Of XXXtentacion, death, and the world’s hypocrisy.

A shining North star fell on the 18th of June & the whole hip hop community was thrown into turmoil. Last two weeks saw the death of a rising rap superstar cum singing sensation, XXXtentacion. What a shocker! I didn’t believe the news at first.

As I write this article, my stereo speakers are blasting his last/2nd album ‘?’, released on March 12, 2018. The genius of the young man is undeniable, even his ‘haters’ and critics will admit.

XXXtentacion was the tragic hero whose music was both “comforting and discomforting” same time. In him, young people of his generation found an artist they could relate with, someone who shared their pains. Unlike most rappers who majorly brag about wealth & riches they seldom possess. XXX was a music genius, no doubt about that.

Arguably, XXXtentacion was the most talented of all the young rappers who blew up out of the USA in the last two years (no disrespect to Kodak Black).

Kodak Black was more hardcore, streetwise and direct whereas XXXtentacion was more versatile, lucid and his message was clearer. His last album, ‘?’ had a mix of rock, rap, trap, heavy metal, and RnB.

He rapped with the flow of a veteran on ‘Infinity 888’, buoyed on by the presence of an equally-competent Joey Badass. He sang his heart out in ‘Hope’, a song he dedicated to victims of a school shooting. At 20, his body of work, musically, was more mature than his age.

Finally, it was looking like someone could validly challenge Drake’s throne. And that someone was XXXtentacion! No wonder Drake was once accused of stealing his flow in the song, ‘Look at Me.’

Death is inevitable. We all must die one day or another. That’s a settled case. Yet it still pains our hearts when we lose anybody, not to talk of a loved one, not to even talk of such a rising star who influenced lives through his music.

Ever since Xxxtentacion was shot on June 18, famous celebs like Kanye West, Jidenna, J. Cole, Juicy J, and many others have posted tributes on social media. Kanye spoke of how Xxxtentacion’s music inspired him. XXX’s best friend, Ski Mask the Slump God offered to take over his charity concerns.

XXX has broken all streaming /sales records since he was shot dead. Few hours after he was pronounced dead by the hospital, his album went up from number 52 to 1 on the Billboard 200 charts. ‘SAD!’, from the 2nd album is currently topping Billboard 100.

His increase in fame after death simply reminds me of 2pac. It reminds me of Biggie, of Dagrin and many such legends. And it buttresses my conclusion that something is wrong with humanity.

The world is full of hypocrisy, everyone is fake nowadays. They show love when you’re dead or in jail. This was a guy who battled depression, whose sadness & heaviness of heart reflected in his music. By the time he died, he was on trial for alleged battery & violence against his girlfriend.

The same girlfriend, Geneva Ayala attended his memorial and was even protesting being ‘kicked out‘ of the vigil! Those who never listened to his songs while he was alive now do so probably because they just feel sorry or out of curiosity.

Apparently, people wait for you to die before they say good stuffs about you. You will hardly find anyone criticising a dead man. But we criticise our friends, talk behind their back.

Why wait for XXX to die before buying his records? Why wait for him to stop breathing before appreciating his art. He can’t even revel in the glory no more. He’s dead already motherf***ers!!!

That’s why we should keep it real with those who keep it real with us. Christianity even preaches being nice to strangers (those who don’t like us). You never know how much you miss your friends till they’re no more.

Appreciate your good friends while you can, you never know who’s next tomorrow. Hug your parents for no reason. Just give him or her a kiss.

…Or maybe we’re all sick. I probably wouldn’t have been inspired to write this article if XXXtentacion was alive. So maybe the world is just messed up like that.

Babylon

And ever since, Babylon is biting the dust,

We gather for dust to dust

Glory, glory, glory has been our song

Even from dusk till dawn

Left to crumbled pieces of glory forgone

History beckons

Praise for the valiant Knight’s valour

Finally, that terrible city is reduced to bare memory

A mighty space signifying hope forlorn

Download: Makzion- Grateful.mp3

From the stables of Freeman Visions Music Label, Makzion a.k.a Sir M.K Makzion), drops his second single. This is a hit definitely!

Makzion decides to bless the beat once more on this special jam. He praises God for all the blessings given to him and the song is rightly titled Grateful (stylized as “Greatful”).

Makzion sings in English and his native gbagyi dialect, even in yoruba! It’s about time i do a duet with this talented gospel singer.

Download, listen and share with friends…

Download: Makzion- Grateful.mp3

Download: I go Prevail by Makzion.mp3

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From the stables of Freeman Visions Music Label, we present Makzion (also known as Sir M.K Makzion), a young upcoming gospel artist.

Trust me, this guy is full of talents. He sings in English and his native gbagyi dialect.

In this song, he tries to encourage all those suffering, going through pain or challenges in life to keep pushing & not give up. We shall all prevail! Watch out for this talented guy!

Download: I go Prevail by Makzion

Rich Homie Tommy x Emtee – Key to the city (Washa refix).mp3

Nigeria’s hottest underground rapper/singer, Rich Homie T (R.H.T) teams up with the best in South Africa, Emtee on this mega hit jam.

West meets South definitely! Download, enjoy, share the good music…

This song is produced by the legendary ace veteran, Jamix Tronix.

Rich Homie Tommy x Emtee- Key to the city.mp3

DOWNLOAD: Rich Homie Tommy x Emtee (re-fix) – Mama (Prod. by Latham)

My readers must have found out by now that I’m a man of many sides. Well, my creative juice flowed even further recently when I recorded a rap song. To God be the glory for making it all seem so easy. It all came very fast, I recognised that moment and knew I had to take advantage of it.

So I sat on my bed on Thursday night of November 3rd (around 8:50pm), while listening to South African rapper, Emtee’s song ‘Mama’ from the multiple award-winning ‘Avery’ album.

I had heard the song before but it came differently to me that fateful night. The melody, the harmony, the keyboard and hook/chorus got me writing down lyrics instantly. I knew I had to drop a verse or two on the beat.

So I called my talented childhood friend, ‘Latham the producer’ on the following day & we recorded the song on Tuesday, 8th November. We knocked it off in about 3 hours. It was magic! The chemistry was too much, the studio harmony was splendid. I don’t think I could have worked with anyone better. This goes out to every upcoming artist, you have to work with a producer who sees your vision and can clearly show you his own vision as well.

I wouldn’t have forgiven myself if I buried the potential to do music. Always knew I could do this from day one. I finally put those lessons learned in the juvenile choir to use.

I specially chose to release the song for free downloads today in commemoration of my late mum’s one year remembrance. Recorded under my alter-ego, ‘Rich Homie Tommy’ (#RHT). The song is titled Mama, not departing from the inspiration behind this.

It’s safe now to say watch-out for me! This is most likely the #1stofMany more music to come from me.

Follow the link below to download:

DOWNLOAD: Rich Homie Tommy x Emtee (re-fix) Mama (Prod. by Latham)

President Barack Hussein Obama: A sellout and major mistake

I write full of disappointment! Full of anger and distraught towards our supposed role-model, angel of light and perfectionist who has proven to be unworthy of those good qualifications. President Barack Obama rode on the back of the goodwill of good people in the world in 2008, there was massive support for him. After hundreds of years of oppression of black people in the United States of America, all we wanted was a representative on that presidency seat.

As Sal Bommarito succinctly puts it,
“… to elect an African American president was a huge and very inspiring event for the country, I thought. Finally, after 200-plus years of discrimination and repression, a black man became the most powerful person on the planet. African-Americans rejoiced when this man was elected — they had a true role model. Well, the president has disappointed on this front as well.”

Tragedy is when you leave important things to attend to frivolity. President Obama has been spending the rest of his last one year of presidency, meeting with Hollywood celebrities in the White House, showing them around in a relaxed manner. Does this mean United States of America has no more challenges in its coffers? Come on, this is the world’s most powerful country! I don’t think Vladimir Putin is currently dining with celebrities in the Russian state house. We all know Obama rode on the back of these celebrities to office and their support & consequently their fan’s support gave him the needed votes, most especially the black and latino communities who listen most to Jay-Z, Jeezy, Nas et al. But if President Obama feels he needs to show his gratitude to these guys he can’t ignore the plight of millions other miserable Americans who aren’t celebrities.

Under Obama’s presidency, there has been more concerns about the mistreatment of migrants in USA than under any other President in American history. History has been good to Obama but he has not been good to history. He came at the perfect time, but instead of being that man, instead of returning the great favor bestowed on his lowly character he has decided to be a catalyst for repression. When you remain silent in the face of oppression & decide to keep mum then you are on the side of oppression. This president came into office with the impression of being on the common man’s side but he has failed, he’s no friend of the common man after all.

If I had read President Obama’s political book, The Audacity of Hope as at 2008 when it was released, I wouldn’t have been as enthusiastic as I was about his candidacy for president then. In the book, he appeared smart, intelligent & a visionary but then he showed how much of a politician he can be. President Obama is someone who would say whatever you want him to say even though he has his own reservations. He’s just like the rest of the other politicians, he’s not a saint after all.

In the Audacity of Hope, he spoke twice about Nigeria and it was not in good light. This is the biggest & most blessed country in Africa and the supposed “African-American” President Obama has no regards for its people. On page 168 he talks about USA depending on oil coming from Nigeria & other large exporters of crude oil & questioned how America’s $800 million goes into the hands of “the world’s most volatile regimes.” According to President Obama, “it doesn’t matter whether they’re despotic regimes with nuclear intentions or havens for madrassas that plant seeds of terror in young minds – they get our money because we need their oil.” President Obama has shown he cares not about what happens in Africa, millions can die but America will not budge, that’s what he’s saying. He had the temerity to also allege that USA’s dependence on oil from Africa & Asia undermines their national security. I’m an African, a Nigerian and I’m not a terrorist! Nigeria is not a threat to world security. What’s the President really insinuating, is George Zimmerman and his cohorts Africans or aren’t they threats to America’s national safety? Statements like these will always fall from the mouth of an African-American President who doesn’t see himself as an African, who has more sympathies for his white brothers than his true family. That’s why he can’t understand that Africa isn’t America’s problem, it’s the other way round.

He referred to Nigeria again on page 319 of the book, claiming that “countries like, India, Nigeria, and China have developed two legal systems – one for foreigners and elites, and one for the ordinary people trying to get ahead.” If Obama wants to berate African and Asian legal systems, what about the Judge who set George Zimmerman free to roam the streets after murdering young Trayvon Martin based on race prejudice? What of the police shooting in Ferguson, Missouri recently?

What about all the injustices that goes on in USA daily, human rights encroachments in the supposed citadel of democracy? What about the oppression of black people in America which claimed the lives of great men such as Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr., young men murdered in their prime? What about Tupac Shakur’s political murder in 1996, which was made to resemble a gang or music rivalry but no arrest has been made till now? President Obama’s USA isn’t perfect and its even more imperfect and vulnerable under his regime. Obama is going to leave that seat worse than it has ever been economically since the great depression in 1929. Politically, it is the worst in the history of the country. The country is tensed and the world, consequently is tensed. ISIS is a new phenomenon, the tentacles are worldwide and it is a result of President Obama’s lack of political will.

The page 286 of The Audacity of Hope sees President Obama himself confessing to America’s sins of tolerating and aiding juntas and despotic regimes around the world, just to oust leaders who lean towards communism. USA aided Mobutu Sese Seko of Congo DR and the despot was visited by every single American president since Dwight D. Eisenhower, only Jimmy Carter was the exception. What has President Obama done to remedy those ills in the Congo? Congo was in peace before America decided to interfere in their politics. The same problems created by his predecessors, one would have automatically expected an African-American President of the USA to make things right. Isn’t it an open secret that President Dwight D. Eisenhower ordered C.I.A to kill Congo DR’s first prime minister and one true legitimate leader, Patrice Lumumba due to his romance with the Soviet Union? Didn’t the USA aid Mobutu and Belgium in Lumumba’s eventual cold murder? What about Thomas Sankara, Nigeria’s Murtala Muhammed…? It’s about time the world puts America where it belongs.

No one really cared to check deeply the character of President Obama when he came in through the back door and took over with his cunning methods. Well, I wish people did as I’m sure most Americans have also seen the grave mistake committed by now. Unscrupulous politics can get you in power but won’t allow you have the best of administrations! Obama is afraid of White America. He’s too passive and lethargic to make any solid impact and I wonder why people didn’t see this on time. The man is such an accomplished con man who has succeeded in hiding his true colors. A president who never admits failure or mistake but claim misunderstanding or blame political opponents is not fit to lead. President Obama should learn to take responsibility for his shortcomings. Some of his “misunderstandings” of the situation has actually allowed the creation & widespread of ISIS in Syria and Iraq. It’s simply a case of negligence by an irresponsible and passive leader.

Sources:

10 Ways Obama Has Failed as President

http://m.mic.com/articles/61019/8-reasons-why-obama-s-presidency-has-been-a-disappointment#.pvUmfDv9e

These 4 Miscalculations Will Define Obama’s Presidency

http://opportunitylives.com/three-major-problems-with-president-obamas-isis-speech/

https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/amr01/3666/2016/en/