The Nigerian music scene is booming. Afrobeats is global. But what about the Nigerian rap scene? The rap game is dying. And the reason is clear. There are no proper artiste development programs. Until Nigeria invests in these, we’ll keep churning out artistes who can’t entertain.
This is Where Artiste Development Programs Come In:
Artiste development programs are crucial. They shape raw talent into polished stars. These programs teach artistes how to write, perform, and even handle fame. Without them, talent goes to waste.
In Nigeria, many artistes rise too fast. They get a hit song. They blow up. But they lack depth. They can’t sustain the momentum. Reason? No training, no guidance and no development.
The result? A saturated industry filled with half-baked artistes. Especially in rap. Every new cat claims to be the best thing since slice bread but barely have the charisma or even the aura of a global rap artiste.
The Nigerian Rap Scene: A Shadow of Its Former Self:
Recall when Nigerian rap was fire? Rappers like MI, Naeto C, Mode 9 and Vector ruled the scene. They had bars, they had depth and they could actually rap. They were brand ambassadors to big brands and touring Nigeria.
Fast forward to today. The rap game is a joke. No standout rappers in the last five years. None. The industry is now flooded with “rappers” who can’t rap. They mumble, they recycle basic rhymes and they lack originality.
What happened? Simple. No artiste development. Don’t get me wrong, they’ve been a few good projects that has dropped but nothing outstanding and mainstream. The projects that dropped are mainly just enjoyed by core hip hop heads and that’s about it.
A Case Study in Mediocrity
Recently, ‘fast rising’ rappers beefed Sir Raheem. I saw the clips on Twitter and I couldn’t believe my eyes and ears. It was supposed to be epic. Instead, it was embarrassing.
The beef tracks were trash. No creativity. No wordplay. Just weak disses and lazy flows. Even Sir Raheem’s response on his socials was equally here or there but compared to the others, he sounded like a genius.
This beef exposed the state of Nigerian rap. Rappers today lack skill. They lack training. They lack mentorship.
Artiste Development Programs Could Save Nigerian Rap
Artiste development programs could fix this mess. Here’s how:
- Skill Development: Rappers would learn how to write, flow, and deliver.
- Mentorship: Established artistes could guide newcomers.
- Industry Knowledge: Rappers would understand the business side of music.
- Consistency: Programs would teach artistes how to stay relevant.
Without these programs, Nigerian rap will keep declining.
The Bigger Picture: Nigeria’s Music Industry
This isn’t just about rap. The entire Nigerian music industry suffers from a lack of artiste development.
Afrobeats is thriving, but for how long? Even in that genre, many artistes lack depth. They rely on trends, not talent.
Investing in artiste development would elevate Nigerian music. It would produce world-class artistes. It would ensure longevity. The time to act is NOW!
Nigeria’s music scene has potential but potential isn’t enough. We need proper artiste development programs. Without them, the industry will keep declining.
The rap game is already on life support. If nothing changes, it will die completely.
It’s time to invest in the future. It’s time to save Nigerian music.
Article curated by Ayodeji “DayGenius” Adebayo the founder of Battle Rap Africa.
Award Winning Critic | Podcaster | HipHop Head.
READ ALSO:
The Magic Behind the Scenes: Shining Light on Nigerian Music Video Directors – Mani, Director K and Temi Evo
Film Distribution: The Beast That Will Kill Indie Filmmakers in Nigeria
5 Funny Ways Nigerian Men Ask Their Friends for Money