This is the biggest problem for hip-hop in Nigeria.
The genre has been bastardized and unapologetically fused with elements of Afrobeats so much that the classifications do not mean anything anymore.
Olamide is one of Nigeria’s greatest rappers, without a doubt. His work since 2011 has separated him from the lot that don’t know what they’re doing. He knows what he’s doing. He knew what he was doing when he did “YBNL,” “Baddest Guy Ever Liveth,” and “Street OT” back to back. (FYI, he won Album of the Year three years in a row on that run).
In 2015, when he did one of the best rap albums in Nigeria, “Eyan Mayweather,” he knew what he was doing. When he came back in 2020 and dropped a trap/hip-hop EP, “999,” he definitely knew what he was doing.
You can’t tell me that he didn’t know what he was going for when he decided to make an album like “Carpe Diem” in 2020. Oh, believe me, he knew what he wanted to do. And it wasn’t rap. Or even hip-hop for that matter.
“Carpe Diem” is an amazing album. But it also marked the historical moment Olamide transformed from rapper to Afrobeats artist. When you have an album with songs like “Green Light,” “Infinity,” “At Your Service,” “Shilalo,” that ain’t rap.
At best, it’s a hybrid and while artists like Drake have been known to do something like that, it’s usually on much longer albums with two sides. Olamide had just one short side for a reason. It was his Afrobeats testament.
Album of the Year, sure. But it doesn’t deserve to be Best Rap Album. Not over all the rap albums available anyway.
Do You Agree That Carpe Diem Doesn’t Deserve Best Rap Album? If No, Why?
Let’s hear your views.
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