the Yardstick
If we’re going to talk about the Greatest of All Time, we need to be clear on what truly qualifies someone for that title. GOAT status isn’t given—it’s earned. And it’s earned through:
Consistency
Longevity
Cultural Impact
Lyrical Depth
National Representation
Influence on the Next Generation
Contribution to the Growth of the Industry
Now let’s be honest—JZyNo’s Butter My Bread, as big as it was, falls short on many of these key points.
In fact, many people don’t even know the song is Liberian. Most think it’s Ghanaian. That misunderstanding alone played a big role in the success the song enjoyed.
Here in Sierra Leone, where I’ve been living for the past three years, I’ve had serious arguments with people who were fully convinced that Butter My Bread is a Ghanaian track.I had to go out of my way just to prove that it was Liberian. I even had to show them JZyNo’s older songs like:
Kpankpan Me ft Teddyride
Fall Down Inside ft Medikal
Onana
To make things worse, I personally attended JZyNo’s live show at Makeni City Plaza in November 2023, right here in Makeni City, Sierra Leone.
Shockingly, the MC at the event introduced JZyNo as a Ghanaian artist. It wasn’t until he came on stage and waved the Liberian flag that people finally realized he’s actually one of us.
That moment alone says a lot.
And even more shocking—while JZyNo performed songs like Kpankpan Me, Fall Down Inside, and Onana, the crowd stood quietly. They didn’t know the lyrics. They couldn’t vibe to it.But me? I knew every word. Because I’m a Liberian. I’m a proud and passionate follower of Liberian music.
Even though I’ve been away from home for the past three years, about 95% of the songs in my phone and laptop are Liberian.
For the past two years, JZyNo’s All You Want has been my ringtone. It’s still my favorite song from him—right before Butter My Bread.
But the moment Butter My Bread played, the entire crowd lit up and sang along word for word.
Why? Simple. Most of them believed it was a Ghanaian song.
Let’s not pretend—we both know the hook Lasmid did was the most viral part of the track. That hook helped the song travel far and wide.
Ghanaians celebrated it and even helped push it more because they believed it was their own.
You and I saw it—there were claims all over social media by many Ghanaians that Butter My Bread was a Ghanaian song.
And let’s be real—the sound of Butter My Bread doesn’t feel Liberian at all. It sounds completely foreign.
The fact here is, we all need to start loving and appreciating songs that are mostly done in Koloqua.It’s not easy for a typical Liberian song, especially one sung in deep Koloqua, to break into the global music market, a style of music CIC does that even named Kolopop.
The global success of Butter My Bread wasn’t really a big surprise, because that typical Afrobeat sound is already widely accepted and familiar to international audiences.
The Nigerian and Ghanaian sound that the whole world dances to today didn’t just gain popularity overnight. It took time, patience, and most importantly—love. That’s why their music is widely accepted and respected globally.
But the sad truth is, many Liberians still believe that artists who sing in our authentic Liberian Koloqua will never make it on the global stage except the change style to foreign sound simply because "nobody understands it."
These same artists are bullied and criticized for staying true to their roots and holding on to their culture.
But let’s be real—how did Nigerian and Ghanaian local languages gain global recognition and acceptance? It’s because for decades their artists—and even their citizens—have remained true to their culture and native tongues. Even their actors and actresses proudly showcase it in their movies.
They cherished, valued, and took pride in their identity—and the world respected them for it.
So now, ask yourself: how will the world ever take us seriously, know our language, or value our culture if we ourselves don’t value it first?
How can something go global when we don’t even show love and pride for what God has blessed us with? Before Butter My Bread, there were so many solid tracks by Jzyno—All You Want (which remains my favorite from him), Fall Down Inside, Onana, and many more.
Yet, back then, his name was hardly mentioned among the top five Liberian artists, let alone in conversations about the greatest of all time.
So now, just because of Butter My Bread’s global breakthrough, people want to crown him as the greatest Liberian musician of all time?
That would be unfair, culturally insensitive, and a disservice to artists like CIC, Deng, Christoph, Bucky Raw, and others—artists who have stood the test of time and been grinding for decades.
If you want to hear a typical Liberian sound, go back to Fall Down Inside featuring Medikal. That one sounds more like us. And guess what? The hook was done by JZyNo himself.
So why didn’t Ghanaians claim that one? Why didn’t people think Fall Down Inside was a Ghanaian song?
Because that song didn’t need an introduction—it screamed Liberian sound from the start.
That’s exactly why I believe Holy Ghost Fire by Flex ft Akon is the first global hit that truly carries our Liberian identity on a big stage.
Let’s also talk about international features.
No Liberian artist has worked with more international stars than CIC—none.
He has collaborated with big names from Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Sierra Leone, and beyond.Let’s be real—long before Butter My Bread came out, CIC was already building international bridges and making powerful moves.
Truth is, JZyNo just got lucky with one song that blew up. But CIC had been doing international collaborations even before JZyNo’s name started making noise on the music scene.
And here’s something we shouldn’t ignore:
When songs like Weekend dropped, we didn’t have the streaming platforms, exposure, or tools like TikTok that we have today.
If we had them back then, songs like Weekend would’ve gone way further than they did.
CIC: The Most Decorated and Respected
Let’s not forget—CIC is not just any artist.
He is Liberia’s most decorated artist, with more awards than any other Liberian artist, both inside and outside the country.
He also holds the record for the highest number of consistent hit songs in the last 10 years.
Every single year, CIC delivers. He gives us hits after hits without missing a beat.
And while many artists who came up alongside him have gone silent or faded away, CIC remains a household name.
That alone speaks volumes about his consistency, creativity, and staying power.
A few years ago, only Eric Geso had more hit songs than CIC. But today, CIC has not just caught up—he has surpassed him.
Right now, CIC holds the record for having the highest number of hit songs in Liberia.
In addition, he stands as the most decorated Liberian artist, with more awards to his name than any other artist—both at home and abroad.From county to county, CIC is deeply loved.His music feels, sounds, and speaks Liberia.
If we were to choose one artist to represent Liberian culture, CIC would be the undisputed choice.He is the Commander In Chief—the landlord of Liberian music.
And that title isn’t self-given. He earned it.
Final Thoughts: Don’t Force the Crown on Jzyno
We’re not enemies of growth.
We celebrate JZyNo’s success, and we truly want him to go even further.
But let’s be honest—and respectful—about who paved the way, who has held the torch, and who still leads the game.
JZyNo still has time to build his legacy.
Let the music speak louder than the ego.
Keep pushing. Keep growing.
The crown may come—in due time.
But for now?
The crown belongs to Big Papa, The Commander In Cheif (CIC).
Jzyno can go global, with all that CIC holds the key for Liberian Music. He's the Landlord, for now. Let's give that to him
