Renowned rapper Tochukwu Ojogwu, popularly known as Odumodublvck, has raised concerns about the limited recognition and respect afforded to the hip-hop genre and its artists in Nigeria.
In a recent interview, the artist shared his perspective on the challenges faced by hip-hop artists and his personal experiences.
Reflecting on his journey as a rising artist, Odumodublvck recalled a time when he struggled to secure seats at award events. He highlighted the disparity in treatment between hip-hop artists and those from other genres.
The rapper also touched upon an intriguing moment in his career when he was advised to align with Afrobeat superstar Davido to gain fame. However, Odumodublvck deliberately chose to gravitate towards UK grime stars, citing the alignment of their genre with his artistic vision.
He stated, "In 2019, someone [in my team] said we should go to Lagos and meet Davido. But I was like, 'What will Davido do for me? Even if Davido takes me to America and puts me on stage, and I'm rapping my stuff, his fans won't understand because they are Afrobeats fans.' But these guys, Teezee, BOJ, and Sholz, are the pipeline to the UK market. And those are the closest guys I sound like internationally. So why don't I follow that route to get to wherever I want to get to?"
Odumodublvck also expressed his frustration with the lack of recognition for hip-hop in Nigeria, including his experience at award shows where he and his team didn't have allocated seats. He emphasized the need for greater respect and acknowledgement of hip-hop artists and their contributions to the Nigerian music scene.
Furthermore, the rapper acknowledged Wizkid's controversial statement that "hip-hop is dead," echoing a similar sentiment. He stated, "I was tremendously happy about Wizkid's statement… Hip-Hop was dead." This further highlights the challenges faced by hip-hop artists in the Nigerian music industry.
