Friday, 5 July 2013
MUSIC | Fecko - Can't Hold Us (Cover)
"Can't I Do The RIGHT Thing In A WRONG Industry?"
Ever
since I began doing music professionally, I have always been fond of looking
away from the circus, and taking up the responsibility of addressing serious
issues that affect my industry.
"Can't I do the RIGHT thing in a
WRONG industry?" - That is a
quote from a song I recently recorded. And actually, this article is centered on
that thought.
Apart
from wordplay, you would also notice the lyric contains an ounce of depth if
you meticulously read between the lines. It might even be deeper than I think.
After all, people's perception and standpoints differ.
I
will be paying more primacy to two phrases in that context, viz: 'right thing' and 'wrong industry'. What is the 'right
thing'? And why did I frankly use the term 'wrong industry'?
Well,
a wrong industry is one that does not encourage the right art. And as such,
mediocrity is celebrated while creative freedom becomes a myth. I could go on
to list a myriad of other definitions that will describe a 'wrong industry'. For now, I will just pitch my tent with the one
stated earlier.
However,
the fact that a particular thing is unacceptable in Country A does not mean it won't be embraced with open arms in Country B. Variety is the spice of life,
but that does not rule out the fact that mediocrity will always be mediocrity.
There is no such thing as 'little mediocrity' or 'too much mediocrity'. In
fact, it could be likened to sin. Sin is sin. I guess I will have to stop there,
otherwise I might start quoting bible verses if I choose to proceed with that
topic.
In
Nigeria, sometimes I feel talent is wasted on talented people. Hard work beats
talent where talent does not work hard. In other instances, these talented
individuals are not given appropriate and enough platforms to showcase the
ample skill they possess. "What
about Project Fame, Peak Talent Show, Nigerian Idol and the likes?" -
That is probably one question you are craving to ask me right now, isn't it?
Yes, what about them? No doubt, they hunt for talents, but at the end of the
day how many people get selected out of thousands of Nigerian youths that
participate in these auditions annually? The ratio is like 1 out of 100. Even
those that eventually come tops, win just the money and not all the required
support they need to make them stand the test of time throughout their music
career.
I
also noticed something pathetic that made me shake my head in 3D. After the
contestants were short-listed, they were asked by Reggie Rockstone to dance in
the next round before scaling through to the finals. Those that couldn't bust a
move to save their lives were evicted, despite they had nice voices. Then I
asked myself; 'Is X-factor a singing competition or a dance competition?'.
Perhaps the organizers could have been more specific.
I
remember the last talent hunt show I participated in, some years ago. It was
held in Enugu. I performed a rap verse right before the judges (DJ Jimmy Jatt
and one other dude from Jamaica). I was applauded and received positive remarks
that seemed honest. Majestically, I left the stage smiling, with the thought
that I would get to the finals. To cut the long story short, I did not. As much
as I was disappointed, I never allowed that experience deter me. Years later, I
got featured on a mixtape alongside mainstream acts such as Tha Rapman, Ice
Prince and Wizkid. Coincidentally, the project was hosted by Jimmy Jatt and my
first music video even got premiered on his TV show (Jump Off). I didn't allow
that audition define me, because I believed in myself and I knew my potential
was limitless. Perhaps today, Uncle Jimmy does not even remember I participated
in that audition. It is a small world.
As
long as Nigerian show business is concerned, nobody cares about talent unless
you are wealthy. These days, daring to be different alone won't cut it. If you lack
affluence or you are not affiliated to one superstar or the other, it is
difficult to draw the attention of the media. And that is probably why it is
easy to manipulate today's showbiz. Some Nigerian bloggers are more concerned
about the traffic their sites get than the content of a song. While some Radio
DJs and OAPs want their arses to be kissed before they play your song.
Notwithstanding, I acknowledge the few good people that still unconditionally
support great music in this country. I hope they won't become extinct someday.
It
is rare to find Nneka's album on the streets of Lagos, but I am pretty sure she
is contempt selling her intellectual property to the world and Africans in Diaspora
via iTunes. Germans and Europeans alike adore her afro-centric style and music.
It is safe to say that this talented Nigerian songstress based in Luxemburg has
been doing the right thing in the right industry.
There was a time Drake
sampled her track 'Heart Beat' and Talib Kweli was even featured on the remix
of that particular song. It is not easy breaking into the international market
though. Imagine what would have happened if her target audience was only in
Nigeria. Having the gift of foresight always comes in handy.
So
is it better to compromise standards because you find yourself in a really
frustrating industry that celebrates mediocrity? Well, personally I believe
artists can always find a way to strike a balance in the aspect of making great
music that is enjoyable and still delivering good content. That is one of the key
factors that define your creativity anyway.
Working
hard is good, but working smart is better. Truth be told, without proper
positioning and making your skill sellable, talent won't pay bills in this country,
or even anywhere in the world. Once upon a time, good music spoke for itself in
Nigeria; am afraid, not anymore!
Apparently,
the Nigerian music industry has evolved, but this sudden evolution has yielded
more cons than pros. The outcome is something I have always previsioned. And it
is inevitable simply because our music industry grew at a fast pace without a more
streamlined structure and solid foundation.
Unless
music is just a hobby for you; as an artist based in Nigeria, you just have to
discover whatever works for you, and make it lucrative. Your persistence,
creativity and versatility will eventually make you stand out in the long run.
Update | What I Have Been Up To
The
other day I explained why I went M.I.A. Since then, I think my online presence
have improved to some extent, right? I guess it's due to the fact I haven't really
been occupied with academic work lately. School's yet to resume. Although I
have been busy taking a course on how to work with the Adobe CS6 Suite
software. Studying various tutorials; from Adobe
Photoshop to Premiere Pro, After
Effects, Audition, Indesign and
Illustrator. Graphic designing is cool, but video editing and 3D animation
is even more fun, although a bit complex. Learning new skills and adapting to
old ones.
Meanwhile,
it seems I have been slowing down on the music. My deepest apologies to all my fans. Blame it on the fact that a
brother has to place his priorities right.
Anyway,
I recently recorded a verse on Dominant-1's forthcoming album. The Malawian hip
hop veteran also featured the likes of Modenine and The Holstar on the same
project. I also did a cover of 'Can't
Hold Us' by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis. The beat of that song was yelling
'jump on me!’ I had to pour my heart out on it. The brief freestyle drops this
July.
Then
I was featured on a song by Overdose, Pherowshuz and Terry Tha Rapman, look out
for it on the B.A.N.S compilation album, which also feature the likes of Dammy
Krane and Remininsce.
I was
interviewed on Paradise FM (Calabar) a while back. Shout to Duke Emmanuel for
having me on his radio show. And big ups to everyone that tuned in.
I’m
still promoting my latest pan-African collab 'Raw African Poetry 2.0'. You know
I am one not to keep y'all waiting, so Teck-Zilla and I are back in the lab working
on a new EP, tentatively titled 'The
AfroRhyme Sayers'. For the recs, the last EP we worked on together was 'Raplogic'.
And
here's the highlight. I plan to work with an A-list artist from Angola on a
commercial afro-pop track soon. The artist’s name remains anonymous for now.
Y’all can keep guessing. And yes, you can say 'Fecko is about to sell out' (Laughs). Just going with the flow!
The last gist was meant to be top-secret, but I couldn't help but let the cat
of the bag.
MUSIC | Pherowshuz - I Never Should ft. Fecko
This sleek track by Phero and Fecko is taken off of the BSTY mixtape which dropped a while back. Download here.
Are Aliens Really Out There?
One
of my childhood ambitions was to become an astronaut someday. Astronomy has
always been one of my favorite topics. So things like; aliens, space ships,
asteroids, stars and other celestial bodies fascinate me. Ironically, I am not
a huge fan of 'Star Trek'. Although, I love other space themed movies such as; Battle Star Galactica and After Earth.
I
stumbled upon a documentary last month titled 'Sirius'. It was narrated and put
together by Dr. Steven Greer (CSETI & Disclosure Project) and it kind of
sheds more light on evidences that prove aliens really exist. At first I was
skeptical, but later while watching it; I was flabbergasted when I saw a real
life specimen of what appeared to be an alien. This tiny creature had 10 ribs
and a DNA in its brain that was almost human-like. Of course, scientists
carried out a lot of research on it.
Also,
I saw several footages of Unidentified Flying Objects in the sky. Another
interesting thing I noticed is that there was a group of people that attempted
communicating with aliens via meditation. And it seemed as though these UFO's
were actually listening and picking up signals and vibrations from the thoughts
buried deep down in their subconscious. It was incredible.
When
I was a kid, I loved gazing at the stars (I still do, once in a while). There
was a time I saw a comet or a shooting star floating in the sky at night. I was
overwhelmed when I did. (Laughs). So
as far as the galaxy is concerned, there could be more that meet the eyes. Are
aliens really out there? Well, only time will tell, or maybe not. Fingers
crossed. I do not anticipate an aggressive alien invasion though (as it is
being portrayed in most sci-fi Hollywood films). Who knows? It could just be a
friendly visit.
Music | Nayo Soul – Go Where You Are
OJB Will Be Fine - Saying A Prayer
Babatunde Okungbowa aka OJB Jezreel is one
of Nigeria's greatest music producers of all time. Popularly known for his Midas
touch on Tuface's hit single 'African
Queen', he has never ceased to excel as a talented beat maker and vocalist
over the years. He has contributed immensely towards the growth of the Nigerian
music industry.
I remember the first time I bumped into him
at his studio in Surulere years ago. He struck me as a humble man when I saw
him. Today, this veteran musician suffers a kidney problem. It could have been
anybody. Living itself is a risk. Shout out to everybody helping out in raising
the money for his surgery. I believe OJB will be fine. Saying a prayer for him,
and I know a lot of other people out there are doing the same. Check out his brand new song titled 'Don't You Let It Go'.
Monday, 1 July 2013
MUSIC | Boogey - 5am In Lagos
MUSIC | Terry Tha Rapman - BANS Is The Motto [Prod. By Victoriouz Icon]
The producer of the sleeper hit 'Sweet Poraro' by Wizkid has teamed up with Terry Tha Rapman on a brand new song. Victoriouz Icon proudly presents Terry Tha Rapman on a new song titled 'Bans Is The Motto' This song sees Terry Tha Rapman rapping and flipping bars on a crazy, left field instrumental.
MUSIC | Modenine - Some More ft. Don Jazzy
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