A couple of weeks ago, Bonteh brought together some of the biggest names in our entertainment industry in an event which was the first of its kind to ever happen in Cameroon. We all gave him a standing ovation at the event but I want still to commend Bonteh on his pushfulness and thank him for debunking many myths about Cameroonian youth. If not for anything else, I believe he has the right attitude we need in this hostile environment we have for a country.
We all got to listen to great insight from people with a long presence in industry. Clarisse Nginge of Beta Media spoke about public relations while renowned francophone blogger Atome addressed artist-media relationship issues. Prince Enobi talked about artist management, sharing from his decade long experience working with artists like Daphne, Rythmz, and most recently X-Maleya. Tony Nobody spilled the beans on many occasions while Stanley Enow gave more by his presence.
For the most part, Tony Nobody reminded us of our mediocrity when it comes to every single part of the business. The music is not quite it yet, there is a serious lack of professionalism, and we come from a country of cheats where everyone wants the shortest route to the fattest cake. There was a faint attempt at identifying major income streams in the music business and how to get in the flow but that part was mostly unsuccessful and rightfully so because it all depends on the individual artist and the universal laws of business apply.
IMPOSTERS!
I always knew it but I needed a Tony Nobody to say it so it won’t be that Tino Foy said that.
The industry can never grow with imposters in it. We have so much good talent here, some rare gems even, that will not get the opportunity to give us good and inspiring art.
Why?
Imposters devalue the product - especially when it comes to art. For one, it makes it hard for people to trust and appreciate talent. Im thinking of an artist like Amatula who is now in University in the US ( probably even graduated and working somewhere) because her parents cannot trust that making music is a dignified career choice. You should listen to her song ‘Disappoint’ - I’m sending you to that one because the beat is not all that but her song writing takes away all your attention that you forget the beat. It’s kind of hard to ignore DJ Chuucs shouting Yes! Let’s Go! in the background for God knows why on this type of song but hey Dj Chuucs has the most interested rap lines I’ve ever heard.
“Tight jeans straight like my mami get pressing”
“Wuna dey like waterfall, head for down shiho for up”
“When I look around I see mendem di beg beg, they beg my clothes, they beg my chap, they even beg my friends sef”
Music and art play a huge role in our socialization.
Before I continue, let me explain why this is even a thing and why you should CARE or not. The reason why most of you are sitting here wishing you were rather in San Francisco is because of the way you have been socialized. Of course some people benefit from our primitivity and happen to be law makers of our country so to them, the country is right where it is supposed to be. Some of us really admire them so we take their approach into our own lives and thats how we end up in dust ridden cities with housing catastrophes which are both health hazards and acid to the eyes.
Music and art play a lot in our socialization.
Art has always shaped society. Different forms of art in different eras in different capacities. Now music is one of the major and most popular expressions of art. Most of us can name 10 singers before we name 10 sculptors.
Imagine yourself on the train in NY listening to Empire State of Mind’ on your way to work. The feeling is different when you are from New York. New York with all the LED billboards and skyscrapers - just plain grandeur. If you are from Chicago, you’ll feel it too but never in the same way.
Good music can be conscious, funny, pensive or hype, and each genre plays a different role in our socialization. Music serves different purposes for different generations and in our generation, one that suffers from governmental neglect, it can be an outlet by spreading a progressive philosophy or mindset.
For example, since its birth in the ’70s, hip-hop has embodied the story of “rags to riches.” Hip-hop is about the proverbial chip on your shoulder. Whether it’s with true lyricists like Common and Mos Def, trap rappers like Future and T.I. or New York rappers like Jay Z and Nas, we see a common mission to prove themselves while listening to their music.” This competitive attitude of having something to prove serves them well as artists and entrepreneurs. Social media entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk regards having a chip on your shoulder as one of the five most important traits of successful entrepreneurs.
Hip hop artists have left many with a model of how to achieve success. All they have to do is add a little spin to fit their own career choices.
Stanley Enow’s Hein Pere embodied that proverbial chip - no doubt the resounding success. True artist carry with them certain expressions of life that are hidden from the masses but that through them can bring about changes in the state of awareness of a society. Good artists even have the potential to earn much money for the industry and that trickles down really.
I remember paying for a make up artist and models for one of my videos. And many young girls are earning some income from our burgeoning entertainment industry. It could be much more if we hadn’t imposters devaluing the role of an artist in society.Imposters are those that make statements like “Hip Hop is for dumb people who cannot succeed in other sectors of society” hold water.
Imposters make sure that the industry can only grow through the induction of the so called dirty money that runs at a loss for laundry purposes and you don’t expect the type of people with that money to care about things like unemployment rates.
Unfortunately, the line between true artists and imposters is getting thinner. True artists now suffer from the imposter syndrome more than they should with the rise of what is termed ‘commercial music.’
We all left 237 Music Business without an answer to how to weed out imposters. it is even harder now that imposters can use social media to propagate gimmicks and stay relevant.
Any - Ha!
For now we can only beg that imposters silently leave the room and hope they find Jesus.
- Tino Foy
#sorryimsolate #everythingculture