Every pop scene has it’s heart throbs, in the US/UK there are the Ushers, Craig Davids, Tyreses, Ginuwines, etc. In Naija, the hearthrob for young women everywhere is 2Face Idibia – the pop/r&b sensation formerly of the trio, Plantashun Boiz. Separating over the usual “creative differences,” 2Face launched a solo career debuting with the album “Face 2 Face” and the hit single “African Queen.”

While 2Face is best known for African Queen, I much prefer the track “Ole!” Together with Freestyle (Trybesmen) they combine for a west-indian flavored r&b riddim with a verse or two of rap using a structure reminiscent of mid-nineties yankee r&b (think Boyz to Men with ragga/naija inflections) While the theme of unrequited love is a familiar one, the Naija flavoring is welcoming:

I am calling you Ole
Cause you stole my heart away…

Freestyles verses add a nice boost to the track as well… especially good when he flips from the yankee imitation raps to straight up pidgin.

p.s.
The title of this song manifested itself in a very real way this January. 2Face was attacked and robbed at gunpoint by real Ole(s) at his Festac home, but thankfully escaped serious injury.

2Face featuring Freestyle – Ole!

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Check out 2Face Photos in the Gallery

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Liner notes:

“V.I.P. (Vagabonds in Power)”
In the midst of their troubles in 1978, Fela and Afrika 70 were invited to headline the Berlin Jazz Festival. The gig was a godsend, providing the Afrika 70 organization with the money they couldnt raise in Nigeria – where they had been banned from performing for over a year – or in Ghana – from which they had recently been expelled by military President Ignatius Acheampong, after dissident students adopted Felas “Zombie” as a rallying cry. Instead of performing his old hits, Fela opened the show with the political and controversial “V.I.P.,” which explored the class divisions in Nigeria, dismissing the countrys rulers and elite class as “vagabonds” who had no empathy for the countrys struggling masses.

Fela was later criticized by some Nigerians who felt he had disgraced their country by openly abusing its leaders in front of a European audience, especially as the concert was televised throughout several European countries. And after 10 years of great music, most of the Afrika 70 band quit after the show, when they learned that Fela planned to use most of the concert proceeds to finance his presidential campaign in the upcoming Nigerian elections (his candidacy was later disqualified by election authorities). Thus, the live recording of “V.I.P.” was the last song cut by the great Afrika 70 band (the rest of the concert has never been released).

Despite the controversy and the fact that it was banned in Nigeria, “V.I.P.” – powered by the counterpoint between the slashing rhythm guitar figure and the surging bass line – was a hit when released at the beginning of 1979, showing that Fela had lost none of his creative powers as a result of his recent tragedies.
(Michael E. Veal)

Fela Anikulapo Kuti was truly a one-in-a-lifetime individual. His keen sense of Nigeria’s problems and artful translation of that message to song has never ceased to amaze me. Examples of this can be seen throughout his music – from Teacher Don’t Teach Me Nonsense to Government Chicken Boy.

In November 1978 , less than one year after seeing compound razed, his mother brutally killed (by “unknown soilders,”) and lucky to get away with his life, Fela headlined at the Berlin Jazz Festival where he opened with VIP - calling out those in power who use their platform to steal, cheat and “talk nonsense” – individuals whose priorities are so self-serving that they have no concept of, nor care what the common man is going through.

Man he get power, he take am talk nonsense…
Man he get power, he take am cheat person…
Man he get power, he take am steal money…
Him no know hungry people
Him no know jobless people
Him no know homeless people
Him no know suffering people

He be wrong man
na Vagabond In Power!

Ironically today’s Nigeria is being led by the same military hood that killed Fela’s mama 30 years ago, but this time instead of rule by force, it’s rule under the guise of a so-called democracy (abi demonstration of craze?) And 30 years later musicians like Maintain, Lagbaja, Ruggedman, Kola Ogunkola & many more are still quoting Fela’s music because it’s more relevent than ever – Nigeria is dealing with the exact same situations – imagine that

Enjoy V.I.P (live)... includes Fela addressing the Berlin crowd prior the performance.

Fela Anikulapo Kuti – V.I.P.

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In the US there’s the ubiquitous 50 Cent and the G-Unit. In the UK/Naija there’s 50 Kobo and the Gidi Unit otherwise known as JJC (aka Skillz) and the 419 Squad.

Originally based in the UK, Skillz (aka Abdul Rasheed Bello) is indeed a JJC to the Nigerian hiphop scene. In 2003, Skillz founded the music production house, “Backbone Music” with the intent of bringing modern African music to a wider audience. Before Backbone, Skillz founded, sang in and produced the group R&B group “Big Brovaz” who found sucess in the UK singles chart with their hit “Nu Flow”which reached the #3 spot!

The song 50 Kobo uses 50 Cent’s In the Club as a template with the typical self agrandizing style (cars, girls, credit cards, money, etc. yawn), of commercial hip-hop, but done up Naija-Style so it’s actually kind of cool, but definitely more of a party track.

I got a chuckle out of the chorus’ lyrics:

You can find me in buka
eating amala
omo I got what you need
if you’re into drinking star
I’m into writing checks
can’t work behind the bar
come give me a hug
if you can cook eba!

I know there are definite skils where this came from and I’m looking forward to seeing more from JJC and co.

JJC & the 419 Squad – 50 Kobo

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The year was 1987 and drought gripped Nigeria. In an outdoor performance, Majek Fashek sang, “Send Down the Rain,” beconing the skies to open up and relieve the drought… midway through the performance, rain began to fall ending one of the worst droughts in Nigerian history.... Or so the story goes… it is unclear how close this “story” is to the truth or if in fact it’s an embelishment, but it’s worth looking at a few issues:

1) Nigeria is a large country with vastly varrying vegitation – from mangrove and rainforest in the south to the arid to semi-arid savanah in the north. It’s hard to imagine drought in the tropical south. Drought is more likely to strike in the savanah regions of the central and northen states, yet sources claim, “drought plague[d] Lagos and surrounding area.” I can’t say I remember that one.

2) I nor anybody I spoke with seems to remember a 1987 drought in Nigeria nor any notable drought in recent history… perhaps in 1991?

I guess we won’t have a definitive answer on the real story – if you have information on this, please do share.

For now, listen to the brilliant, “Send Down the Rain,” one of Majek’s biggest hits, both internationally and abroad. First published on the Prisoner of Conscience [Mango 1989] album. This version is from the 1991 release “Spirit of Love.”

Majek Fashek – Send Down the Rain

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Eedris Abdulkareem made his first mark on the climb toward pop stardom as part of the hip-hop/r&b group, “Remedies” with Eddie Montana, but seeking the usual “creative freedom” and “improved margins,” moved as a self-named solo act.

Im still undecided on where I stand with Eedris as a personality (his stunts and words about fellow musicians have been grating at best, but thats probably best left for another post) but his productions can be creative, fun and socially-minded. This is best seen in the comedic presentation of “Mr. Lecturer,” where he satirizes University Lecturers while bringing about an awareness of sexual harassment. Because I previously knew little about Eedris, at first glance the message of the video wasnt clear until the very end.

Eedris is fantastic on the music video, but the music is barely passable. Not only is the musical composition & instrumentation pretty poor, the audio levels are pushed to the point of clipping (blaring audio… think shouting during a Naija film.) If youve heard the Mr. Lecturer remix, youll see that its a big improvement on the original.

Regardless, I commend Eedris for taking a stand on a social issue and using his platform to send this important message against sexual harassment.

“I dedicate this video to every woman out there. If your lecturer or boss harassed you sexually, don’t hesitate tot tell you parents or call the police immediately.
Help put an end to sexual harassment.”

Eedris Abdulkareem
Mr. Lecturer

Note the “watch out for part 2” slipped in at the very end… this notice applies for me as well! But for now…

Check out the video and video stills in the gallery.

Eedris Abdulkareem – Mr. Lecturer 9.2MB

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Music Video Stills

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