Here I am after a long lazy break from writing; this right here is just my opinion about what I feel about Nigerian rap, rappers and how to make fame and fortune from rap.

It’s been a week of hip hop in Nigeria, ever since the release of the top 10 gifted rappers in Nigeria, via the online music platform: Notjustok. For those who didn’t know, I was a part of the team that contributed to the birth of that list, I don’t agree with the final list though.

So if there is a time to talk about Rap music in Nigeria, the time is now.

Just recently I watched an interview on TV, where the legendary lyricist Modenine (All respect to the legend) poured out his mind about haw bad he felt, about putting out a body of work and people ignored. For a moment I felt annoyed also, then later I thought of it, if he directed his annoyance to the core rap fans, then may be. But if it was directed at the music fans in general, then he really misses the point.

That “point” is what this article is about. I mean you can’t sell meat to a vegetarian, you’ve got to give them the vegetables they want, and if you are going to make meat appeal to a vegetarian, you’ve got to mix it up with vegetables.

Rap has really come of age in Nigeria, but there is still a lot to learn and there is still room for improvement. Rap music was really never accepted in Nigeria at a time, it was so bad that rappers couldn’t even make a living off their music.

This perception of not being able to make a living off rap in Nigeria was however proved wrong by M.i Abaga, after he dropped his first album.

Let me state at this juncture, that i am not trying to give a lecture about rap and it’s basics, I’m not a hip hop head, I’m just going to give my opinion about how a Nigerian rapper can make fame and fortune off rap in the Nigerian market.

I will just state some few personal points and proffer possible solutions.

- Rap music is not as accepted as other genres of music in Nigeria

- The ratio of acceptance of rap music compared to other genres is like 1:100 ( Just accept)

- To prove the statement above, visit alaba, talk to the marketers of Nigerian music and ask how many units of rap albums they move. Also to prove the statement above, study the trend of Music shows in Nigeria, and see if rappers get to be called for shows in Nigeria.

- We really do not have Hip Hop concerts in Nigeria where only rap lovers can pay to watch.

- And the bitter truth is that the bulk of the so called rap lovers in Nigeria as at now would rather download rap songs and tweet about it, than buy rap albums.

My second and third points above do not apply to the likes of M.I , and other Nigerian rappers who have done well in understanding the Nigerian music market, and gone a step ahead from spitting bars on bars, to making rap music, emphasis on the MUSIC.

Since the bulk of Nigerian music listeners are not core rap fans, it is a not so wise decision to make rap albums, and get mad when the majority do not buy it. You cannot force stuff down the throats of people.

Some might begin to think that making music for the majority as a rapper means you are not being real and stuff, but really I don’t know how real it can get, if you can make rap music for the majority and still make them have that feel of rap, that they begin to crave for more rap songs.

M.I Abaga came into the game and shot up the chats of the Nigerian rap scene in no time, with 2 albums and 2 mix tapes, he can be regarded as the best and not so many will raise an eye brow. Here are a few things to learn from the rapper. .

- Firstly, talent is key. If you are not talented and brilliant, do not bother going into rap or music at all.

- In a country like Nigeria, it’s not advisable to make an album with content that won’t appeal to the majority. So whenever you want to make straight up rap music, do it for your mix tapes and put it up for downloads. The few rap fans will download and still rate you.

- When making a rap album, do well to spice it up with other genres of music, have collaborations with pop artistes, RnB artistes etc. That way you can cut across to other fans of other genres of music.

- Use good beats, use very catchy beats. A lot of time I listen to some rap songs and the beats do not just appeal to me. The beat of a song alone can make a listener listen to your song.

- Sample all kinds of beats; drop your bars on different types of beats, high-life, afro-beat, raggae etc.

- Make your lines basic but real and meaningful; tell stories about topics that appeal to the typical Nigerian.

These points stated above are pure facts for any rapper who wishes to make it off rap music. A living proof is M.I abaga. This method is a win-win situation; you gain your reputation as dope rapper through your mix-tapes, and also make a name and fortune on the bigger scale through your albums.

Diversify, explore your talent, and channel your rap talent into being a musician, that way you will appeal to a wider audience, and make rap more acceptable. It’s not really reasonable to cage yourself and do rap for the minority, when really you can make music for a bigger market and make more fortune off it. I mean, who says a rapper cannot make a party song?

It’s show business after all, and I believe every artiste is in music not only to make a name, but also to make a living from it, so be wise and get enlightened.

Written by Tosin Adeda

Culled from jaguda.com

Its kul nd reasonable to blend ur rap wif commercial songs. I used to criticise rappers dat compromise d game just to fit d Nigerian music style,buh Later I grew up nd I discovered dat U cant force people to like wat u r doing. And anoda tin is dat most rappers focus on heavy Vocabs,they believe heavy vocabs will make people feel them. One of the concept of rap music is to make people understand wat u r spitting. Twisting easy lines to make a punchline is hard nd appreciated cos every1 will understand wat u r tryn to express. So if any1 finks he z gud nd make rap hard for most people in nigeria to understand, ''he z a learner''.

True talk. You can even kill two birds with one stone like Naeto c does. E.g 10/10 caught the atention of both party goers and rap heads

Niceee... Noted

Make e no be like sey Iamswizz no comment.

Nigerians love to dance...wetin concern us with lyrics or love songs? If Mode 9 keeps on with his hardcore rapping na hunger go wire am till im join choir.

Three comments and it made front page.

sarbest001: Its kul nd reasonable to blend ur rap wif commercial songs. I used to criticise rappers dat compromise d game just to fit d Nigerian music style,buh Later I grew up nd I discovered dat U cant force people to like wat u r doing. And anoda tin is dat most rappers focus on heavy Vocabs,they believe heavy vocabs will make people feel them. One of the concept of rap music is to make people understand wat u r spitting. Twisting easy lines to make a punchline is hard nd appreciated cos every1 will understand wat u r tryn to express. So if any1 finks he z gud nd make rap hard for most people in nigeria to understand, ''he z a learner''.

Yeah i concur.In fact,i had to dip my fingers in the toilet to type this shiit

.

You tried but It goes diff on my mind

Noted!

Too busy to read this piece now!!


Comment reserved,pending when I read it!!

ok na. .


but if no be oyinbo raps, e.g lilwayne, eminem, drake ...

i no need...

i fit close eye consider SINZU..

is dat all??

Lol at Nigerian rap and hiphop.

Andyblaze: I endorse this write up. Last year i was with top u.s rapper drake and he told me alot about rapping and the points are same with us. I even hang out with olamide this evening
.
.
My wife is mondi cheeks

For your mind..

I was expecting omo Jesu to use sauce kid as an example, he use to be a die hard an in d music session before. Anyway, nice attempt though but I disagree with some yeye tin wey u talk.

Nigerian Rappers shuld learn from M.I....The Guy knws aw to make infuse other Genres of music into his Rap music....
M.I all d way

yuzedo: my name is cheif sweetus

I likes all citrus

My landlod name is bitrus

And my sweet-hat name is Ritus dummynick

Am a grate grammy wrapper. Plis by my album ni tori olurun! tenk.

Oga Yuzedo so you are still a tenant?? No offenscience.

brou nice writte up...really appreciate d person i used n shwd d example....mode 9 started it bhut...wen dz stuff run in ur vein mehn nofink cn stop it...kudos 2 ma boss MR INCREDIBLE.

yuzedo: my name is cheif sweetus

I likes all citrus

My landlod name is bitrus

And my sweet-hat name is Ritus dummynick

Am a grate grammy wrapper. Plis by my album ni tori olurun! tenk.

WE GIVE UP[....D song no even rhyme wella sef

ℓ̊ tink its †ђξ lyk of Reminisce,seriki,base one etc dat nids uя advice

nneh1: Three comments and it made front page.

Marginalization

@OP I agree with all you've said, except for the part where you say, " If you are not talented and brilliant, do not bother going into rap or music at all " there are lots of places around the world where this statement is applicable, but Nigeria isn't one of them.

Time and time again, it's been proven that you don't need talent or brilliance to succeed in the Nigerian music scene because if that the case, people like Olamide, Reminisce, terry g, davido e.t.c won't be selling loads of records while someone like Mode 9 sells almost none.

You highlighted all that is needed to succeed in Nigeria as an artist, the point is every artist has to be able to relate with the Nigerian populace

first thing that has to be understood is that since poverty is rife in Nigeria, songs that are able to relate to things like street talk/slangs, hooliganism, immorality, alcohol, fraud, making money, blend it with a catchy beat (e.g terry g) and watch it sell like hot cake.

i cnt fit shout oo rap music is nt for me ka ka
rite nw my phone dey hala for me **sho ko wa le ko durosuke*** den after dat na **skelewu**

Sum1 pls listen to vector's rap and come back to give ur review in response to diz write up.

yuzedo: my name is cheif sweetus

I likes all citrus

My landlod name is bitrus

And my sweet-hat name is Ritus dummynick

Am a grate grammy wrapper. Plis by my album ni tori olurun! tenk.

Now this is grammy award winning stuff, when is your mixtape coming out, chief