Phyno, Tekno and Mr Eazi are currently enjoying a fine run with their
formulas. But what happens when the system becomes oversaturated and
cliché?
You remember all those days you spent in primary
school learning how to use a single mathematical equation to solve
pointless problems created by a mean but well-intentioned teacher.
You
get to apply BODMAS, Pythagoras Theorem, Almighty Formula and many
others. These formulas served a system of education that almost never
evolves in Nigeria, with the central theme being: “If it is not broken,
then don’t fix it’.
Your father used BODMAS, you used BODMAS, your child will work with BODMAS, and so will the child after him.
This approach to education is what has shaped the
Nigerian society, with methods created to be in existence and go through
time performing a singular function forever. Innovation is frowned
upon, because it upsets the balance of things, and changes what has been
established by our fathers and the fathers before them. Adventure and
curiosity is stifled, and anyone who dares question the process is a
rebel.
This is the root cause of the Nigerian
problem. Where systems become outdated and obsolete without being
ditched for with new and advanced replacements. This idea of ‘If it isn’t broken, then don’t fix it’, and ‘let’s stick to what works’, is the stereotypical Nigerian way.
We see this in Nigerian music. An artiste creates a
new sound and style which blows up and becomes trendy, and everyone
jumps on it, populates it with riffs and copies of the same material and
floods the market. This leads to oversupply of the style and sound, and
consequently, the demand for it by the public drops. When this happens,
the sound goes out of style and it’s out.
Everyone
loves the new wave, the system that works and can offer the promise of
financial gain. That’s why any artiste who discovers a working system,
never leaves it, even long after it stops working. Terry G is a great
example of how a system works until it stops working, and what can
happen if change is not embraced.
This era has Tekno who is working
with a formula that has propelled him to become the prince of African
music. There’s a certain method to the production of ‘Duro’, ‘Wash’, ‘Where’, ‘Pana’ and ‘Diana’
that remains consistent, even in the audio and video conceptualization;
Dedicate it to a girl, use a catchword/catchphrase, and infuse humor
over a mid-tempo beat. Dance for that pretty, light skinned vixen in the
visual, and you will score great points.
Mr Eazi’s
reliance on a certain system of delivery and production has also been
the driving force of his nascent career. There’s a uniqueness to his
madness that has seen him produce his songs such as ‘Skintight’, ‘Hollup’, ‘Anointing’, and ‘Dance for me’.
That same consistent methodology is visible in Phyno’s recent push for glory. ‘Connect’, ‘Fada Fada’, ‘E sure for me’, and ‘Pino pino’
are all drawn from the same cookbook. Phyno’s formulaic approach can be
laid thus: Grab a traditional melody, with deep highlife cuts and
Afrobeat leanings from a masterful producer. The subject involves the
acquisition of wealth, displays of success, love and gratitude to God.
Phyno,
Tekno and Mr Eazi are currently enjoying a fine run with their
formulas. But what happens when the system becomes oversaturated and
cliché? What happens when we have had one catchphrase too many, another
overplayed Highlife thanksgiving single, or become tired of an exact
tempo?
There’s a possibility that
that day has never been considered and planned for. But it will
definitely happen. Too much of everything is bad, and the laws that
govern human behaviour will always prevail. We are bound to get wary of
what we have in excess and lose our collective interest in a ubiquitous
and accessible sound.
But what do we know? The
sound is awesome for now, and it is bringing in the big bucks, which is
all that matters to these artistes and the people that push from behind
the scenes. It’s a cold world, this industry, where ruthlessness and
dynamism are the currencies that are on offer. Getting money is always
the aim for these guys, and if a system begins to provide gold, then why
change it?
If it isn’t broken, then don’t fix it. For the love of God, don’t touch the current golden goose.
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