Garbage. WTF?

I'm really pissed at how this image portrayed Nigeria.

Rubbish video. . . Like a BBC documentary

Are people just so stupid-or is it that they are just plain lazy.The original version of the song recorded in the USA was completly shot in the ghetto.Why would he then come to Nigeria and shoot the Nigerian version in VGC.
People need to learn to keep their mouth shut so as not to expose their ignorance-that is completly caused by laziness.


This is the link to the USA version-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVO5WhIm4uI

And why are you so ashamed of the the truth.65% of the Nigerian physical environment looks like this.And its not just a factor of poverty-its mainly due to laziness ,'dirtiness' and the corruption that has almost destroyed our country. Why did the Buhari government had to bring a one day national evironmental sanitiation day (that was basterdized by IBB and his 40 thieves)-because we are a dirty people.Lets clean up guys! dirty gutters,pit toilets in the 21st century. Compare USA ghetto to Nigerian ghetto.Ghetto are usually inhabited by poor people and are over populated-but water flows and gutters are not filled with trash.Stop throwing trash in gutters.

The video wasn't photoshopped. If you shit and don't clean ur yansh, don't be ashamed when flies start chasing u

80% of people in Lagos live like that....the rest are either in luxury or the sufferhead middle class. Yet, we want him to show us a different story because Nigerians don't like hearing the truth. All Lagosians live in Ikoyi and were born with an accent. Crazy people.

Funny how Nigerian musicians keep claiming "streets" and all they have to show for it is music videos in clubs with champagne or hotels. If our outdoor scenes were so wonderful they'd be shooting in these same "streets" not running to SA and Ghana to shoot music videos.

People need to see reality and stop thinking this is DSTV.

tai2: 80% of people in Lagos live like that....the rest are either in luxury or the sufferhead middle class. Yet, we want him to show us a different story because Nigerians don't like hearing the truth. All Lagosians live in Ikoyi and were born with an accent. Crazy people.

Funny how Nigerian musicians keep claiming "streets" and all they have to show for it is music videos in clubs with champagne or hotels. If our outdoor scenes were so wonderful they'd be shooting in these same "streets" not running to SA and Ghana to shoot music videos.

People need to see reality and stop thinking this is DSTV.

REAL TALK!!!!

Lol. How many Nigerians cry fowl when P-Square and the likes are filming in the United States and South Africa? "Quality toh badt", "Big boiz representin" abi? Do you call for them to showcase Nigeria too? Why must an American come to Nigeria to showcase us?

Millions of Nigerians are impoverished. Don't act like that one is news. Truth hurts. If you're embarrassed, tell Fashola. No be Lagos again?

This guy completely demonized Nigeria but pacify us with the soccer clips of rasheed Yekini and Samson siasia.

seedord247: Menh this insult is too much..... Chaiii.. My akata frnd go laugh me die when they see this video...

Wetin be "akata"?

tai2: 80% of people in Lagos live like that....the rest are either in luxury or the sufferhead middle class. Yet, we want him to show us a different story because Nigerians don't like hearing the truth. All Lagosians live in Ikoyi and were born with an accent. Crazy people.

Funny how Nigerian musicians keep claiming "streets" and all they have to show for it is music videos in clubs with champagne or hotels. If our outdoor scenes were so wonderful they'd be shooting in these same "streets" not running to SA and Ghana to shoot music videos.

People need to see reality and stop thinking this is DSTV.

80%, dude that's a lie.....not possible

Bwhahahahahahaha

Damn! This guy destroyed the little credibility Nigeria has - I'm never stepping a foot in that country...

Shyte looks scary as fvck!!

To y'all criticising this video and Rick Ross, are you just extremely daft or is translating a musical video a difficulty? If you think that video and it's lyrics doesn't portray the life of an average Nigerian, then probably your brain mass is less than a dice cube since you find pleasure in condemning a video that makes a clear picture of you as a Nigerian and of Nigeria as a country.
You are wallowing in poverty, smiling and dancing azonto to May D's Ile Ijo, perhaps that's what makes you feel good about yourself, listening to noise you call music but shy away from the truth because he didn't shoot any part of it in very few posh area of Nigeria.

I don't find anything wrong in or with the video...not atall. Every country has ghettos and with a lot of emphasis on "EVERY", ( not one left out) at least I didn't see so many hungry looking kids or men, most of them looked fit. Yes, you can see the poverty in Nigeria but its only a fool that'll think that all or 90% of Nigerians live like this. Rick Ross knows where he and his crew stayed in nigeria and the kind of luxury he recieved, what anyone with a shallow minded mind thinks is very irrelevant. it's obvious Rick Ross wanted this kind of setting for his video and he probably went to the ghetto areas in Lagos And shot it. The message he is trying to put across can't be done if he shot the video in bananna island, ikoyi or vgc....even the US version was shot in the slums, and as far as I'm concerned....every slum is a slum.

Godogwu:

80%, dude that's a lie.....not possible

Where do you consider not a slum in Lagos? Is it Ikeja, Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Lekki, Festac....go to all those places and you'll find they are surrounded by slums.Do you know how big Lagos is? So everyone stays in these "non slum" places. Have you thought of where the hawkers, mechanics, newspaper sellers etc live?

joey4jo: Chai! Pure insult!!
I spit on this video!
So of all the beauties naija has to offer, he couldn't find to show the world?
I spit on it again!

Some quick questions though! If everybody talks about the RICH, who then is going to speak for the poor? Are the people shown not humans with Nigerian bloods flowing in the veins? Is it the Job of Rick Ross to be an ambassador of Nigeria extolling her good virtues? What you see on that video is the result of Man's inhumanity to Man. The result of Greed, Corruption and wickedness. I am sure you have head of Buddah the founder of Buddhism? He was born a Rich Prince and his father sheltered and showed him riches all his life but unfortunately he mistakenly saw somebody from the Slum which to him was like seeing an Alien. Long story short, this event turned his life around, he gave up his riches etc and later became the Buddah (Enlightened one) So if this Video touches one of the Rich and Corrupt people to turn a new leaf, then the Video has done it's job. Bless

Nigerians, are hyper-sensitive of the way Western media typically portrays Africa. But if you watch the U.S. version, you know Rick Ross has no agenda. He showed the most slummy ghetto areas in the U.S. (New Orleans) in that version. The song is about overcoming struggle so of course he has to show the hustle and struggle of Lagos life. Nigerians are so status conscious and act as if what he's showing is not reality. It's very real and just because well-off Nigerians choose to ignore it, doesn't make it any less real.

[size=14pt]What Rick Ross’ “Hold me back” video tells the world about Nigerians[/size]

Minutes after the online release of the Nigerian version of Rick Ross’ “Hold me Back” video, Nigerians on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube have since rained curses and insults on the rapper for his audacity at showing Nigeria in its poorest and most ghetto form. The video starts with commentary about the Biafra war and then launches into a series of clips shot at different poor areas of Lagos State with scores of Nigerians chanting along the chorus with him. There is even a clip of Rick Ross handing dollar bills to poor children who race through the dirty slum waters to grab a note as he races off in his speed boat.

Now if you are in the aid and development circuit, some might classify the video as “poverty porn.” The development blog, Aid Thoughts succinctly describes the phenomenon in its piece, What is ‘poverty porn’ and why does it matter for development? when it described it as:

any type of media, be it written, photographed or filmed, which exploits the poor’s condition in order to generate the necessary sympathy for selling newspapers or increasing charitable donations or support for a given cause. Poverty porn is typically associated with black, poverty-stricken Africans, but can be found elsewhere. The subjects are overwhelming children, with the material usually characterized by images or descriptions of suffering, malnourished or otherwise helpless persons. The stereotype of poverty porn is the African child with a swollen belly, staring blankly into the camera, waiting for salvation.

More succinctly, poverty porn is oft described as the “glamourization of poverty” or even its celebration as some sort of “rebellious anti-authoritarian lifestyle.”

Whatever Rick Ross’ intention was shooting that video, Nigerians are livid. A casual glance at the hundreds of comments currently accumulating under the video on YouTube is testament to the sentiments of majority of Nigerians online

Some comments:

- Rick Ross is a hot mess

- Rick Ross is just trying to paint a negative picture about Nigeria. We’re not monkeys over here.

- Do you think tourists would ever think of going to Nigeria if Rick Ross keeps deceiving the world with a horrible video like this? This video is giving Nigeria a bad image.

Interestingly, Rick Ross had earlier shot a similarly ghetto-esque version of this same video in New Orleans in the United States depicting ghetto life and the struggles of the poor. Perhaps his sentiments behind shooting that version of the video gives one a glimpse of what he had in mind with the Nigerian version. In an interview with MTV earlier this year, he had this to say:

“We went to New Orleans to capture that essence. I feel like New Orleans been through it a lot, more than the majority of others, and they’re still strong, they’re still standing, they still got that pride.

Aside from a ban from BET for “being too real” the New Orlean version of the video mostly got good reviews.

Why all the negative sentiments from Nigerians for the video’s Nigerian version?

What Rick Ross’ “Hold me back” video tells the world about Nigerians
Nigerians HATE being depicted as hungry, malnourished, poverty striken and dirt poor even though it is the reality of most Nigerians. (Over 80% by many estimates).

Now by Nigerians of course, we mean wealthy/middle class Nigerians who make up the bulk of those online. They were privileged enough to get an education and live above the poverty that has enslaved most Nigerians. They live in a bubble that knows close to nothing about this Nigeria that Rick Ross speaks about and it is absolutely despicable that he would choose to focus on only this version of Nigeria because it is unrecognizable to them. What of the country’s wealthy areas in many parts of Lagos, or its overpriced hotels and fast rising estates? Or its polished, refined and globally aware party going, Afropolitan elites? Or even just the fact that the nation is private jet loving, with its purported rank as one of its fastest growing markets globally? Or the many things that makes Nigeria Africa’s luxury loving, indulgent and wealthy big brother?

Now imagine some of the kids Rick Ross depicted in the video coming on YouTube to watch the video and seeing the self conscious comments and complaints by Nigerians. They would probably have confused looks on their faces wondering what the fuss is all about especially since the shots he put up were candid and real…or are Nigerians trying to say they don’t want the world to know where they live or what Nigerian slums look like even though that’s where most people live?

Of course, Rick Ross is advertently/inadvertently awakening already held stereotypes about many African countries as war torn and hunger stricken but what it should remind us is that it isn’t exactly fair as Africans to expect the world to hide the realities African elites find as shameful.

It is true that there are ghettos and slums everywhere in the world but unfortunately most of the continent is still degenerate – slum life is not a minority problem but a majority problem. Thankfully, with rising economic fundamentals in many African economies, this reality is changing – NIgeria is leading this reality with its ever accelerating GDP growth numbers but is the wealth circulating fast enough to reduce slum life and poverty so that it is no longer the reality of majority of Nigerians?

Perhaps what Nigerians should work towards is not covering up their shame but embracing the nation in all its contradictory glory. While Rick Ross glamourizes poverty in Nigeria maybe most Nigerian artistes can for a start abandon foreign locations and shoot the glamorous shots Nigerians speak about at home as a start — or will the shots not be glamorous enough by global standards?

Let us all tell ourselves some hard truths and instead of being ashamed and insecure work towards building a continent we can all be proud of. Only then will videos like Rick Ross’ Hold me back not matter…

http://www.cp-africa.com/2012/09/18/what-rick-ross-hold-me-back-video-tells-the-world-about-nigerians/

lawizle:

Wetin be "akata"?

akata means black americans..

tai2: Where do you consider not a slum in Lagos? Is it Ikeja, Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Lekki, Festac....go to all those places and you'll find they are surrounded by slums.Do you know how big Lagos is? So everyone stays in these "non slum" places. Have you thought of where the hawkers, mechanics, newspaper sellers etc live?

Yes the hawkers, newspaper sellers mechanics may live in slums but even some mechanics afford a comfortable 2 bed flat in festac. Like!, are you seeing the surroundings in this place? If 80% of Lagos's population live like this then 80% percent of Lagos state looks this way....which is totally untrue. I have seen documentries on these sort of places in Lagos and especially the settlement on water, and I'm sure not up to 5,000 people live there. This video was shot mainly in one area if you may notice, I actually don't know where that is....prolly either mushin, adjegunle or ebutemeta...these are the only slums or ghettos I know of in Lagos. Just to remind you, there are also engineers, bankers, lawyers, accountants, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, electronic shop owners etc......are you telling me that these middle class people also live in slums like the ones shown in this video?, c'mon man...

Why do they always go to the bad parts and not the god parts??

Victichyoj: Superb... wtf got dis to the frontpage

if u ain't got nothing to stay just STFU hombre...tight video errthing gangster d video is deep tho wit d whole biafra war ish was deep as f*ck#word up!MMG baby.

*Ileke-IdI:
Garbage. WTF?

I'm really pissed at how this image portrayed Nigeria.

how did it portray naija? Ok I get it he is supposed to use clips from VGC or lekki and dia like...wat u saw der is naija not all those lies u see around,did u see dat old woman doing her laundry in dat damn metal bucket and dat nigga dat was slapped dats us our daily stuff so let's not try to hide...hope u saw d video of new orleans #dat ish is messed up.

Rozay thanks for showing the world the true nigeria... I will make a cartoon video and include dem mothafu*cking politicians tooo!

LOL....NAIJA the jungle.

Rozay with all the money you were paid to perform,this is the best you can show your maybach crew out of Naija.

Why Now?

This guy is an utter fool...If he wants to potray the slums and what really goes down in lagos nigeria, He should have followed the youth and not the fucking thugs...accepted there are thugs everywhere but 99% of the street soldiers i know don't even live like this....to top it off the fat furq displayed his ignorance by offering money to fellow blacks..that simply denigrates Nigerians....Now Dagrin Pon Pon is whats up not this garbage... I personally don't agree with him showing lekki/VI coz we all know thats not the life of the average working class Nigerian ....

The video is in Makoko where poorest of the poorests ppl live all looking 4 daily bread in Lagos. Mostly poor fishermen any those r the real boys in d hood.

God save dis guy say naija muslims no Ɗƺƴ watch musical videos

joey4jo: Chai! Pure insult!!
I spit on this video!
So of all the beauties naija has to offer, he couldn't find to show the world?
I spit on it again!

you are not serious! You keep telling the whole world what you are not. Dont people live in that slum that Rick Ross video? Did he fake up that video. So simply because few Nigerians are living a comfortable lives now means Nigeria is a comfortable place to live. Thanks to Rick Ross for letting the world see d other side of Nigeria in contrast to d fake image that is always given out to people abroad. YES RICK ROSS,THATS OUR NAIJA FOR YOU BROS...

check 1:14 where the woman rubs her hand in boiling hot water like its cold water! kai!

but on the other hand the message of rick ross video was to show the ghetto,the song is based on not being held back and having the hustler spirit and staying strong, which is why he picked nigeria, just like in the other version of the video where he picked the slums in america, but obviously the slums in nigeria is 100 times worse compared to a slum in america

hes in the hood giving poor nigerians money, how many millionaires and billionaires in nigeria have done this? hes even got them in his video standing side by side with him, how many nigerian musicians have done this?

people want to hide the fact that there are more poor people than rich in nigeria, you want people to see the rich parts yet there are more people starving? maybe these politicans will see this video and shut their fork up and start doing shitt about it rather than being selfish embezzeling baastards

livingstoneony: Rozay thanks for showing the world the true nigeria... I will make a cartoon video and include dem mothafu*cking politicians tooo!

thank u my brother. Thats our Naija.