₦airaland Forum

I want blow, I want blow and when they finally do, so many artists give it away within a twinkle of an eye unknownly just because of this three common mistakes they mostly make... then they become irrelevant or one hit makers.

3) Letting everyone know they are FREESTYLERS

I see so many upcoming musicians since they got a new song banging in the country, once invited to podcasts and live shows they start flexing muscles that majority of their songs are not written, they just go to the studio jump on a beat and within a second..viola their huge bangers were made...like bro honestly.. you get sense at all? I know it's a flex and all that, trying to prove they are good at what they do but at the same time not knowing they are demarketting themselves and career in the long run... because no sensible human would want to sit down and listen to an album that was made within ten minutes tallkless putting it on repeats.. thinking you probably were influenced with drugs and alcohol when you sang them. few years to come it always affect them. abi you freestyle pass terry G??

As much as been talented in freestyling is nice so it's also good for an artist to have a good pen game to produce lyrics with substance...kudos to omah lay your face show and respect to the legendary 2baba your footprints clear.

2) Overdoing too much

As an upcoming artist on the bigger stage, I get it your the wave at the moment, getting recognition here and there. Fans playing your song on repeat.
We all know the life span of a hit song in Nigeria is less than 3weeks or so. yes I get it you want to stay relevant but doing all sorts of irrelevant stuffs won't keep you there. You see them thinking of ways to bring new dance steps, controversies, unnecessary beefs, giving their newly found fans new names and even to the extend for some of them attaching cultism to their Brands all because of gathering fanbase. Why do too much and it's just so upsetting to see because they care more for the "CELEBRITY STATUS" than the talent in them. forgetting they came to meet people who are far better than them still at the top and more still coming from the bottom...my southern people say Akpo iroro (life na sense)

1) Getting features from bigger superstars

This is the most annoying and important of them all. Once you see an upcoming musician making wave in Nigeria just watch out the next week or two they are bringing out a song he has done with one of the BIG 3. instead of going into the studio and showing the fans more of his brand they will be thinking on how to dine with their elders without washing their hands clean. once again chasing that celebrity status instead of their craft.

This is so sad because I have seen so many young promising artists make this same mistake over and over again just because they want the quick way celebrity lifestyle so bad to get more fanbase. When they are supposed to settle down and perfect their style.

they do think because they got one hit song making wave at the moment, oh boy they've arrived and ready to dine with the bigger fish. So many lights has been deemed and career's ended just because of this mistake. Where is "if we nor get money watin we gain o " where is "osinachi crooner" the list can go on and on.

I am not saying getting featured by a super duper star at an early stage is outrightly bad... nah.. but before you do that ask yourself this question. if I wasn't the wave at the moment would it have been possible?
The ball is already in your hands and you alone can determine how you want to play it. Why the hurry when you are already on radar? Mind you the odds on that feature is 100 to 1. No matter how good you want to impress it's already against you..and when you flop that's the end of it all. You will just been seen as a normal mid artist and from there it's already too late..why because you fell for the trap.

I remain your one and only king0G nairaland own pro music analyst.
I'm no blogger.
All rights Reserved..

Okay.
I disagree with you about featuring a big artist. I believe that it helps to raise the profile of an up and coming artiste, however he should continue working on his craft.

Really, Omo Nigeria celebrity space is demonic ,don't be decieve forget Wetin you write so ,if you can't meet up definitely you wouldn't last

KiNg0G:
I remain your one and only king0G nairaland own pro music analyst.
I'm no blogger.
All rights Reserved..

Any way to get in touch with you please

We have talk to discuss

This is necessary let me to take note I fit blow tomorrow

I believe featuring one or two super star to support your career is necessary.

They always want to chill with the big boys na...

Climbing to the top can be very fast but staying there at the top really needs alot of calculations and hardwork to keep in shape.

Ok, mistake of too much drug
Also mistake of pride

Okay. This should open up the eyes of other upcoming artists!!!

Yeye ... whether u follow dose rules or not...u go still become irrelevant

No 4 mistake they make is going down the lane of Hard drugs and Substance Abuse

Lavish lifestyles, thinking they'd reign forever. They never learned from majek fashek who always wore Rolex apparel and expensive bling-bling all over his neck with many porch cars around him in his hay days and his shows in NY Arena were always fully booked but ended up begging for 1k to feed on lagos streets in his last days

Nigerians generally don't have growth mentality. After hit song they are already thinking of how to buy mansion and Ferrari. Even among our youths, they want to hammer without hustle. Funny youth. Person wey no go school, wey no get skill dey street dey make mouth sey he go soon get mansion for banana island. Some go dey pray for benz without making any effort. Naso e easy. 🤣🤣

Please spell words correctly when you post, and try to use perfect grammar and punctuation.

I don't think that number1 is true, featuring big artiste(s) boosts your profile as an upcoming artiste..... The most important thing is that you shouldn't allow pride get the better of you.

You guys should protect your Chella from being consumed by the toxicity that comes with the music industry.

I like him... He's my first ever favorite Nigerian music artist after P Square.

When you're good, you're good. However, talent is no longer enough.
For me, you're right, but the first mistake is that most of them don't prepare for opportunities.
Asake is a good example. He has prepared so much for opportunities, so it is easy for him to navigate around.

Some of them help already-made stars by featuring them. This can be a problem because anytime you feature an already-made star, people often overlook you and focus on that star, and the star uses your song to stay more relevant.
But when you focus on your own craft, they will come to you—just like Omah Lay collected money for a feature from Olamide and Davido despite them being bigger than him in the industry. That is what you should aim to be.

I no dey even listen to young artists again, they young ones are all drug addicts with no composure........that's not music !!
Aside their beats %85 of them talk rubbish.

Splurging on unnecessary cars without real investments.
Having numerous kids with numerous women

Joeboy comes to mind .....and the mistakes he made and i hope he sees this

This is mostly thrash
What a toddler can concoct from his bed

Tell dem also to make ever-green songs too.

You see tuface, his songs can never die, even with his dead career!

KiNg0G:
I remain your one and only king0G nairaland own pro music analyst.
I'm no blogger.
All rights Reserved..

I get where you’re coming from — a lot of talented new artists crash too soon because of bad career decisions. But at the same time, some of the very things you’ve called “mistakes” can actually work out if handled the right way.

1) On being a FREESTYLER
True, bragging about making hit songs in 10 minutes can make people think your music lacks depth. But freestyling is also a legitimate art form that connects deeply with some audiences — especially in today’s era of short attention spans and viral moments. Look at artists like Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, or Burna Boy — many of them admit to not writing down lyrics, yet they consistently deliver quality because they’ve mastered the craft. The problem isn’t freestyling; it’s poor quality control. If you can freestyle and still create music with replay value, why not let people know? The key is balancing the “wow factor” of freestyling with songs that have lasting substance.

2) On ‘overdoing too much’
You’re right that unnecessary drama can kill a career. But in the modern music business, branding is almost as important as talent. Sometimes creating dance trends, slang, or even harmless controversies is what keeps an artist in the public eye long enough for their real music to stick. Think of it as seasoning — too much and you spoil the food, but the right amount makes it unforgettable. The artists who win are the ones who use these stunts strategically, not randomly.

3) On getting features from bigger superstars
Yes, rushing into a “Big 3” feature too early can overshadow your brand, but it can also open massive doors if you play it smart. Wizkid’s feature on Tems’ “Essence” wasn’t a career-ending move for her — it skyrocketed her to global fame. The key difference is preparation. If your style is unique and your catalog is solid, a big feature can multiply your reach rather than erase your identity. The real trap isn’t the feature — it’s not having enough of your own music ready for new fans to discover after that big break.

In short, these moves aren’t inherently wrong — they just require timing, planning, and self-awareness. The same knife that cuts bread can also cut your hand; it’s all about how you hold it.

If any of my songs blow, nobody will know me, I will still remain focused, working on other songs. If I don't get like 5 features in my other songs I might not do collabo with any big artist.

That's why I love SIA, she's so down to earth and doesn't hug the limelight.
Special mention to Dido

I agree with the first 2 points, but the last one isn't really it.

One of the best ways to get visibility is by featuring with a bigger star. In fact, it is the surest way to making a lasting impression in the music industry. This has been tested across the world. Check out our popular rap artistes in the US. After their initial songs, they began collaborating with more popular rappers. In that way, the other person's fans become part of your fanbase too.

Other points to note are:
1. Avoiding lavish lifestyles,
2. Staying off drugs
3. Avoiding getting dragged into controversies, especially as it relates to other musicians.

IyaTola:
I get where you’re coming from — a lot of talented new artists crash too soon because of bad career decisions. But at the same time, some of the very things you’ve called “mistakes” can actually work out if handled the right way.

1) On being a FREESTYLER
True, bragging about making hit songs in 10 minutes can make people think your music lacks depth. But freestyling is also a legitimate art form that connects deeply with some audiences — especially in today’s era of short attention spans and viral moments. Look at artists like Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, or Burna Boy — many of them admit to not writing down lyrics, yet they consistently deliver quality because they’ve mastered the craft. The problem isn’t freestyling; it’s poor quality control. If you can freestyle and still create music with replay value, why not let people know? The key is balancing the “wow factor” of freestyling with songs that have lasting substance.

2) On ‘overdoing too much’
You’re right that unnecessary drama can kill a career. But in the modern music business, branding is almost as important as talent. Sometimes creating dance trends, slang, or even harmless controversies is what keeps an artist in the public eye long enough for their real music to stick. Think of it as seasoning — too much and you spoil the food, but the right amount makes it unforgettable. The artists who win are the ones who use these stunts strategically, not randomly.

3) On getting features from bigger superstars
Yes, rushing into a “Big 3” feature too early can overshadow your brand, but it can also open massive doors if you play it smart. Wizkid’s feature on Tems’ “Essence” wasn’t a career-ending move for her — it skyrocketed her to global fame. The key difference is preparation. If your style is unique and your catalog is solid, a big feature can multiply your reach rather than erase your identity. The real trap isn’t the feature — it’s not having enough of your own music ready for new fans to discover after that big break.

In short, these moves aren’t inherently wrong — they just require timing, planning, and self-awareness. The same knife that cuts bread can also cut your hand; it’s all about how you hold it.

You're 100 percent right. You must be a professional music analyst to be able to detect that. I am an upcoming artist, have done some songs which are live. I had to stop for a while because I wasn't too good doing the production and recording all alone -- the sounds are not in rhythm. I intend to open up my own studio, employ a good sound engineer but because I'm highly talented in music (not like I'm bragging, I have a lot of well-written songs that with rhythm and substance in them). I'd like to have you as a mentor.

The number 1 of it all which brings artist down fast is taking hard drugs,smoking and drinking nacking many women,go and ask timaya,thank God for his life

autoez:
Nigerians generally don't have groth mentality. After hit song they are already thinking of how to buy mansion and Ferrari. Even among our youths, they want to hammer without hustle. Funny youth. Person wey no go school, wey no get skill dey street dey make mouth sey he go soon get mansion for banana island. Some go dey pray for benz without making any effort. Naso e easy. 🤣🤣

Brother yahoo don make am easy for youths of now a days. Dem just the buy TVS power bike and Benz anyhow