The Nigerian music scene in the last 1 year has experienced a massive upsurge in the players and the wares they have chosen to showcase. It is very much like Nollywood now, everybody and their mama (and Afrocandy) is strangling a microphone or molesting a musical instrument (and our ears sometimes) I will not be surprised if Rita Igbinedion of Koko Mansion fame is already in the studio putting together a 25 tracker!!
This has in tow led to improvements in the quality of what these artistes churn out for the benefit of our airwaves and stereos. We actually now have quality videos that compete with the best on the African continent, with many more springing up and filling the “up and coming” part of the musical food chain.
We can’t but pay due homage to the harbingers of this upsurge, like MI, Eldee, Banky W, and 9ice.
Uhm….9ice. This is the crux of this article.
In the last 18 months, the “Gongo Aso” crooner has released 2 albums. Both albums have crashed and burned to ashes. Rumours have it that he is planning to release another one before the end of the year.
HALT 9ICE!!!! STOP!!! And lizin!
What on God’s green earth has led to the sudden and progressive decline in the quality of the songs this guy has released of recent? Many reasons come to mind, the sudden collapse of his young marriage, the attendant bust-ups with his erstwhile friend, Ruggedman.
Let us take a closer look. I shall leave out his marital issues, because I feel that is a private matter that neither us, nor him, nor his former wife should tackle within the public domain.
It beats me why a man who is supposed to put his back into improving the quality of what pays his bills has suddenly lost focus, lost the drive, and lost direction. He has gone from playing for the Madiba, Mr. Nelson Mandela, one of the greatest humans alive, in front of a multinational crowd in London, to being the guy who nobody will attend his shows because they know there is nothing there he has to offer, but a shaggy afro and beards and rehashes of old hits.
Wouldn’t it have served a better purpose if he remained on the straight and narrow, focused, did more research, and churn out songs that will keep him on the same pedestal with the likes of Tuface Idibia and of recent MI, instead of getting involved in a juvenile war of mudslinging, brick-batting, and diss-track merchandizing which he has embarked upon with a spent artist like Ruggedman (who has not hidden the fact that he still needs to grow up – see leaked phone conversation), who seems to have no regards for whatever friendship they had and who anyways rose to stardom on the back of rancor and who obviously has got nothing to lose.
With all due respect, 9ice has become something akin to an ordinary crooner, who does nothing but get together a band of drummers and just allow air out of his throat. 2 Albums in quick succession down the road and all we have listened to has been utter mediocrity. It is strange.
9ice, I think it’s time you took a break. Do away with all of this distractions, go back to the drawing board, go back and study the Nigerian music scene and find out where you fit in. We have grown beyond Gongo Aso or Street Credibility. Those are so 1960 to our ears now. Better believe Sir! Maybe you should listen to the magic that Brymo performed on Ice Prince’s “Oleku” and maybe that might inspire you and give you a reason to get back on your grind.
Take this article as an ordinary man, not as a celeb who sees nothing but haters who are trying to strangle him. If it will also help, I am one of your biggest fans, I almost shed a man-tear when I watched the street credibility video when it came out, the song made the video look heavenly. But you don’t sing like that anymore. Mr. Abolore, please stop singing for now, let it rest and come back with a big bang. The Monk has spoken, solemnly.
What do you think about this article and the author?
I specialize in investigative reportage across several subject matter and sectors but mainly focus on metro events and investigation. Do leave your thoughts and opinion on my reports to let me know what you think about them. Thank you
Posted: at 9-11-2010 06:41 PM (14 years ago) | Addicted Hero
benefactor at 9-11-2010 06:58 PM (14 years ago) (m)
I AM STILL READING
Posted: at 9-11-2010 06:58 PM (14 years ago) | Newbie
Hmmmm...this is indeed a very controversial article.
FAKE PROFILES DOESN'T BOTHER ME ONE BIT, UNLESS PEOPLE HIDE BEHIND THEM TO SPIT VENOM. SHOW THE BOLDNESS OF A LION NEXT TIME......USE YOUR ORIGINAL PROFILE!!
Posted: at 9-11-2010 11:42 PM (14 years ago) | Gistmaniac
Leave this guy alone, is he the only one singing rubbish in the Nigerian Music Industry?
By the way, poster, have you listen to one of his hit track "No be mistake"? That song is really 9ice and I love it. So, it is not all bad about his music.
Please leave 9ice alone.
Posted: at 10-11-2010 09:17 AM (14 years ago) | Gistmaniac
9ice is one of the best thing dat has happened to Nigerian and African Music industry. So poster pls leave 9ice alone and go and do ur own music. If ure want to advice him do it personal dnt do it in public. ure doin it like as if u have a beef wit d dude. condemning most of his hit tracks. IF I DO MISTAKE MAKE UNA CORRECT ME ABEG.
Posted: at 10-11-2010 09:33 AM (14 years ago) | Newbie