In this very interesting discussion, three professionals share their thoughts on how it seems leading Nigerian artistes are favouring heavily sexual videos for most of their songs.
It all started with Henry Okelue’s question, inspired by the coming album of Nigerian rapper, Reminisce.
Alaga Ibile, @IamReminisce, drops his much awaited 4th studio album in just a few days!. So which of his songs make your top 10 all time?
— HENRY Okelue (@4eyedmonk) August 16, 2016
No 6
With a deep heart-pounding instrumental, Alaga Ibile is at his most irreverent in “Kpomo” pic.twitter.com/mn9ZbxHrSY— HENRY Okelue (@4eyedmonk) August 17, 2016
Henry’s pondering caught Yemi’s attention, but she needed a bit of a push…
@4eyedmonk Hmm… Reminisce’s new direction is erm ….
— A Nation @ War (@_yemia) August 17, 2016
… so Henry obliged.
@_yemia please tell me more. I am interested in your perspective 🙂
— HENRY Okelue (@4eyedmonk) August 17, 2016
And that’s how the stream of ideas began to flow.
@4eyedmonk I love him as a person – easy going; chill; no drama & big supporter of our work. Liked his old songs.
Don’t like these videos.— A Nation @ War (@_yemia) August 17, 2016
@_yemia don’t you think that is him trying to fit into what is hip in the mainstream so that he remains relevant?
— HENRY Okelue (@4eyedmonk) August 17, 2016
That stream brought Darey and Timi Dakolo into the picture.
@4eyedmonk Will be very disappointing. Doesn’t strike me as someone who’s in the business to please others. Timi / Dareyesque in my view.
— A Nation @ War (@_yemia) August 17, 2016
Then Modenine.
@_yemia in this kind of business, if you don’t please others, you will be broke. That is what has happened to Mode9
— HENRY Okelue (@4eyedmonk) August 17, 2016
… ouch. But that’s fine.
@4eyedmonk Timi & Darey nko?
— A Nation @ War (@_yemia) August 17, 2016
@_yemia@4eyedmonk Lucky Darey & Timi. They sing. Melody works. Lyrical rap & poetry is mostly for thinkers. The masses don’t wanna ‘think’
— Femi Falodun (@Hephef) August 17, 2016
Thank goodness I’m a fan of lyrical rap and poetry; a point that brought femi, a previuosly quiet observer, to the fray
@Hephef Valid point. I hear Olamide has some deep lyrics as well. Not sure he sells ’sex’ in his videos. What’s the appeal?@4eyedmonk
— A Nation @ War (@_yemia) August 17, 2016
Random example: how many Nigerian listeners will get this or even appreciate its beauty in a rap? @_yemia@4eyedmonkpic.twitter.com/4iHo8qjlSo
— Femi Falodun (@Hephef) August 17, 2016
So? How many of you get that?
Why should they?
Who is Jackie Robinson in our cultural context? https://t.co/uHtUNnQvJe— A Nation @ War (@_yemia) August 17, 2016
The point is not “Jack Robinson”, but the wordplay. Mode9 has done contextual puns for years. We unlooked. https://t.co/Vy5UnBzbY0
— Femi Falodun (@Hephef) August 17, 2016
2.) Why shouldn’t they get it? They watch Hollywood, read books, several “non-contextual” foreign content. No issues https://t.co/Vy5UnBhB6s
— Femi Falodun (@Hephef) August 17, 2016
@Hephef Then use a relevant example so you can actually test if people get it 🙂
— A Nation @ War (@_yemia) August 17, 2016
I can write you a 100 Mode9 puns, wordplay and witty sayings that are heavily Nigerian. Off the top of my head. https://t.co/ymf2VuCw9V
@Hephef Great! Lets start with one, shall we?
— A Nation @ War (@_yemia) August 17, 2016
— Femi Falodun (@Hephef) August 17, 2016
@_yemia “I’m so underground, crude oil leaks from my ceiling”
“freestyling more than generous hairdressers”— Femi Falodun (@Hephef) August 17, 2016
@_yemia “Ruthless like Bibles without the 8th book”
Some rare gems here: https://t.co/yWkdhi7dUEhttps://t.co/TgYDYOq3EJ— Femi Falodun (@Hephef) August 17, 2016
Forget, Modenine knows! However …
@_yemia The problem is not the poet, but the audience. How many in Nigeria actually KNOW why Soyinka is regarded as such a literary great?
— Femi Falodun (@Hephef) August 17, 2016
@Hephef Lets backtrack. I’m asking if Olamide’s appeal is tied to the sexual nature of his lyrics & videos + why Alaga is going that route.
— A Nation @ War (@_yemia) August 17, 2016
@_yemia@Hephef if you watch “Konkonbility” for example, Olamide sells so much sex NBC will ban it on sight
— HENRY Okelue (@4eyedmonk) August 17, 2016
@4eyedmonk@_yemia His lyrics are not exactly PG either. Lots of coded-speak, Yoruba wordplay, etc. Those who know, know. Kesh is guilty too
— Femi Falodun (@Hephef) August 17, 2016
Yep, that was Kesh’s cameo. Let’s not digress though.
@Hephef@4eyedmonk So you’re say Olamide sells sex in his lyrics AND videos & that’s why he has such mass appeal?
Interesting …— A Nation @ War (@_yemia) August 17, 2016
@_yemia@Hephef Yoruba folk music, which Olamide has styled his own music around, is heavy on sexual innuendos.
— HENRY Okelue (@4eyedmonk) August 17, 2016
Both dudes can rap deep if they want to. A video is a marketing tool, like an ad is to a corporation. Sex sells. Easy. @_yemia@4eyedmonk
— Femi Falodun (@Hephef) August 17, 2016
Who deep ‘epp’ for Nigerian rap?
@_yemia I don’t think there was ever a time either of them wasn’t “going that route”
Just a matter of what sells. Inspirational Vs naughty.— Femi Falodun (@Hephef) August 17, 2016
Good to know.
I follow music on the fringes but the sector definitely fascinates me.
Will check out d clips. Thanks! https://t.co/DXkA90Z7BS— A Nation @ War (@_yemia) August 17, 2016
Wait o, ‘I follow music on the fringes’? No wonder she was a bit shy at the beginning…
@_yemia LOL. I’m surprised you even care.
Although, I see how you’ve been using music for advocacy and engagement.— Femi Falodun (@Hephef) August 17, 2016
@Hephef Wetin we go do? Any and all ways to get young Nigerians to pay attention. And we’ve been blessed with great partners!
— A Nation @ War (@_yemia) August 17, 2016
Indeed, artistes have always been useful in advocacy and pushing social messages.
So, which of the points raised in this thread do you disagree or agree with? Should artistes mentioned and others go on with the use of heavy sexual innuendos in their videos or should they find something else that helps them ‘sell’ and connect with young audiences?
No Fields Found.