Efforts by some popular artistes to
rule 2014 yielded little results, chux
ohai writes
Over the years, the Nigerian music
industry has seen many talented
music stars come and go. While
some of them, such as the late Fela
Anikulapo-Kuti, did leave legacies
behind before bowing out when
the ovation was loudest, many
others, despite their fame and
achievements, have had to come to
terms with new realities and
changes in the industry.
Some of the artistes who have
made efforts to adapt to these
realities in their own individual
ways are the subject of this story:
Mo’Cheddah
This petite singer and rapper used
to be the toast of the music
industry a few years ago. She made
her debut in 2010 with the release
of her first studio album titled
Franchise Celebrity.
In the same year, Mo’Cheddah was
named Best Artist at the MTV Africa
Music Awards. After emerging Hip
Hop World Revelation of the Year at
The Headies Music Awards in 2011,
the singer literally faded off the
scene until recently.
Many fans attributed the break to
Mo’Cheddah’s decision to quit her
erstwhile record label,
KnightHouse Entertainment, at a
time she was clearly the centre of
attraction in the music industry.
Eventually the singer made an
effort to return to the scene a few
months ago. In a recent interview
with the SUNDAY PUNCH, she
explained why she took a break
from music.
Mo’Cheddah was quoted as saying,
“I was away from the music scene
because of the need to spend time
with family, re-invent myself and
better my craft. It was a time to
reflect on my career, how far I have
gone and how far I still want to go. I
was travelling, spending quality
time with my family, and I spent
good time in the studio recording.
Now, I am back for good and with
fantastic songs.”
To prove that she was determined
to reclaim her position as the
queen of songs, she released three
singles in quick succession. They
are titled Coming for you featuring
May D; Tori Olorun, which was
produced by Pheelz and the latest,
Destinambari, featuring popular
Igbo rap star, Phyno.
Although Mo’Cheddah’s comeback
singles still bore the marks of her
creative genius, only a few people
considered them good enough to
make an impact, especially in an
industry that has become highly
competitive in her absence.
While acknowledging her
originality as an artiste, particularly
her preference for Yoruba idioms,
many fans have criticised the
singer’s penchant for using auto
tunes to firm up her voice.
Paul ‘Play’ Dairo
Nigerians are still wondering what
happened to Paul Dairo’s career.
The last time they heard of him was
in 2013 when he reportedly
slammed a N500m legal suit on
telecom giant MTN and Ultima
Studios – the producers of the
popular music reality TV show,
Project Fame – for allegedly
infringing on his copyright.
Around that period, the singer, who
once claimed that his hit, Angel of
My Life literally brought into the
limelight internationally, emerged
from a seven-year break caused by
a spell of illness in 2013 (he was
said to have been diagnosed with a
serious ailment) to release two
new singles titled Tell it to me and
Best thing.
By the time a third single followed
suit, it was clear that the hiatus had
taken its toll on the multiple
award-winning star’s career. All the
songs, including three additional
singles aimed at testing the waters
for his return, failed to meet the
expectations of his numerous fans
across the country.
Eedris Abdulkareem
At some point in his career, ex-
Remedies singer, Eedris
Abdulkareem – also known as one
of the most vocal Nigerian music
stars of all time – was the most
popular artiste in the country.
Apart from being a very critical
singer, in the mold of the late
creator of Afrobeat music, Fela
Anikulapo, Eedris earned much
respect from his colleagues and
music fans across the country for
boldly criticising the way Nigeria
was being run under the Olusegun
Obasanjo administration in his song
Nigeria Jaga-jaga.
Another factor that endeared him
to music fans was his much-
publiscised confrontation with
popular American rapper, 50 Cents,
during a major annual music event
organised by Nigeria Breweries Plc
some years ago. Both incidents had
helped to draw attention to his
music even beyond the country and
transformed his name into a
household word.
Eedris went off the music scene for
awhile only to return in July 2014
with a new single titled Jalingo.
But, as soon as the song hit the
airwaves, it was obvious that he
should not have bothered to
attempt a comeback in the first
place.
For the first time in his career,
Eedris failed to impress his
numerous fans across the country
who instantly passed an
unfavourable verdict on Jalingo.
The single was simply dismissed as
not good enough.
Disappointed by the quality of the
song, some fans did conclude that
time and the so-called
generational shift had actually
caught up with the singer.
Faze
With several music awards to his
credit, Chibuzoe Orji, aka Faze, is
easily one of the most decorated
Nigerian musicians in his time.
Apart from his reputation as a
crowd puller, no other artiste has
been able to match his record in
terms of album sales.
Although this gifted singer has had
his fair share of fame, those who
have followed his progress up till
the breakup of the defunct
Plantashun Boyz must be
wondering what happened to his
career.
There is an indication that Faze has
moved from being a bestselling
Nigerian artist to one that is
currently grappling with the new
realities in the music industry.
At first when his 2012 comeback
single titled Re-Fazed failed to
make an impact, even his most
loyal fans were smart enough to
recognise the signs on the wall.
Two years later, the arrival of his
latest work, Your daughter, a few
months ago has not been able to
change their perception.
Although, Your daughter is
generally regarded as vintage Faze,
not many people agree that it is
ambitious enough to re-launch his
career in the ‘new’ Nigerian music
industry.
by ROTMANLUV 2023-07-08, 17:34
