Belect tagged me to a post some days back. The post read “ My boy @rikartsenz1 is a sure ‘hot head’ this track here is super nice. Just one listen and u will get me.”
I said oya nah , i am going to listen at my free time . You already know that i am always looking for new amazing talents .
Today i hit the link to his soundcloud and the first song i listened to is Hot Head .
My first reaction was Damn! This dude’s delivery is special. His attitude is up there with the greats and his vibe is lively . Very interesting, so i paid a little more attention to his lyrics and the message he was passing across. I am like Damn! dude has got shit to say.
I am a real hiphop head and i fucks with rappers who can tell me things i learn about their experiences and immediate enviroment. Real talk is priceless , and a rapper must know how to tell his side of the story. Having said this , the song that finished work for me is Cry. Deep reality-based music .
Cry questions the fairness of life in general. Is life reallyfair?? why do some people’s cross seem heavier than others? Why do people find themselves in trouble or situations they know nothing about while others seem to get good results they do not seem to deserve? It is really a deep song and some of the questions asked are the same questions i ask myself on a daily. He also pays tribute to some notable people who have lost their lives. I do not want to say too much , Y’all should give this young intelligent rapper from Nigeria a Listen. Thank me later like i Thanked B-Elect.
No top 20 list can reflect everyone’s opinion, but after careful consideration, I came up with a list of my own. The list does not imply that one song is better than another; it only highlights the significance of one song over the others. By significance, I mean the overall impact of the single on the Nigerian music industry. Some songs laid the foundation for the success of other records or acts.
20. Da grin – PonPon
Da Grin broke the monopoly of Afrobeat and highlife to serve a kind of hip hop never seen in the country before. Although he wasn’t the first known person to rap in Yoruba, his music was heavily influenced by street/thug life, which made him very unique. He was respected among his colleagues and was touted as the King of the Streets.
19. D’Banj feat. Snoop Dogg – Mr Endowed Remix
D’banj’s song featuring Snoop Dogg paved the way for Nigerian artistes to collaborate with their USA counterparts. The single also laid the foundation for D’banj’s collaboration with Kanye West.
18.Sound Sultan – Mathematics
Sound Sultan’s single Mathematics is a major part of every Nigerian’s growing up. He took people’s minds off love songs and party songs to address some of Nigeria’s socio-political issues. Sound Sultan creatively used the mathematical acronym BODMAS to proffer solutions to the country’s problems.
17. Baba Fryo – Denge Pose
Baba Fryo’s Denge Pose was an instant hit when he released it. It was part of the galala movement of the late ’90s, which started in Ajegunle, Lagos.
16. P. Square – Senorita
P-Square set the standard for dance videos in Nigeria. The twin brothers, Peter and Paul, entered the music scene with the single Senorita and quickly gained people’s love and attention.
15. Plantashun Boiz – Somebody say
This is arguably the first successful boy group from Nigeria. The group comprises 2Face Idibia, Faze, and Blackface. The group went on to achieve a lot of success together but eventually broke up along the line; each member is now chasing a solo career.
14. Styl-Plus – Olufunmi
Styl-Plus is a Nigerian R&B group that rocked the country in the early 2000s. The single Olufunmi is one of the biggest singles to come out of Africa.
13. 9ice-Gongo Aso
Gongo Aso was the biggest single in Nigeria between 2008–2009. It took 9ice to legendary status, with a lot of people expecting him to bring home a Grammy.
12 . Lagbaja – Konko Below
No Nigerian dance floor was spared when Lagbaja dropped the single Konko Below. The vibe of the song was infectious, and to this day, you will still find it at major events.
11. Faze – Originality
After Plantashun Boiz broke up, each member set out to prove they could function alone. Faze had a good run, releasing several hits that placed him among the greatest musicians ever to come out of Nigeria. In many quarters, Originality was his biggest hit. The single pays tribute to Nigerian music legends before him.
10. Eedris Abdulkareem -Wackawikee MCs
This is one of the most relevant records to come out of Nigeria, especially considering the fact that it set off a trend of major events that would change the face of rap music and the music business in general in Nigeria. Eedris called out members of Plantashun Boiz, and it received massive airplay and created a lot of buzz.
9. Modenine – Cry
This is the song that made Nigerians believe that made-in-Nigeria boom-bap rap music could gain international acceptance and recognition. Aside from selling several copies, Cry won a lot of international awards and endorsements for Modenine. His storytelling abilities were in full swing; he kept it real and emotional. I was deeply touched by the lyrics of this song. It remains one of the greatest hip hop records from Nigeria.
8. Tribesmen – Plenty Nonsense
This is the first and only official Trybesmen video ever released. Due to the unprecedented success gained by this single, Eldee developed into one of the biggest music businessmen in the country and Africa at large. Plenty Nonsense was the biggest single in Nigeria.
7. Mr.Incredible – Safe
When this record dropped, the entire country was shook. “Who in the world is M.I, and where did he come from?” was the question on everyone’s lips. Chocolate City had unleashed a beast. He sounded far ahead of every competitor. M.I heralded a new era of rap music in Nigeria; he was very successful commercially, and it changed the perception that rappers could not be commercially successful.
6. Banky W. – Ebute Metta
Although this wasn’t an original composition, it still rocked the airwaves in Nigeria and received massive airplay from radio OAPs and DJs. After the success of this single, Banky W. would later grow to become Chairman at EME Music, which is responsible for nurturing one of Africa’s biggest talents at the moment, Ayo Balogun (Wizkid).
5.Daddy Showkey – Somebody Call My Name
This became the national anthem in Nigeria. Everyone was dancing to this track and doing the galala dance step. Daddy Showkey is another artiste in the Ajegunle galala movement who became a national star. He came from the ghettos in Lagos and became a household name in Nigeria. Daddy Showkey brought the ghetto to national TV. Up till today, his shows are packed, and his performances are still lit. He is regarded as a legend by music lovers.
4. Wizkid – Holla at your boy
He is the youngest on the list but arguably has the most hits and has sold the most records. Wizkid needs no introduction; he is the most sought-after artiste in Africa. When his first single, Holla at Your Boy, dropped under E.M.E Records, we all knew a star had been born.
3.Tony tetuila – omode meta n sere
Tony Tetuila was kicked out of his group, The Remedies, because he had requested to be considered a singer instead of a dancer. The group refused his request, so he decided to go solo. He released a single titled Omode Meta featuring Tuface Idibia, Blackface, and Ruff, Rugged & Raw. The highly controversial single is responsible for bringing Tuface and Tony Tetuila into the limelight.
2.Ruggedman ft Nomoreloss – Ehen
Ehen is one of the most controversial songs of our time. It was definitely a turning point for hip hop in Nigeria, something like Jay-Z’s Death of Autotune. We could divide the rap timeline into “Before Ehen” and “After Ehen.” Ruggedman was warring with the powers that be in the music industry. He lyrically attacked Kennis Music acts like Eedris Abdulkareem and Rasqie, and also called out Maintain and Big Bamo. He made it clear he was in this to take the crown. Ehen was cold and reformed the entire music business, including giving power to independent artists.
RIP Nomoreloss.
1. 2Face – African Queen
Without a doubt in my mind, African Queen by Tuface is the most relevant record in recent times. It is the first Nigerian song to win major awards in Europe and America and was featured on the soundtrack of several Hollywood movies. African Queen helped shed light on the work Nigerian acts were doing and opened the doors for more international collaborations.
Nigeria will be heading to the polls on the 16th of February to select a president . I am curious to find out who Nigerians thinks will be the best candidate to grow the entertainment sector .
Entertainment ( music & movies ) are a very viable way to generate income and stimulate the economy . In the USA Holly wood is a key driver of the USA economy , according to deadline.com , in 2017 , American film and TV industry accounted for supporting 2.1 million jobs and 400,000 local businesses across this country. It says that the industry “continues to be a key driver of the U.S. economy, adding high quality domestic jobs and paying out $49 billion to local businesses across the country.” But wages are — on average — about two-thirds higher than other industries in this country not to add the music business in the USA which is estimated to be worth $16 billion.
In Nigeria, entertainment does not seem to be among the topics put up for discussion considering the astronomical levels of Unemployment in the country and the fact that many youths are clinging on to the entertainment industry as the last hope for survival . It is an industry that the government should be concerned about in other to save a lot of people from anguish and suffering. What baffles me the most is that in past presidential debates, nobody seems to be concerned with how presidential candidates plan to execute their promises . Candidates come on platforms to make all manner of promises to the masses but the electorates do not demand a road map or a detailed analyses of the policies. Someone says “ I will provide Jobs ” but nobody poses questions on how they intend to achieve this or what is the exact method mapped out to attain this . Nigeria needs an analytical president that will stimulate vital areas of the economy like entertainment . Enough has been said and nothing has been done in the area of generating Jobs . It is not rocket science to see that entertainment , agriculture and sports have the potential of engaging millions of youths and generating a good number of jobs . .
The last time Nigeria had a government that understood the importance of a healthy entertainment sector, It was the then Cross rivers state government led by Donald Duke. Donald invested heavily in cross river state making it one of the most traveled to States in the country just behind Lagos and Abuja. It has become a holiday / tourist destination similar to the ones found in developed countries like America , Britain and the UAE . The Government of Donald Duke built number of infrastructure and amenities that made the state attractive entertainers .
Asides amenities , Policies are to be developed to boost the entertainment sector. There is also need for a strong Judicial system to interpret copyright laws and prosecute copyright infringers; a strong banking sector whose task is to provide business loans to entertainment business men; lastly, a well structured education system to ensure that the education required to mould skilled and talented entertainers is in place.
Who among the presidential candidates do you think has the best policy to stimulate the entertainment industry in Nigeria and make it a viable tool for economic growth ?
Falz was born in Lagos State, Mushin, in South-Western Nigeria to renowned lawyers Femi and Funmi Falana. He is the son of Femi Falana, a Nigerian human rights activist and lawyer. He was called to the bar in 2012 after graduating from the Nigerian Law school . Falz started music as a hobby while in secondary school. He formed a music group with a friend called “The School Boys”. In 2009, while in high school, he released a compilation of some of his recordings as a mix-tape titled Shakara: The Mixtape
Going by his background and training as a lawyer , it is not difficult to understand why Falz uses his music to examine the Nigerian society . Music is a very important socio-political tool. However in Nigeria, it is used primarily for entertainment . Youths these days are so focused on entertaining people for a profit via music , that they forget music is also a tool to educate society . Many of us may have been little children when Fela Anikulapo Kuti was in his prime . Fela used his music to educate people, it served as a medium to pressure government; warn the masses about government excesses , and fight social injustice . To Fela music was a way to re-orientate the people on the need to preserve the African culture , religions and traditions and do away with colonial influences or western doctrines. Fela’s main agenda was to fight military dictatorship , he was against the military and any other form of the colonial government (including democracy) , he often referred to military personnel as zombies .
Femi Falana , Falz’s dad is very passionate about Fela , he refers to Fela as his most interesting client . He served as Fela’s lawyer for a period of time but little did he know that his son would one day use his music for social reconstruction just like his client Fela had done . The seed was planted in Falz.
Falz recently released his Album titled “ Moral instruction ” to critical acclaim . There has been mixed feelings about the lyrics and content of the album . The songs touched on different issues plaguing the Nigerian society , ranging from corruption to Nepotism ; prostitution to political thuggery ; election violence ; lynching in public places ; human rights , law and order , police brutality , Sex with minors , early marriage , gay rights , hypocrisy , Internet fraud , Fake Pastors and Imams , and materialism to mention a few . Falz does a really good Job at highlighting all these issues in each of the songs . I felt like i was listening to a social worker while playing the album . Some of the songs even caused me to pause and ponder on it , something that is a rarity in today’s music. i cannot recall the last time a song made me ponder on a topic and research deeper .
The two stand out tracks for me on the album are Jonny Just come and Hypocrites . Jonny Just come was a story about many Nigerians who have been killed in tribal wars or by police brutality . It is a very sad tale and the type that Nigerians wake up to almost every day . Religion and tribe has shed a lot of blood in the country . Falz samples a lot of Fela’s vocals on the album with production primarily handled by Sess, with additional production from TMXO, Willis, and Chillz. Demmie Vee, Chillz and Sess were listed as features on the album. My personal favorite is Hypocrite . Every Single Nigerian is a Hypocrite . All you need to do is go on Facebook or any social media platform where you have majority Nigerians and see the level of hypocrisy and double standards.
People just dey do like say na dem be Jesus / People so wicked but they so religious Who dey calculate/ E no dey show the figures Who dey demonstrate wey dey run leave us / People too complain but dey fear to speak up/ You don’t want to die but nothing to live for /Christian and corrupt no suppose be mixture / Real musulumi e no suppose dey thief jor / Real talk no be fight rara Everybody get fault for inside matter/ We dey talk human right We no respect am / Who are we to crucify the homosexuals?
I love the fact that the album does not sound boring, especially with the fact that he was mostly stressing on similar issues. If care and creatively wasn’t at maximum levels , one could easily be bored to sleep by songs talking about the very same issues even though at some point i felt a little bit less interested as the album wore on. Another down side to the album is the fact that Falz mostly concentrated at pointing out the problems in Nigeria . I would have expected that he could have taken the time to find more solutions also. It is easy for anyone to point out everyday issues but it takes special people to find solutions . Solutions like exercise your rights to vote, more educated people should sit for police exams , more inter tribal marriages , place of origin should be done away with and place of residence be what is recognized by law, a better education curriculum , a merit based system rather than quota based or faith based , constitutional amendments and reforms, and the separation of church and mosque from state just to point out a few.
The only reason i would still maintain that Fela is the most relevant act of our time is the fact that Fela was dare devil. He directly attack powerful people, he made references to real events and wait would for the consequences . Fela went against presidents, Governors, Religious leaders, e.t.c . No corrupt person was spared, Fela would name names. Falz on the contrary is playing very cautious , and i really understand why. The Nigerian political terrain can be really brutal , so people are very cautious of what they say so as not to be targeted even Fela lost his mother and most of his property as a result of his fight against the military dictatorship in Nigeria . Notwithstanding, What Falz has done is very commendable, though some of his remarks are sometimes more comical, salient , metaphoric or ironic which only the more intelligent may grasp. It is facts that the method an artist chooses to deliver his message also impacts how his music is received, because people will tend to gravitate towards the more controversial record or artiste. Having said that , I think people will gravitate towards Fela’s music more because Fela’s mode of delivery was fierce . With more time and work in this direction, Falz will definitely grow to become as influential as Fela , even though he may achieve this in his own way, style and fashion and not necessarily the Fela way .
I really commend Falz for dropping this gem and i know for certain that it will stand the test of time . It would be interesting to see how this album grows or dies on Nigerians especially as youths are more inclined to dance songs and majority of us youths are the ones being criticized by Falz. People do not want to hear the truth and may avoid playing the album more than once . The songs that make the numbers are the ones that encourage greed and short cuts to wealth or the once that elevate religion . I would be following Falz projects and progress . Falz if you are reading this , i want to tell you that your music has spoken for the weak , the poor and the oppressed . There will be may blessings attached to this but also be safe and aware of your surroundings . I wish you all the best .
“ Like the popular saying A prophet is not recognized in his own home ”
The music business these days is so competitive and artists have to stand out from their competitors. An artist will have to set himself apart from the rest in order to create a reputation for himself and gain fans. One area musicians invest their resources, time, and energy in order to stand out is in creating catchy cover arts.
Most times, covers are the first impression a listener gets of your music.
I remember when we used to buy records from vendors on the streets. Album covers were the first thing that would attract people to your music. My eyes would navigate a stack of records in seconds, the record with the best graphics, color, format, message, and layout would grab my attention and may likely be what would end up in my shopping cart. Today, the way music is bought and consumed is quite different but the significance of covers are still the same. Nowadays, Music is mostly downloaded, streamed, or viewed online, but pictures still play a vital role in what songs people choose to listen to. Therefore, A good album art should easily generate interest, convey your message, and speaks about the creativity that was put into making the body of work.
Liah B – Bitter Sweet
Album covers can provoke a reaction and generate the desired response. Therefore, covers are a great tool for music marketing, promotions, and distribution. It is not a coincidence that the most sold albums are usually the ones with the best album covers. They influence the buyers’ choice and hence directly impact sales. A bad album cover could cause people to reject the album and hence grossly affect sales. There have been cases where records flop or get banned due to issues with the album covers. Therefore, You have to understand how people would perceive your cover art in the environment you find yourself. What may be considered as insensitive in one society may be accepted in another.
A good cover will include the title of the project, Tracklisting, copyright information, warning label, credits, and contact information. It is a mystery why many streaming platforms refuse barcodes or contact information on the cover arts, but it is a wise decision to make two variations. One variant for the streaming platforms and the other variant for physical copies or blogs where you can display all relevant information. The reason why these platforms frown upon covers having contact information like social media handles is not really clear but I believe that they do not want people leaving their apps in search of the artist. They rather have you search for the artist on their platforms or maybe it raises some legal issues we are not really aware of
Most cover arts are derived from professionally taken portraits of the artists. However, quite a number of artists or graphic designers employ the use of abstract painting, canvass painting, 2D, and 3D animations to convey a vivid message to the consumer. In other words, Album art may not necessarily be derived from a picture of the artist, sometimes it is plain text or just a combination of colors. The important thing is to ensure that it is clean, attractive, and informative. Clarity is key, the design must allow for the write-up to be readable and clear and should be spaced-out.
Here are some of my best album covers of all time.
Jay z – blue Print
Tupac – Makaveli
Orezi- Call the Police
Olamide-Baddest Guy Ever Liveth
M.I Abaga – YxNG DXNZL
Burna Boy – Life
Falz – Stories that touch
Burna Boy – Outside
If you have not been paying attention to how your covers look, you have been missing out on a great opportunity to promote and market your music to millions of people. This may just be the reason why people are not listening to your content when they find them on streaming platforms. Hence quit using low-resolution photos or low budget photographs to make covers for your songs covers.
King Jaja Bars by illgod & xplain is a song I recommend hip-hop heads in Nigeria listen to. In my opinion, this is what African hip-hop should sound like. I am a believer that Africans should tell their story through their art, music, painting, or movies. The fact that we have abandoned our history for foreigners to document is disgusting. This is the same reason I am not a fan of the movie Wakanda. It is very obvious that the narrative of the movie was not conceived in the mind of an African child. It represents the narrative of people who have never set foot in Africa or who have an ulterior motive. A typical African child does not picture their superheroes as people dressed in a cape, suit, and mask. These are the concepts of foreign media outlets. Superheroes in Africa come in the form of Princess Amina, Jaja of Opobo, Fela, Sango, Amadioha, Ebubedike, Yaa Asantewa, Haile Selassie, and others.
The movie also seems to push an imperialist agenda—insinuating that African nations need the help of foreign bodies, the CIA to be exact, to solve their problems. The truth is that African nations do not need to depend on the CIA to defend themselves against foreign invasion; we should begin to be self-reliant, or at most, depend on other African countries within the region. The movie also implies that Africans need to be educated in foreign institutions, when the reality is that we should not concentrate on Western ideology but rather revert to African ideals and concepts. Movies like Wakanda and Coming to America promote false narratives about African nations. These movies carry hidden messages disguised as fiction. A careful blend of real places, like the Sambisa Forest, real people, and a false representation of who they are is a tactical way to blur the lines and misrepresent a group of people. This type of propaganda should be completely rejected.
There is no problem with listening to an outsider’s perspective about Africa, but where the problem lies is that people who are not aware of these hidden messages tend to accept the narratives without fact-checking. We, as Africans, have a duty to prevent foreign invasion into our history, culture, traditions, and ways of life. There is a need to counter these perspectives when they arise. We must be allowed to tell our own story. Would you not like to hear the African narrative regarding slavery or colonization—one that is devoid of European influences or tweaks?
I love the storytelling in this song. It is like an article written about King Jaja of Opobo, a true hero to the Opobo people. illgod and Xplain D Don collaborate on this one. The new offering, titled “King Jaja Bars,” is named after King Jaja of Opobo (full name: Jubo Jubogha; 1821–1891), who helped the Rivers people fight back against imperialism.
I dominate beats like Jaja dominated the oil trade.
Event’s organizers often need artistes, musicians, and performers to provide entertainment for their guests. Some of the performers are established acts while the majority are often up-and-coming artistes. Unfortunately, It has become a trend for event organizers to refuse to pay up-and-coming artistes, most times the excuse is that the event already provides a platform that would expose the artiste, hence there is no need for financial compensation.
In my opinion , no business should run at a loss. Unfortunately most upcoming acts run their businesses at a loss. People say that unless an artiste is a household name they really do not deserve to get paid. But on the contrary, upcoming artistes need as much money as the established acts do. They spend a lot of money on music production, photography, album art designs, radio promotions, video production, distribution and promotion. The average cost of producing music is #100,000, most photographers will charge you anywhere between #50,000 and #300,000 for a well shot photo session. The cost of promoting and distributing music runs into millions of Naira. Therefore, it would be very inconsiderate to expect an artiste who has spent all these amounts on their work to make an appearance at your event for free. Unpaid gigs and event will run your music business to the ground and it has ruined a lot of artistes and music businesses already.
Artistes should get paid just as Upcoming DJZ, Models, Vixens, Producers all get paid for their job at events. It disturbs me why most event organizers find it difficult to compensate a new artistes for their work. Paying people for their work ensures that they also grow as a business, they become relevant in the society and ultimate helps grow the economy. An event promoter would also benefit from it as more artistes will be willing to work with you in the future and give their best because there is a financial reward. Be you a farmer, a trader, a mechanic or an artiste, if you are invited to work you deserve to get paid. An upcoming artistes job at an event is to entertain guests until the main act or main agenda comes on stage. They help to you hold your crowd together. You should be able to offer a decent amount of compensation for the Job they do for you. Without upcoming acts, people will not be primed for the main act and many may eventually leave the venue.
The problem is that there are too many desperate artiste out there who either do not understand business or are just too desperate that they pay to perform at events. The problem with this is, once you started in that direction it would be very difficult to find organizers who are willing to pay you. Because they all know that you perform for free. There is a popular saying “Do not start what you cannot finish.”
Another problem is the lack of a management for most fledging acts . Every artiste needs to have a management or a business manager whose responsibility is to ensure that the artist interest in being protected at any negotiation. They would ensure that bookings, appearance fees, endorsements are reviewed and is in the artists favor. Failure to have a management means that you may continue to accept deals that are not in your favor just because you want to present your music to the crowd.
In conclusion , Even if it is a token amount compared to established acts, please set aside a budget to compensate the work of up and coming artists. it is an insult to their work , struggle and effort to persuade them to work for free. It is also unjust and unfair. It is not a favor it is a right.
Just this weekend , I was in an Uber ride, the driver was an African American lady named Kafilat. As soon as i saw her name on the app while ordering the ride, I recognized she may be Nigerian. I was half right. Apparently , she was half Nigerian and half American. Her dad is Nigerian. We immediately got talking…
“Is Juju real ? ” she asked, huum .. “ Yes and No ” , i replied . I started to explain how Africans originally had their traditions , religion and practices before the Europeans and Arabs brought Christianity, Islam, colonization, and slave trade. Most of what is regarded as Juju today is the worship of African gods for protection , wealth , health and economic growth . It has been portrayed in negative light. Bad people use any tool at their disposal for bad and African religion is not an exception .
Today , Africa is a confused place with all kinds of religions . Some practices are a mix of African religion and Western Christianity or Arabic Islam . I told her that African spirituality is not a myth but new generation Africans have been forced to believe that our religion is inferior to the European based monotheist religions . We also made reference to Beyonce’s recent video’s depicting her as a follower of Oshun the river goddess.
African Americans have been deliberately left in the dark for ages . I think the Education system here was designed to keep us asking questions rather than providing answers. Many African Americans who have approached me are constantly asking questions about their origin and their identity . While Some have taken the added step to traced their lineage to different parts of Africa, others are still in their quest to find where their families originated from . You need to know your history to discover who you are and understand your purpose . I encouraged her to research the topic and I gave her some references .
One thing remains obvious , The Western Media will not tell the truth. Have you ever wondered why Africa is depicted in today’s media as 100 percent poverty , diseases and Mal-nourished kids? It has resulted in African Americans begin ashamed of where they are from, and grateful for being forcefully taken across the Atlantic – That’s the aim . That is why Africans need to tell their own story . No foreign entity should help you define your religion , history , shape or background . Africans need to guide their own interest . We need to take a cue from the Chinese and Indians; who have battled against western influences to retained their culture , religion, and heritage. It is only when you understand that your father was a scientist , a king , or a queen then you can hold your own. When your history is constantly depicted as useless , you subconsciously become afraid , shy , and grateful rather than outspoken , confident and forceful . It is a control mechanism.
The notion that Africa’s Religions are Fetish and crude is false . Christianity and Islam were similarly crude, but as time went on became refined to suit modern society . African Traditional religion would have evolved the same way if it was not for Europe’s invasion of Africa. To cut the long stories short, American Rappers , namely Seven Six Supah & Yosun Tala just dropped a single that summarizes all i have said above. They are seen in the video Praying to the Yoruba orishas ( Obatala , Oshun , Sango , olodumare , Ogun , Ifa ) and remind Africans to be proud of their heritage and history.
Have you met Tobe Nwigwe? A First generation Nigerian – American who is rapidly on the rise. He was born and raised in Alief, Texas better known as the S.W.A.T .Tobe is a very conscious rapper and most of his music centers around his life experiences. He speaks about everyday life and is definitely a voice of his people. Being a First generation Nigerian – American, he shares a similar story with Jidenna: both artists tell a similar story of what is is like to grow up in America being black and having African parents .
Recently Tobe was invited to be a part of the Legendary B.E.T CYPHER ( an event that is preserved for the Crème de la Crème of the hip hop industry ) and soon afterwards he was labelled by Jill scott : the legendary American singer , as a Genius .
His new video Spice ft Spice Adams will definitely impress you . He even spits Pigin in heavy igbo accent on this one.
Shut that your dirty mouth / Come my friends please get out / wetin do you when you talk about / who you talk about / what you talk about / see the boy go in and out / put the pigin so they can listen just a lil different when i’m spittin /
Watch below
He is currently on tour with most of his venues already sold out . Los angeles , Atlanta , Washington , and New york have been sold out, but you can visit his website here to buy tickets for Chicago and Dallas which are almost sold out , if the reports reaching us is anything to go by. so waste no time if you plan to be a part of this event and grab your tickets fast !
The purpose of my blog is to provide a place where dope independent artists I have come across, especially in the cities I have lived in ( Indiana USA, Chicago, Lagos, Port Harcourt ) can interact. Having said that, it means the scope of my blog, for now, is very limited. It is a personal blog and the views are a personal opinion.
Today I want to introduce you all to an artist named ” Blaqbonez “, a rapper I have followed since I lived in Lagos Nigeria. Over the years, Blaqbonez has been very consistent and has dropped projects, most of which have contributed to his rise in the hip-hop circles in Nigeria. His works have brought him a lot of accolades and consequently a deal with 100 Crowns; a company affiliated with choc city music; home of arguably Nigeria’s no. 1 rapper MI Abaga.
In August 2018, he dropped a project titled “Bad boy blaq” . I took the time to listen to this project on Spotify and I have decided to provide a general overview of the project (My opinion). Over the years, I have seen Blaqbonez evolve from being a battle rapper to making music that sounds good and has a commercial value. From the East coast boom-bap music to a project that is heavily trapped. This goes to show how far blaq has come and that he is in touch with the market and has tailored his music to suit what the market wants. Blaq has also grown from being an artist that only cares about accolades and hype to a fully grounded businessman, and I am happy at his attempts to wrap his head around the business part of the music.
First, I love to pick up an album and after listening to it I can tell the artist’s origin, language, life experiences, purpose, and ideologies. 2017/18 has seen a slight shift in the way artists approach content creation. Artists like Lil Wayne, Cardi B, Drake, Nas even our own Mi Abaga dropped projects that are very inward and introspective. The shift has seen artists go from money and hoes to spreading the word on concepts like business, self-study, and self-awareness. On this project, Blaq follows the same direction, I could identify his culture, his beliefs and most especially I could understand his story. The songs are laced with English and heavy pigin and verbiage and slang are ingenious to Nigeria. Also, the subject matter he raps about is relevant to his environment and the message is clear. What I enjoyed most is the realness. He is not trying to talk about issues he knows nothing about but he draws inspiration from issues around him and those that are common within his surroundings. That is very important to the success of music globally. You have to listen to your environment and speak a language they speak to connect your music with them. I had no problems identifying Blaqs motives and message. From the album cover, you can tell that Blaq had set out to be creatively unique. I love the color combination and I suppose the pictures on the cover represent different facets of his personality or personal journey.
The introduction to a project means everything. it tells the listener if to continue or not. Blaq’s first track ” Accommodate ” gives a summary of his state of mind. ” Real life not knowing where dinner is coming from / real-life f**k what u see on Instagram broke as fuck but living without stealing “. It sets the stage for what to expect. A dope rapper fighting to get heard! The second song on the tracks-list “Denied” starts where he left off on the first, he raps
” I am so ahead of time / 2018 held me back / carry the cross I am like Christ / prayed to God to save my life/cos I am real, going and killing this people like flies / well on my way to the ice / never been lucky my life/ ain’t no roll of the dice /I just cannot be denied/ Mi Abaga told me i am the one/ everybody be like shii I am the one / even q said I am the dopest, to disrespect him must be stupid / ”
The arrangement of the tracks is impeccable. The production is top-notch. Blaq had tweeted that M.I spent time working on this record and it definitely paid off.
One thing i noticed even from Blaqs previous projects is the way he uses skits to connect tracks. This is an old practice but it is a potent tool. Skits are to albums what conjunctions are to essays. If used intelligently they provide a beautiful link and add value to the project. It tells me that Blaq has done his homework and he knows what makes up a good project. I also love the use of recorded phone conversations to add a real-life feel to the records. Blaq uses this effect to show that he draws inspiration from everyday life and that his music centers around his life. it is a priceless feature. Another very impressive thing about the project is how Blaq manages to bring in heavy features. Loose Kaynon, Aq, Terry Apala are veterans and they came through heavy on their records. Aq and Loose Kaynon came through on the track ” Low key ” and alpha although I do not know a lot about him was no push aside on the record. Stand outlines from the veterans are …
There is nothing new you can show me / get a pat on the back like Utomi/. See y’all can ask my exes, I quietly take my exit, they roll around with that L forever like a lifetime deal with Lexus, passport tatted like Rick Ross/.. add aesthetics to the project.
Terry Apala is a beast on the song ” I told you ” and delivers his agbero vibe that everyone loves. I would have been very happy to see an MI Abaga verse on this project. Asides from the very heavy features, Blaq also showcases some impressive young talents on this project. I particularly love Oxlade on the song ” mamiwota ” . Kudos to Mi Abaga on the production of this masterpiece. it is flawless in my opinion, the mixes are very balanced and even through the cheapest of headsets you still are surrounded by the ambiance of the sound. The beats are made from top to bottom so kudos to Blaqs production team.
If there is anywhere the project scores a low, it is in marketing and promotions. So far, it has been more of an online project. I believe this record is bigger than the promotional budget it has been accorded. I was very excited when I heard Blaq had finally landed himself an agreement with Nigeria’s biggest rap brand choc city, therefore his record is going to be on heavy rotation and videos were going to fly out left right and center. This has not been the case and we are still awaiting the first video of the project. I will not lay all the blames on choc city, if you follow recent happenings in the music circles ; revenue, sales, and show money is hard to come by these days and record companies lose all their capital in promoting and distributing but no returns to show for it. Therefore, it is understandable if choc city, led by Mi Abaga are taking their time to explore the possible income streams for him. It is better to take things slow than to run into debts.
Overall this is a solid project and I hope we have not seen the last of it. I believe that this project still needs videos, events and a promotional plan and we could have an heir to M.I ‘s throne already. My favorites on the album are the more introspective tracks like Tosin’s song, consent, 5.00 am. Songs like Play, Mamiwota, I told you ft Terry Apala and Woke gives the project a heavy commercial appeal and a repeat value. I recommend this to any music lover. This is definitely top 3 projects in recent times by a Nigerian.
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