What you are reading or about to read is the result
of a 2 year research done about the Nigeria music factory in order to detect
and diagnose reasons why some acts who should be giants in the factory are
still regarded as dwarfs and rather than being called men, they are treated as
boys. This research took this length of time just to check on the trend of
things and supervise if they were going to change.
For a while now, several acts have been doing real
good music with the right producers, collaborations and videos, but they
haven’t gotten half way the ladder up. These acts have got the right
combination of voice, appearance, delivery on beat, lyrics, excellent
producers, association within the music factory, record deals and management,
but they each lack one spice which should make the soup delicious.
This epistle will be taking a critical look and
diagnosis of these ‘supposed giants’.
The acts to be covered by this epistle include SOLID
STAR, SKALES, GODWIN, OREZI, REMINISCE, JAHBLESS, and HAKYMTHEDREAM.
These dudes have all got what it takes to have been
crowned kings in the music kingdom, but at least one or more ingredient is
missing, which in my opinion if added will further boost their careers, and
move them offshore.
These acts will also be rated using the following
criteria all over 10
o Lyrics
and Lyrics Delivery
o Music
Production
o
Collaborations
o Looks and
Physical appearance
o Fans
Relation
o Artiste
Management
o Record
Deal
o Publicity
and Strategy
o Video
Quality
o General
Rating
As an umpire, I will be very objective in my
diagnosis and rating. Kept you waiting enough, peeps let’s do this:
SOLID STAR
Solid star came into limelight with his hit banger
‘one in a million’ featuring the maestro 2face Idibia which soon went into past
glory. Ever since then, he hasn’t stopped what he knows how to do best,
dropping other singles such as ‘Confused’, ‘Omotena’, Skibo with good quality
corresponding videos.
His videos to all 4 singles have been well above
average and one sits to think about what the problem is. Why on earth will
anyone feature 2baba and not make a spectacular hit of the song.
Solid star has got a bad habit of the repetition of
hit beats and lyrics. This kinda works for a couple other artistes, (Wizkid
shows us the way), but this obviously ain’t working for him.
This dude has obviously got talents, a couple
lyrics, although not in the realms of 2baba in terms of looks, good delivery on
beat, but genuinely he lacks the proper management and publicity touch.
Proper management and publicity are two different
things. A good management goes beyond recording good music and shooting good
videos, it encompasses a whole lot.
Publicity on the other hand is serious business and differs from artiste
management. This goes beyond radio and tv promotions. Dude, wake up the world
has moved on.
Brother, you got a good name, the ball now drops in
your court to make your solid star a SUPER SOLID STAR.
RATINGS
o Lyrics
and Lyrics Delivery 6
o Music
Production 6
o
Collaborations 7
o Looks and
Physical appearance 4
o Fans
Relation 3
o Artiste
Management 5
o Record
Deal 5
o Publicity
and Strategy 3
o Video
Quality 7
o General
Rating 5.1 AVERAGE
SKALES
This E.M.E soldier has got what it takes to be a
crowned king. He’s jointly signed on E.M.E records with the just
departed super star Wizkid and Banky W, one wonders why he isn’t doing
commercially just as well.
This ‘MUKULU’ crooner who has also featured on
several tracks by other artistes was at first taken hand in hand with this
label mate Wizkid, but i guess was dropped for obvious commercial reasons.
Skales is the kinda artiste that fluctuates with his lyrics, his best being his
feature on Wizkid’s ‘Baddest Boy’ track.
His ‘Mukulu’ video wasn’t bad though for an
introduction and sincerely, Skales doesn’t really have that look thingy going
for him, at least in comparison to Wizzy. (Some say he looks razz). This dude
has also got the right combination of talent, lyrics, production and a further
added advantage of a reputable record label and record deal, but genuinely bro,
you really don’t have to be featured on just any song. I saw you in a video
sometimes and I was like WHAT THE F*CK!!! Some collabos just ain’t right for
you.
Please also endeavour to push your singles real
hard, E.M.E won’t sell you, you gotta sell E.M.E, and in doing this, use the
right strategy.
RATINGS
o Lyrics
and Lyrics Delivery 5
o Music
Production 6
o
Collaborations 6
o Looks and
Physical appearance 5
o Fans
Relation 3
o Artiste
Management 6
o Record
Deal 6
o Publicity
and Strategy 3
o Video
Quality 6
o General
Rating 5.1 AVERAGE
GODWON
Sincerely, this hard core rapper is off the hook.
Signed on to Serengeti Music, Godwon came into limelight and I personally
welcomed him. Although it must be said that M.I’s competition has dealt a big
low on him but on a second thought, he could carve out a niche for himself.
Truth be said, Godwon is dope, got beautiful
masculine physique (no homo) , interesting collaborations with the likes of
Banky W, Iceberg Slim and Rico White, so
what the heck is the problem?
His ‘Omo ele’ and ‘what you talking about’ tracks
were on replay on my music gadgets for a long time and I often times wonder why
djs felt otherwise about this songs. His videos haven’t been bad either, but
still got room for improvement. His major hiccup has been publicity and the
right strategy to go about it. He also needs to improve with his videos, you
are a rapper for heaven’s sake, be hard core! Lastly, your songs isn’t aired at
the right places. You got a good record label, you can only get better on your
publicity bro.
RATINGS
o Lyrics
and Lyrics Delivery 6
o Music
Production 6
o
Collaborations 7
o Looks and
Physical appearance 6
o Fans
Relation 3
o Artiste
Management 6
o Record
Deal 6
o Publicity
and Strategy 3
o Video
Quality 4
o General
Rating 5.2 AVERAGE
OREZI
They call him Orezi, Fine boy Orezi. This brother is
a talent. Got the voice to be compared with Wande Coal and Chuddy K, wonder why
his commercial achievement can’t achieve this feat. ‘I no fit lie’ was Orezi’s
first song that I ever listened to it wasn’t bad for an introduction, and ever
since he can only get better with tracks like ‘High BP’, ‘Booty Bounce’ and his
feature with other artistes on Jimmy’s ‘Komije’, and his new ‘Rihanna’ single.
Orezi is handsome no lies, got talents, vocals,
lyrics and use of words, adequate management at least but just like everyone
else, he got a few potholes to fill.
Personally, I think probably because he knows he’s
got talent and style and a couple association with people that matter in the
music factory, he thinks he has arrived. Wake up bro, even paupers know Bill
gates. The competition only gets stiffer. Also quit reminding us of the fact
that you fine, we know that already, we see you in videos. Keep it up bro, I
see you on top.
RATINGS
o Lyrics
and Lyrics Delivery 5
o Music
Production 6
o
Collaborations 5
o Looks and
Physical appearance 7
o Fans
Relation 4
o Artiste
Management 6
o Record
Deal 5
o Publicity
and Strategy 3
o Video
Quality 7
o General
Rating 5.3 AVERAGE
REMINISCE
Reminisce Ibile, street king, Mr. Kako, ‘Kako bi
chicken’ crooner. Remilekun, a.k.a Reminisce is a street king with his Yoruba
rap music genre. He does real well on his beat and every single of his leaves
the streets with a slang. Reminisce who’s got a real hard look is well adapted
to the streets and you can tell from the lyrics of his songs. Mr Kako hasn’t
being doing badly, having featured gurus like Ruggedy baba, 9ice and Jah Bless.
He attacks his beats well too and has got the right choice and use of words to
go with it. This dude in my candid opinion should have gone farther but I think
he got a few stuffs to address.
First, Mr. Remilekun, you gotta start smiling. I see
you sometimes at events, photos and on Tv and I’m like whaaa sheeeeee!!! When
your fans listen to your good music, they smile, I guess doing the same won’t
harm you either. Lastly, I got reservations as regards your publicity. When you
dropped your album, it took a long time for your fans to know. Sell your face,
your name, you are a brand, not just your music. Please swallow these bitter
pills with a lotta water. On a more relaxed mood bro, you one on the street’s
best EVER.
RATINGS
o Lyrics and Lyrics Delivery 7
o Music
Production 7
o
Collaborations 6
o Looks and
Physical appearance 5
o Fans
Relation 5
o Artiste
Management 5
o Record
Deal 5
o Publicity
and Strategy 4
o Video
Quality 6
o General
Rating 5.6 AVERAGE
JAHBLESS
Jah bless in the building. The ‘Joor ooo’ crooner. This song got hold of
the street for a long time, and the slang in it was generally accepted. The
remix to the song was also a commercial hit. Please pardon my bias for Jahbless
because I must confess that I have been following him in a while prior to the
beginning of this research. His got brains and talent and one more fascinating
thing is his immense love for growing talents to which I know 9ice and Reminisce
can bear me witness. I usually love to use a spectacular line of English when
describing him, ‘JAHBLESS IS STREET MUSIC’.
Musically and commercially, he ain’t in the best of
places and there is room for improvement. Although his humility has earned him
a good name and tight connects with the A listers in the entertainment factory,
but that isn’t enough. Jahbless bro, your publicity is really lacking. Your
fans only get to see or hear about you when you drop a single. As a disciple,
it took me several days to grab your album and video the last time they
dropped, this goes a long way to tell you that you need to put some things in
place. Brother, take these talents that I’m giving you, use them wisely so Jah
can bless you more.
RATINGS
o Lyrics
and Lyrics Delivery 7
o Music
Production 7
o
Collaborations 7
o Looks and
Physical appearance 6
o Fans
Relation 6
o Artiste
Management 5
o Record
Deal 5
o Publicity
and Strategy 4
o Video
Quality 6
o General
Rating 5.9 AVERAGE
HAKYM THE DREAM
Lamba limbo lamba. Hakymthedream, your head is
there. The ‘Lamba Crooner’. His first official single ‘Dey there’ audio and
video got me glued to my seat the first time I saw it at a club in lagos. This
brother is a bundle of talents. Moving from ‘Dey there’ to ‘Scooby doo’,
‘Lamba’ and then ‘Miracle’ only shows how prolific he can be. Hakym also does
so well on the beat, good with his lines and its usage (although a repetitor of
lines and beat) , good collaborations and producers to go along side.
His videos ain’t bad, with obvious room for
improvement. Also currently signed to
Serengeti Music, he’s got an excellent management and efficient manager, but
his major hiccup is publicity. Hakym it’s high time you stopped being the
dream, be the real deal bro.
RATINGS
o Lyrics
and Lyrics Delivery 7
o Music
Production 7
o
Collaborations 7
o Looks and
Physical appearance 7
o Fans
Relation 6
o Artiste
Management 7
o Record
Deal 7
o Publicity
and Strategy 3
o Video
Quality 7
o General
Rating 6.44 AVERAGE
This epistle is open to your views and comments.
Research by Wale Applause
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