LoaderProcessing...
LoaderProcessing...
Hello Habibi: Embracing International Collaborations
LoaderProcessing...

“International recognition wo o bobo gbagbe,

Shee ye ni maami maje wo o bobo gbagbe.”

These lyrics roughly translate to mean “what would I do with international recognition, is that what my mom will eat?” The contextual meaning would be that I don't need international recognition, as it wouldn't help me feed my mum. 

These lyrics are from “Prayer for my client,” off the Street OT album released by Olamide in 2014. At that time, he was basking in his national fame and to an extent, his Continental fame, so he can be forgiven for thinking that he would never need to feature an international artiste before further establishing his name. 

 

Funny how time flies. 

 

November 14, 2024, would make it 10 years since he released that song. Coincidentally, he released a single on November 8, 2024, “Hello Habibi,” a sort of remix for the original version of the song he released earlier this year. And you know what? 

Yes, you guessed wrong. 

He featured an international artiste; Russ. Guess celebrities are humans after all. Opinions can very well change with time (A lesson to not completely idolize a celeb, but that's a story for another moonlight). 

At a certain point in his career, it can be said that Olamide has outgrown the Nigerian Music market and needed new challenges. Hence, the need to change his orientation about accommodating international artistes. Even the artistes under his label have featured with international artistes.

Funnily, this isn't even his first international collaboration. 

He has collaborated with Wale, Skepta, Nas, and more. And there are no signs of slowing down, so it is safe to to predict that this won't be his last international collaboration. 

So what may have changed his mind? 

And not just him, the number of Nigerian artistes that have done a song with an international artiste is almost becoming too much to count. 

BNXN did a song with Headie One off his Sincerely, BNXN album, Fireboy has a song with Ed Sheeran, OdumoduBlvck has a song with Skepta, Burna Boy has a song with J Hus, Stormzy and Ed Sheeran, Asake has done a song with Stormzy, Travis Scott and Central Cee, Tems has one with J Cole, let's not talk about Wizkid and Davido. It is evident that the wave of international collaboration has spread to the Nigerian Music hemisphere. 

What then may have triggered this wave?

Apart from the distance factors, the fact that the feature fee to be paid will definitely be higher than featuring a Nigerian artiste (no inferiority complex intended), the number of factors that may discourage Nigerian artistes from collaborating with International artistes are simply numerous. 

So what are their motivating factors? 

Walk with me…

1. Global Recognition: This absolutely has to be the first on the list. Besides going viral internationally which is more luck than talent it is almost difficult to tap into the music market of another country, not to talk of another continent. 

This is where international collaborations come in. 

As the biologists would say, mutualism has taken place; both sides benefit from the other. The international artiste gets to showcase expertise by jumping on a Nigerian beat, and thus, increases his artistic ratings, and the Nigerian artiste gets to tap a new market, while enjoying streams from another fan base. 

Everybody goes home happy. 

Plus, numbers don't lie. Compare the streams accrued from collaborations with international artistes with the streams accrued from local collabs. You'll see the difference. 

 

2. Cultural Exchange: Who would have thought we would ever see Central Cee riding an Amapiano beat? Or Ardee speaking the Igbo language?

That is what International collaboration does. Not only does it expose you to the side of an artiste you have never seen before or even know it existed, it also allows both parties to exchange ideas and thus exchange cultures, for example, Asake might have learned one or two about the UK music culture and Central Cee vice versa. 

Some of you have probably developed a UK accent from listening to these songs. 

3. Artistry Showcase: Famous sculptors like Michelangelo, well-known composers like Ludwig Van Beethoven and Mozart have one thing in common? 

Let's just save the suspense. They basically had the ability to extend their expertise across various cultures. That is what an international collaboration provides you. The flex that an artiste has for being able to successfully ride a beat from another country, another continent, is simply eternal; It provides an avenue to immortalize one's name.

Just within the span of 10 years, the Nigerian music industry has evolved to the point that it can conveniently accommodate international artistes. This is no mean feat in any way. 

As Nigerian artistes continue to make their mark in the global scene, we also find other countries artistes equally willing to make their mark in Nigeria. 

Word of advice? Delve into the world of international collaborations this weekend and experience bliss, you might just find your new favorite track. 

Need pointers, start with Olamide ft Russ. 

LoaderProcessing...
Post

👏🏾 👏🏾
From JokeApart at 2024-11-30 11:50:45