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IS NIGERIAN HIP-HOP DEAD OR ALIVE? …by MCskill ThaPreacha

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IS NIGERIAN HIP-HOP DEAD OR ALIVE ...by MCskill ThaPreacha Artwork | AceWorldTeam.com

IS NIGERIAN HIP-HOP DEAD OR ALIVE ...by MCskill ThaPreacha Artwork | AceWorldTeam.com

It was a cold, dark, lonely night and my mind was racing; I logged on to Twitter so I could get distracted and of course, it was the same old drama about sex, hoes and politics being discussed but there was something else this time. A discussion about who the dopest is in Nigerian Rap. This kind of discussion usually takes place when Nigerian rappers are beefing, it has happened a million times already and I wasn’t supposed to be flabbergasted but it got me thinking…

Is Nigerian Hip-Hop Dead Or Alive?

I tweeted: “Nigerian Hip-Hop Is Dead.” Fast forward 20 seconds later, the notifications started coming in hundreds; the same set of people who would get on social media networks to disrespect legends like Eedris Abdulkareem, eLDee, ModeNine, Weird MC, Ruggedman, e.t.c came at me like wolves saying Nigerian Hip-Hop is alive. They attacked so flawlessly with insults you would think they truly care/cared about the art in the first place.

What Or Who Killed Nigerian Hip-Hop should be the big question now.

In my opinion, since “opinion” is now widely accepted, I drafted a few points below; read carefully.

1. THE MEDIA
Music will NEVER circulate without the media and it’s so clear how the Nigerian media killed Hip-Hop by condemning and preferring Afro-Pop because Afro-Pop artistes seem to have more cash to throw around prompting this same media to label lyricists as “Broke & Hungry.” Top bloggers and OAPs claim to love Hip-Hop but we all know how we had to BEG most times to have our Hip-Hop records on Top Nigerian blogs or being played on radio; yes, we begged not because our music was wack but because we knew bloggers wouldn’t post no Hip-Hop record especially from the upcomings because it probably doesn’t generate enough traffic and the radio wouldn’t play it for free either. Radio DJs are part of this whole scheme…

PAY me and I will surely play your record but we DON’T play Rap music on our show.”

With that kind of statement, someone desperate for stardom would start singing immediately. Our so-called Hip-Hop World Awards can’t even boast of a cypher each year at it’s annual ceremony, neither can it’s 24-hours TV station claim to play Hip-Hop videos on a regular; now, this is where the Olamide‘s and the Phyno‘s come into the picture. For the record, they are excellent rappers but they are NOT doing Hip-Hop; obviously, a debate for another day.

The Lyricist On The Roll award which is supposed to be the only thing keeping Hip-Hop alive is video-based, therefore killing 90% of most lyricist’s dream of ever getting recognized plus Pop albums being nominated for Hip-Hop Album Of The Year also killed the kulture.

2. THE FANS
In recent times, Nigerian Hip-Hop fans have become plain rude and unappreciative when it comes to real art; they want double standards all the time. The so-called Hip-Hop fans are swift to insult a ModeNine but hold a Wizkid in high esteem; the reason behind, that I would never fathom. The fans keep saying they want a conscious sound – put out a conscious sound and the fans would say they didn’t hear any punchline on the record. Put out a punchline filled record and the fans would say you gotta dump it down; Hip-Hop is NOT just about the EMCEE and the DEEJAY. The fans play a big role.

If football fans were not as passionate about the sport, football as an art would have been killed.

People would play but there would be no stars; same thing applies to Hip-Hop – the fans have to show that they truly love it, but they didn’t so we here now. Lastly, fans are NOT honest with emcees; because you are a huge fan of an emcee doesn’t mean they put out dope materials all the time – fans have become so blind and deaf that they tag everything from their favorite emcee as “Dope & Classic“; the lack of criticism from fans killed Hip-Hop‘s growth in Nigeria.

3. EMCEES
To me, emcees today are confused and impatient; they emcee for just 6 months and they want to be on the billboard.

It doesn’t work that way.

Money has to be made no doubt. Even the last element of Hip-Hop focuses on entrepreneurial skills but after coming out as a dope emcee and you start singing 6 months later, you lose the respect of Hip-Hop fans; most emcees couldn’t stick to the art and that made the kulture suffer. For example, Ice Prince used to Rap but he has made a lot of money whilst singing and upcoming rappers also want to be like him therefore the kulture will remain dead for a very long time.

4. LEGENDS
Yes, legends also have to be blamed for not guiding and pulling up young rappers; instead, legends don’t want to lose their spot.

You can’t be number one forever, even KRS with the “One” after his name knows that.

What makes you a legend is not longevity but the positive things you actually do/did for Hip-Hop; legends haven’t pulled fellow rappers up lately, they would rather set up record labels and sign Afro-Pop artistes, hence killing the kulture.

CONCLUSION
As a real emcee and true Hip-Hoppa who has 4 Hip-Hop mixtapes to his credit, I know how hard it was/is for me admitting that Nigerian Hip-Hop is dead; on a personal experience, a Top Nigerian blogger [arguably the biggest] who claims to really love Hip-Hop once told me and I quote…

Yo Preacha, your music is too Hip-Hop. I’m sorry, I can’t post it.

What’s too Hip-Hop? What would happen if he posted the record? Guess I would never find out either.

Now, I put the question to you allIS NIGERIAN HIP-HOP DEAD OR ALIVE?

Kindly share your thoughts.

9 COMMENTS

  1. I don’t wanna believe HipHop is dead as claimed by many, even the disciples inclusive. But I’d say HipHop is yet born in this part of the world, perhaps what we have was JOHN the baptist that paved the way for the true CHRIST to come!

    Anyways, the state at which HipHop is 2day was as a result of the improprieties of the key players in the culture.

    HipHop is a Culture & rap is the voice the sound at which it amplifiers.

    HipHop is basically segmented into four strong elements which consist Deejaying, Emceeing, B-boying & Graffiti that makes the art more eXclusive to be regarded as just music but culture. & any culture that extincts don’t just fade off overnight but gradually & often as a result of some ignorance, discontinuity of some major obligations or important rites, levity amidst lack of enthusiasm.

    HipHop comes in 3D or spectrum such as the KNOWLEDGE, PERSONALITY & lastly the STREETS. Kindly permit me to break these down:-

    *The KNOWLEDGE, as a HipHoper you’re eXpected to possess some level of intelligence, smartness, ingenuity, creativity & artistic prowess, type that paints with words, explains emotions better than any lame man would & even create new words as in neologism.

    As a HipHopper you’re expected to be vast in KNOWLEDGE: like the HOLY BOOK philosophy that quotes,”…outta da abundance of da heart, da mouth speaketh. – Prov.4:23″ because you def can’t give whatchu don’t have, & the more you read, research, meditate the better you’d be efficient in delivering as a HipHopper.

    *The PERSONALITY, secondly, is the figure, the brand you tend to project. I remember being attracted & tempted to interact with some folks just because of the HipHop portrait or look they project. HipHop has her own kinda facade that you can’t mistake for anythang else rather than HipHop (which has been vastly compromised by her disciples as a result of disloyalty) [I’m Loyal To The Game – 2Pac]

    Apparently, HipHop has a way of walking (the one-two step or the B-boy/homeboy bounce that attracts lot of attentions), & the swag applied to their gestures while talking.

    *The STREET, lastly, could be regarded also as the underground which is the grass-ROOT of the entire body of HipHop, & the ROOT would always play the most significant role in the growth of any plantation as a simile or for eXample.

    This is the platform you use to establish your brand as an amateur/upcoming act or give back as a ready MADE HipHop figga, which consists two categories in HipHop delivery.

    *1st is the grass-ROOT & the 2nd one is the mainstream: let me emphasize!

    The grass-ROOT is the STREET [basic] a.k.a underground level that demands some obligations which is the most formidable parts of the culture where artistes interact with their core (community) folks where they gain their foremost die-hard or sentimental fans/followers by holding a gathering such as block parties, get-together, open-mic sessions, (etc) on the streets for the streets so as to promote the culture and create relationship with the people of their hood at the underground level.

    *2nd is the mainstream, where you are more advanced & could be televised for larger audience and markets, but still actively promote the culture at the grass-ROOT simply by gracing the street events, supporting new ACTs off your hood, mentor-ship & reckoning with your source as though “The River That Doesn’t Wanna Run Dry!”

    But often do we perceive the acclaimed legends & disciples of HipHop culture and find these elements missing as a result of ignorance of the rudiments of the (HipHop) culture, lack of passion for the game but love of the glamour & the fortune that comes with it.

    If HipHop must come to live here we must be willing to go back to the basics & duly observe every characteristics of the genre/culture from the scratch to achieve the climax of it all.

    Note: The mixtapes, the mainstream, the anxiety & the noise is highly necessary & important, but it wouldn’t make no sense until the foundation is properly laid! & the four elements must be equally observed & promoted to have a TRULY HipHop culture here.

    Nas (the Americans) have all the reasons & privilege to pronounce the death of HipHop, but not us (Nigerians in Nigeria) cus we still haven’t seen her birth to start with!

    …many more to say, but wouldn’t wanna bore you with too much talks until I come ya way again I’d like to drop ma golden pen on this note: I thank you all for motivating me to write this article 2day (Monday 11, August 2014), i had lost my mojo for writing before now. Thanks… Read and Learn, Learn & Grow!

    HipHop Is Beyond MUSIQ, ts a way of life termed as CULTURE!!!

    • I like this write up… Take time out to put it together properly. Would be an interesting piece. Bless.

  2. I wouldn’t wanna pass this bye too….its like Bladkcloud tapped into my archives and fractioned out his piece (lol). I have TV series Coming up from next month tagged “HipHopCulture” and I already have all this section in (y’all should keep it locked down for me)as you just confirmed I am not alone in these thoughts (I appreciate you both pen)

    To sync: MCSkills would nt cease to have a raving or perhaps hovering thought and itsagood thing you owned something down (we have learnt from it I must tell you). Now the introduction you should have made and the 3rd phase-“is hip-hop born?” this article should have is what Blackcloud just supplied.

    The man that said “two Heads are better than one” is not a fool!

    Caution: I would wanna implore every appleased parry to pick their portion of the blame and make amend. Its the essence of bringing to our knowledge such wisdom as this!

    ThankU!

  3. Blackcloud and Preacher. everything from the article to the reaction got me like rapture. Preacher gave his point of view and Blackcloud….. u are a body of Knowledge. I will definitely archive this. learnt a lot from this. Thanx bosses

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  5. As producers it is hard for us to hear that hip hop died anywhere. The title alone broke my heart. It seems from the article that the music took a bad turn by being super offensive. In any event it is still sad to hear. We have to reach to the younger crew and lift them up too.

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