konknaijaboy | On 08, Jul 2015

(Please note: some statements in the article below are made in Nigeria’s pidgin English

BET buzz continues in Nigeria….

Further to an earlier broadcast by me; #‎BET‬ Awards:

20yrs ago they all made Hip Hop so huge you just won’t stop dancing and sing along. Concerts were sold out and Africa most especially Nigeria’s hip hop lovers followed ‘em religiously.

*sippin on a cup of tea all thanks to peak milk (No Ads*);

“One day our artists go make us proud at Naija music award shows dancing, screaming and appreciating one another’s successes rather than looking like “lemon” having the hall so quiet like a grave yard with no crowd cheering cus everyone are celebs that aint been made anywhere in the world before now”.

This is one of the best “Re-Union” performance with such a limited time on stage (20yrs of hardwork).

In case you missed it:

Diddy and Bad Boy performance at the 2015 BET Awards (Diddy falls) – YouTube

Now, I wonder why African artists most especially Nigerians complain on another man’s award show and threatening to boycott future awards. If you are presented awards behind closed doors and you don’t like it; build your own industry, improve on live stage performance, concerts and award shows to the BET standard or better and stop messing up like lil kids. You can take that to the bank….”

.a contact replied:

I disagree with ur view and I kinda agree with wizzy and yemi alade that Africans were insulted at BET awards…..

My take and we need set the record straight:

Insulted? How much does African artist generate for BET?

In companies we have cost centres. How much viewers does African Artists offer the BET?

Why are we complaining on what is not ours rather than being humble. We are just being accepted and our works being appreciated yet not full blown. All the collabos with American acts are paid for by our artists rather than mutual benefits? How many Naija artist got his/her personal/official website?

How many sold out concerts in a stadium has any group of artists in Nigeria had in the USA since the days of Fela, King Sunny Ade and co?

How many Naija artist has a well structured management team with contacts for collaboration or research on their works or documentaries etc on their lifestyles, charitable works and events that will enable an average American fan know more?

How much had an average Nigerian hip hop artist impacted on humanity? Rather you want to emulate an American posting thrash about yourselves on the social media but you never knew these guys give back to their respective hoods or schools yearly. The average Nigerian hip hop artist disrespects fans at little jabs thrown at them on the social media.

We need appreciate the fact that we are being honoured and if at all we have any grievance then we do that professionally to the BET body or management as a team of concerned artists/fans and not peeps talking trash like lil kids on the social media.

You don’t insult someone on his own thingz and hustle. BET is someone’s hustle and not our’s.

If an American was awarded behind closed door and complains then fine. Even at that; So many Grammy categories are awarded behind closed doors and also outside the main event itself at mini outdoor events. Who complains? We feel we can have it all in this part of the world. Its called arrogance and selfishness.

Yemi Alade and Wizkid? Can Wizkid pull a full stadium as a single act in the USA like a Chris Brown, Lil Wayne, John Legend, Rihana? Nooo!!!! But these people can pull a sold out concert in Nigeria.

Even your stage acts are very boring as you spend all night minming and lip sync thanks to the Djs who got your backs on stage. Is it all about tours in club houses of 500 capacity you call a concert in Europe or America? Who is a Naija hip hop act to an average American?

BET’s market is the USA. They own the game. Its theirs and we should respect that.

Boss! I know this biz like the Alphabets. Wait until we set the record straight in the industry. Enuff of these arrogance. You can protest to Channel O, MAMAs, MOBO but not the BET. Infact, why protest rather than lettin ‘em know how you feel in a mouch more matured manner. You never can tell one day a tour through BET and you perform alongside the best at the Apollos or a Stadium. That’ll be fun isnt it? So guys please remain humble.

How many of our Music TV stations out here organise a music award show? We should rather do our distinct and unique sound and stand out rather than compete with a Lil Wayne or Meek Mill in rap or try to sing like a Rihanna and make our videos same.

We need to stand out and give them that sound they can never produce then we’ll be more appreciated in that part of the world.

Just look at a Diddy, Mase and co after 20years putting every star and fan in that hall on their feet. Its called love, its called fun, its called appreciation. You all lack that that at Award shows out here. We need change the way we think so that we do better music that’ll inspire the world.

We need get back at the unique African rhythm and hip hop culture; STAND OUT to be recognised.