Nango Mboko video review (The rites to the rap game)
Being ‘gangster’ used to be a prerequisite for admission into the rap game but Meek and Drake's beef proved the solidification of a new era.
Street cred is no longer that big of a hand since the likes of Kanye, Andre 3000, and recently Drake; who have successfully dismissed the stereotype or at least put a chill on it. J Cole is borderline 'gangster' - meaning he's no gangster but he knows killers on a first name basis.
We all remember how Jay Z was reluctant to signing Kanye as a rapper on his Roc Nation label because he did not believe Kanye had enough street experience to thrive in the rap game at the time - was he wrong!
Even though 'owning the night' is no longer a thing, rappers still feel the need to have and keep that connection with the streets. We see our very own Stanley Enow continuously trying to remind us he's street affiliated.
In his recent release, Nanga Mboko, Skidi Boy chronicles the life of a typical Cameroonian street hustler, identifying himself as one. The video is set in a typical Cameroonian market.
In the video, Skidi Boy pick pockets a cellphone, sells it without regard for the cost, then e go use some of the budget for 'cut ticket' (bet on football games). The storyline follows with him running from law enforcement who he claims have become an integral part of his life. Hiding from the police in a creative way speaks on the degrees of thinking street guys need to survive on a daily basis.
Poise Opinion says:- If we did it, we’ll add a few scenes that marry the street life to the music hustle to tell the story of how street guys look for ways to clean up and get out. That would help cut redundancies in the shots. Maybe after getting away from the police and heading to where he meets his homeboy (Mr. Leo) they could have put a few other nanga mbokos in the scene; using some old/low standard equipment making the beat then his artist side kicks in which gets him hooking up the beat with "moi je suis nanga mboko...."
Overall a good song and good video.
What's your take? Is street credibility needed by rappers?
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