This is in line with Mola's D.O.S. post. There, he asked if "this sound" has a place in the Naija music scene. This pair of songs came out early last summer, but since it hasn't been fully "rocked" by Nigerians, I feel it makes a good post. They're reportedly signed to Storm Records.
Is there some "bubble-gum pop" hidden inside of us, waiting to be exposed by one or two hits?? Your thoughts...
*O.O*
Bonus: No Network
Related: D.O.S - Can't Stop
Lol@ s there some "bubble-gum pop" hidden inside of us...
We will see what the general public responds to. I can't call it.
Posted by: Mola OG | February 19, 2009 at 10:17 AM
Nepa bring the light is some old stuvvs! lol.
fun track but they spoilt it with the rap/hip hoppy ting close 2 the end.
no network too is fun. but id like to hear some traks not geared towards teknology. lol
fun set of people tho.
Posted by: Elenu Nla | February 19, 2009 at 10:28 AM
I think this kinda sound has a place in Naija, I actually remember hearing these guys about a year ago, I liked it then, and still like it now. If you think back to the early days (maybe even present day) of CoolFm and Rhythm93.7 these stations had shows that showcased this kinda music (remember the oh so famous Rick Dees Top 40). They prepped us to accept so many international sounds...Nigerians have a broader acceptance spectrum of music than we sometimes think...this sound might be a niche market right now, but it has the capability to grow and pay artists in this niche
...but sadly so we don't have a functional music industry yet that can effectively promote artists hence musicians (esp. the non established) get caught in the phase of singing "self-promoting" songs (songs that the bus conductors and market sellers can sing/dance to and increase their popularity amongst the "masses").This might not be the best classification, but I classify some of such music as pidgin intensified and razzness over-intensified, and excludes another chunk of the Nigerian population.
I know OlaDele said with his last album "Razz is the new cool" but I've listened to that album and there is really nothing razz about it, it was pretty intelligible. He might have meant razz as equivalent to pidgin, and if so his statement might have some validity to an educated/literate population, but to the illiterate population this mentality pushes them further down in their illiteracy.
Im talking 2 much now, but hopefully y'all "catch my drift". my point is that "Disconnect", "D.O.S" and others that have their sounds have a substantial place in the naija music industry as long as you are not limiting your classification of the naija music consumers.
NB: I am in no way trying to demean anyone or what they listen to...my remarks are only that of a critical observer of the naija music scene.
Posted by: Boondock | February 19, 2009 at 12:21 PM
Does boondock have an email address or a blog? I applaud his/her comments.
Posted by: Elenu Nla | February 19, 2009 at 12:50 PM
Every type of music in any area would have its own fans. What makes it a success is simply the amount of said fans. Rock is only big in 9ja among a few, hence it a rough road ahead, not an impossible road overever.
What we need to get right is this off hand classification of Razz. Play the hip-hop and Rnb that made the likes of Jigga and B house hold names and it is not exactly queens English, but yet we didn't look at them as been Razz. Music will always be influenced by culture, especial street culture. Its high time to just celebrate it and hope Razzness will not be an excuse not to make sense.
There is still alot of work to be done to make this type of soft rock big in 9ja... and like everything in life, nothing good comes easy.
BTW, a lot of the major hits in 9ja can be classified as BUBBLE GUM POP.
Posted by: Egbe | February 19, 2009 at 01:12 PM
Yeeeea.... That's what am talking about! Disconnect STAND UP!!! I love different Nigerian music! This guys got my major props! Not always that typical "Boom ka-boom ka.. Boom ka-boom ka" Lol...(U know... Naija Vibe... same ol same ol...) That was an amazing switch @ da end too!! Man... These guys are HOT!! I wish there was a music video for this...
Wow and "No Network" is... OMG! Am juss shocked! Nigerians?? Rock?? Man... Sick SICK SICK SIIIIICK!!! lol.. am sorry! That's hot!
...passionate, earthy instrumental music that inspires both body and soul...
FINE!!! I will be your #1 Critique!
Posted by: Chino | February 19, 2009 at 01:20 PM
I'm with it. Too bad we don't have many solid electric guitar players to give them some sick riffs, it hinders their vocals from coming alive like they could.
The industry machine in naija isn't sophisticated enough yet to push this kind of music to the people that actually like it in naija.
Boondock's comments are poignant. I remember how diverse what we listened to in Naija used to be. Somehow we don't tolerate that kind of diversity in local (nigerian) acts.
At least its not reflected in the types of tracks that get the most spins.
I'm the kind of guy that will buy ten copies of their album to proove a point lol.
WE NEED DIVERSITY OF SOUND!!!!
Posted by: gidipimp | February 19, 2009 at 02:02 PM
im so down with this mehn....major love
Posted by: funsho lekan | February 19, 2009 at 02:10 PM
nepa bring the light is an ancient song mehn! but i still luff it!
n no network is just tew bunz! abeg someone should send this to tmobile, serzly.
Posted by: kriticque | February 19, 2009 at 02:56 PM
WOW! Both songs should really be on tmobile... and sprint... and at&t. This is too good 2 be true.
Posted by: Nkiru | February 19, 2009 at 04:38 PM
"NEPA Bring The Light" is nearly three years old (and, yes, the rapping at the end was terrible). It's a decent song, but they need to pick up actual guitars and start shredding. Synthesized frets on fire are not going to cut it.
It's very Blink 182/Simple Plan/Sum 41. Bubblegum pop is a perfect description.
Posted by: Oluseyi | February 19, 2009 at 05:43 PM
@Elenu Nla...thanks for ur kind remarks. "He" is appropriate, and yeah I do have a blog, although I must warn you, Im not so good with regular updates, Im still trying to get into that blogger state of mind..my blog is at http://www.h2oworksnaija.blogspot.com
@Egbe...I want to clarify, I'm not saying speaking pidgin is razz, recall I even said OlaDele's album was not razz regardless of his album title. I speak pidgin and I know Im not razz :)..pidgin is colloquial in our society...and yes even them Jay-Z and likes u mentioned speak ebonics, but even amongst the ebonics speakers, there are razz ones..they are typically referred to as ghettooo...it is ghetto that is frowned upon not the actual speaking of ebonics...so to say that we shud accept razzness is like saying accept ghetto-ness or like saying btw light and darkness choose darkness.
Posted by: Boondock | February 19, 2009 at 06:16 PM
@Elenu Nla...thanks for ur kind remarks. "He" is appropriate, and yeah I do have a blog, although I must warn you, Im not so good with regular updates, Im still trying to get into that blogger state of mind..my blog is at http://www.h2oworksnaija.blogspot.com
@Egbe...I want to clarify, I'm not saying speaking pidgin is razz, recall I even said OlaDele's album was not razz regardless of his album title. I speak pidgin and I know Im not razz :)..pidgin is colloquial in our society...and yes even them Jay-Z and likes u mentioned speak ebonics, but even amongst the ebonics speakers, there are razz ones..they are typically referred to as ghettooo...it is ghetto that is frowned upon not the actual speaking of ebonics...so to say that we shud accept razzness is like saying accept ghetto-ness or like saying btw light and darkness choose darkness.
Posted by: Boondock | February 19, 2009 at 06:17 PM
@oluseyi....I second wat u said....they are not playing rock until they pick up a guitar and start playing live....doing rock over digital beats is not it...they ar no different from da tuface and faze of this world...
@Boondook...well, razzness is relative...but there is nothing razz about creating music da street peeps can relate to..after all, the market is on da street and not on da blog site...
done...
Posted by: tmonei | February 20, 2009 at 04:17 AM
dis is not rock but some cheesy POP....
its refreshing...dats all
Keep repping, DOS...
Posted by: tmonei | February 20, 2009 at 04:20 AM
@Boondock
The difference in colloquial and razz is not what everybody gets, hence we quickly pigin hole anything pigin into razz.
I am a big fan of wordplay and also a huge fan of successful businesses. The fact is you can have the best wordplay and well put together music in the world and your market may still not apprecaite it, hence your Music Venture becomes a failure. With this said, there is no getting away from the fact that the Music Business is Business driven.
The majority of fans in 9ja, want lyrics that are uncomplicated and a beat that is not far from Juju or Fuji hence alot of what comes out of 9ja will be such.
This quite frankly is our sound, a genre like Rock aint, and unless you are to come out at a level of quaility the rock fans are used too, then there is a problem.
Posted by: Egbe | February 20, 2009 at 06:44 AM
lol! I like NEPA brings the light. And the old school rap at the end, aka letter to PHCN is too funny! I have to commend these artists for stepping outside what is customary in the industry right now. With time, better product, and serious promo work, these cats can break through because there are definitely people at home who will listen to this. I know I would, especially if it is good.
No Network: not bad, I can see American college kids banging out to this, but they might not quite get the gist sha. There are hardly any network problems in the States. You know what, these guys need to partner with an American group, Gym Class Heroes or even Akon, his label carries rock and alternative acts. A really experienced producer can guide these guys into a very lucrative market. If that happens, Nigeria could follow as well.
Best of luck to them and their emo/rock inspired tracks. The diversity is needed.
Posted by: Solomonsydelle | February 20, 2009 at 10:51 AM
These two songs are outdated.. I had already finished rockin em early last year.
I think they okay but if they want to do rock music they should talk about sum'n else important soundin like all these teenage boy bands they too old for that now.
I agree with Oluseyi concerning the go- live part with real guitars and insruments.
Posted by: bsb | February 20, 2009 at 06:34 PM