Hiphop and Nigerian Artists

Hiphop is a popular type of music comprising of rap and beats/electronic backing.It originated among US blacks.Hiphop which many credited to Russell simons,was seen as an alterntive to other black music such as NegroSpiritual and Jazz by the youth.

It became an avenuewhereby black youths could talk about injustice and other abuses they suffer.Groups like Public Enemy(PE)turned hiphop into a movement/culture with lyrics that hits out at the government,security officials while demanding justice and equal rights.
Hiphop was an integral part of the Nation Of Islam(NOI) movement.Like every other form of activism,it derailed and became divided into to forms:keeping it real and keeping it right.

Keeping it real is staying 'loyal to the game' by speaking out againt societal ills,against drug abuse,HIV & AIDS,encouraging the youths to lead positive lives etc.Artists in this category are often labelled as 'CONSCIOUS RAPPERS'
Keeping it right is the 'commercial' aspect of it.Its rapping about anything else just to make money and gain cheap fame.

Nigerian Hiphop got off on the wrong foot,reason we are where we are:all beats and no lyrics(words that makes sense).Eederis tried 'keeping it real' with JAGAJAGA and it was a success proving that one can keep it real and still be commercially successful(e.g Nas,T.kwelib).Unfortunately,he got lost after that.
Basically,Hiphop is not in existence in Nigeria(it's not even dead 'cos it never was).Our Artists can claim to do Hiphop like legislators claim to represnt us.All the so-called Hiphop heads in Nigeria: Thoughbreds,Mode9,Eldee,Ruggedman,Eederis and the host them are just matter-of-factly 'keeping it right' and in real Hiphop sense-throwing tantrums(apologise to Ruggedman)-no matter how many copies they sell!

I stand to be CORRECTED!