Otile Brown sparked online discussion during an interview on the Over 1M podcast hosted by Tony Mwirigi. During the podcast session, he raised questions regarding music talent and industry recognition. He specifically questioned whether Bien-Aimé Baraza is better than Willy Paul.
Otile addressed his fellow artists directly during the session. He stated that critics often deny Willy Paul his due credit because of perceived issues with ethics. He insisted that talent should be the primary focus.
Otile Brown shared his perspective on Willy Paul's abilities during the interview. "Do you think Bien is better than Willy Paul? No, mtamnyima Pozee haki yake lakini yeye ni mdeadily,” Otile Brown said.
"Haijalishi mi nazungumzia mziki talanta.”
Willy Paul Responds to Ethics Criticism
Willy Paul reacted to the online conversation shortly afterwards. In an Instagram post, he addressed the comments regarding his ethics and effort. He expressed relief that someone had finally spoken out.
Willy Paul made a direct statement comparing his situation to international artists.
"Somebody finally said it, ethics kitu gani? Look at Burna Boy. Anapiga hadi watu kwa stage na bado haki yake anapata. Just because I don't kiss A*** my efforts Zinaogelea tu kwa maji. But you know what? I'm not stopping now. I've come this far na chuki yote, but still standing strong, nilishakubali mimi ndio mmbaya wengine ni wazuri,” Pozee captioned the clip.
Bien Interjects and Willy Paul Retorts
The public exchange took a new turn when Bien-Aimé Baraza entered Willy Paul’s comment section.
Bien offered a brief reaction agreeing with the statement. "I agree with him. He's right.”
“@bienaimesol kipara toka hapa.”
The tension between Otile Brown and Bien dates back to 2024. It started when Bien criticized Otile after Otile publicly claimed that Kenya lacked true international artists.
The tension reignited when Otile criticized Bien’s social media behavior, accusing him of relying on online theatrics, TikTok trends, and clout-chasing rather than pure musical authenticity to push his songs.
In July 2025, the feud flared up dramatically when Bien appeared to mock the resignation of Otile's long-serving manager, Mumbi Maina, by posting a video of his viral hit song "All My Enemies Are Suffering."
