Music, they say, is the food of the soul, but what happens when the food begins to choke, leading to utter frustration?
The recent trend of Veteran Musicians calling out and accusing each other of anything from not being “real” to song theft, among others, suggests a unique kind of depression which questions the assertion that music brings fulfilment and satisfaction.
Some Nigerian musicians, regarded by some as pacesetters in the music industry, have become infamous for calling out fellow artistes in a manner that suggests attention seeking or frustrated bitterness.
BLACKFACE
Austine Amedu Obiabo, popularly known as “Blackface” was a member of the Plantashun Boiz, alongside Innocent Idibia Known as “2Face” and Chibuzor Oji as “Faze”.
The group broke up in 2004 with the artistes starting their solo career.
That same year, Tuface released an album titled “Faze 2 Faze”, which brought him stardom, establishing him as a force to reckon with in the industry.
Trouble started when Blackface alleged he co-owned the “African Queen” song which was a hit on the “faze 2 faze” album and he (2face), went ahead to release it without his consent.
Three years later, the group reunited, releasing an album titled: “Plan B”.
The trio later parted ways again with Blackface accusing 2face of yet another song theft “Let Somebody Love You”.
“y not ask dat u wana record my song?I was out in d wilderness n u never called becos u wish me dead so my properties be urs? @official2baba,” he wrote on twitter.
2face later responded saying, about the allegation;
“It is just so unfortunate. I do not know where it is coming from (but) I am trying to think of different reasons.
“We will trash the whole matter but I got nothing but love and respect for him and it is just so unfortunate that he is coming at me like that.”
Since then he has not relented in calling out 2face, even threatening to sue him.
“Since you decided to hide you know I still let you know a piece of my mind @official2baba and will meet in court about my publishing.”
In an interview with HipTV, Blackface said artistes should be jailed by the Government for song theft.
“Had the Federal Government introduced an appropriate punishment for stealing other people’s songs, many music artistes would be in trouble today. If the penalty required offenders to spend some years in jail, many so-called big artistes would be in prison by now.
“Some of them steal songs from fellow musicians based in the country or abroad and pass them off as their own. This is very bad for culture and the creative sector. It is also bad enough for the honest and hardworking Nigerian artiste who goes through a lot of trouble to survive.
”Whatever the government decides, the courts are there to ensure that justice prevails. If you find yourself on the wrong side of the law, you will have to accept the consequence of your actions.”
He has never missed an opportunity to throw shades at 2face and even complained that 2face had side-lined him from all events in Benue so that he can remain poor.
“He has succeeded in pushing me aside from participating in all shows in Benue because he wants to make all the money so I could be poor. Check out all events that have been happening in my hometown. It’s all about him and him alone.”
Early in October, Blackface did a podcast with PulseTV, where he detailed his sojourn to music and how he formed Plantashun boiz with Faze and 2face.
When asked about 2face’s music career, he said the singer has not been the same since he left the group.
“He is just that kind of artist. If you check his music right now, you can see the difference. You can’t compare his music right now to Plantashun Boiz music. It’s nowhere close. Melody wise, music wise, sound wise, he is nowhere close.”
His recent rants caught 2face attention, who responded with a tweet.
IDRIS ABDULKAREEM
Eedrees Turayo Abdulkareem Ajenifuja, Born in Kano to a Yoruba Polygamous family, adopted Kano has his State of origin.
He started his music career with “The Remedies” in 1997; with Tony Tetuila and Eddy Remedy, until 2002 when the group split up.
Idris released his first career album titled P.A.S.S and in one of its track, Wackawickee MC’s, he shade his former label mate Tetuila, Plantsahun Boiz among others.
His third album, “Jaga Jaga”, which addresses corruption in Nigeria and the State it has left the Country, was ban from radio by former President, Olusegun Obasanjo.
Idris has been positively controversial in his career’ from his “fight” with 50 cent, to his shading of D’banj and Don Jazzy in one of his singles “I GO WHOOZ U”, among others.
His music career remained silent and uneventful, until September this year when boredom forced him to lampoon all the artistes his mouth could utter in an interview with GoldmyneTV.
Several artistes like Wizkid, Davido, D,banj, Timaya, among others all received one or two insults from him.
On D’banj, he said the musician does not have talent.
“I love him, I love him, you know why I love him, he has a drive.
The biggest mistake someone like Dbanj made was to leave Don jazzy, Dbanj nor get talent oo, na razzmatazz he get, if you go America, them go tell you wetin razzmatazz mean.
He also accused 2face of neglecting his brother (Blackface), when he needed him the most.
“You must be stupid, you are my friend but i no send you.Because your name na 2face that means your life is two, one here and there.I don already know u tey tey that how fake u are.you are two person.
“Show your brother love he needs you because na blackface bring you, na him form the Plantashun Boyz.
“Na blackface na him write most of the songs.
“That enough is for you to use your head and say omo na my brother be dis no matter how it is i have to keep it real.”
His outburst got replies from the D’banj who said Idris is abusing youths that are old enough to be his kids’.
Tuface also responded to him and Blackface in a tweet but the rapper is not going to let it slide, as he further revealed he was the one responsible for 2face growth in the music industry.
“Tuface is the definition of his name. He is a very fake person but you would think he is a good person. Life is not about competition but about doing the right thing when God gives you the power to do it. My problem with Tuface is this, if he tells you good morning, go and check the time.
“It was the same Tuface that took Nigerians on a ride; he told them that we should protest, he made so much noise but we all know how that ended. He knows exactly who sent him to do that and after everything, he backed out.
So his name is Tuface but he should not call himself Tubaba, he should remain Tuface.
“The world will know about this in the songs that I will drop very soon. The only way he can become Tubaba is for him to become a good person and he should stop lying to Nigerians. He should go back to Blackface, show him love and forget about competition. That is what I am talking about.
“I took Tuface to Kenny Ogungbe, he is a stupid boy. He should get it straight to his head, it is not about now. Nobody is competing with anybody.
“Even if he is a married man now, don’t forget he still has about seven ‘wives,’ so when he is talking, he should watch his mouth because we are different people.
“I am saying this because it is important that people know what is happening, so, you don’t need to start making unnecessary noise.”
MI
Jude Abaga is one of the (if not), the best rapper in Nigeria. He has consistently showed his rapping prowess in his albums, singles and featured songs.
The current Chocolate City President, has remain a force to reckon with, although not without some diss tracks on Kelly Handsome and Iceberg Slim.
The rapper has always mind his business with his music doing the talking, until he released a track titled: ‘You Rappers Should Fix Up Your Lives’.
The song was speculated to have been about Nigerians rappers who have lost touch with their career.
The song also talked about him retiring but nobody has proved themselves worthy to replace him.
MI however took to twitter to begin to exonorate virtually every established rapper in Nigeria, giving the impression that the song was a pointless rant directed at no one. Or suggesting that the rap artiste from Taraba has enough cowardice and two faces to populate a town.
Chasing the High
What it seem is that artistes are in constant desperation to be relevant. A new artist or a new achievement from some other artiste is a stage in a heart attack that will eventually happen. A day, a year or a decade of being “the man” does not seem to satisfy any of these folks. There is a never ending hunt for relevance and a desperate need for continous validation.
The big question is if these obviously talented youths are not pursuing their talent in the wrong manner and through the wrong channel. A nation with ten poets and ten million rappers is a nation with a moral question.
