How well do you know Tope Alabi’s songs? Take the quiz:
We have altered the lyrics of some of your favourite Nigerian songs. Are you smart enough to match the lyrics to the song?
Give it a try:
If you have money, then you’ll be listening to songs about money. How well do you know their lyrics?
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There are some international hits that got so much airplay during the 2000s that they might as well have been made by a Nigerian. We want see if you can identify 11 of them by their lyrics alone.
About the importance of the project, Oxlade told Zikoko:
“This project means everything to me. It’s the first time I putting out a thing of my own. It’s a way for me to share a part of myself to the world through my singing.”
So, instead of a traditional review — which would have us praising Oxlade’s killer voice and instinctive songwriting — we decided to have him pick and breakdown 5 lyrics he believes best represent this body of work.
“Machala for your love/Mezewu for your love/Go loco for your love” — “Hold On”
Machala is slang for a don, and in this context, I’m saying I’ll become the top of the crop for love. Mezewu means going crazy on drugs, so that’s about me being high on love. I’m sure everyone knows what going loco means.
The entire song is just about me being selfless and letting go of my ego for love. A lot of people get the impression that I’m a hoe, but this is the real Oxlade — a soft loverboy.
“Let us go far away, miles away, far away/ To a place where no one can dictate how we play” — “Away”
“Away” is really personal to me. I got raped when I was 10 years old, and I went through that for 3 years. I kept wishing I could run away because I felt like a captive.
In this context, however, it’s about me trying to run away from all the negativity with my babe. The song is ultimately about seeking freedom, and this lyric is the juice behind the entire thing.
“And if I tell you move, you must to jabole” — “Kokose”
“Kokose” is my jam, and I love it because it makes no sense. It was a template record that I made so I wouldn’t forget the melody. Then when I went back to the studio, Spax said I should leave it like that.
It’s really just a feel-good song, and this line is me saying that I won’t allow anyone to be dull around me. Honestly, I think this song is going to bang. I just need the world to return to normal so clubs can shatter it.
“You be my weakness and you be my sickness and I don’t wanna cure myself from you” — “Weakness”
“Weakness” was inspired by my ex. Actually, most of the love songs on this project were inspired by her. She broke my heart one day, and I just decided to write a stack of love songs.
This song is me letting her know that she is my weakness, but I don’t mind if she kills me — just as long as I have her in my life. It’s fake deep, I know, but it’s honest.
“Tables turn oh/ It fit be your turn today, tomorrow make it be my turn oh” — “Tables Turn”
“Tables Turn” is a true story, and it’s really just me reminding niggas that karma is a bitch. I was raised in the slums, and the type of songs they made there were not the type I wanted to make. So, I was an outcast.
The line is about being good to people. You don’t know what the future holds for anyone you come across, so always try to be as kind as possible to others.
How well do you know songs by Nigeria’s biggest and most beloved stars? Can you tell which artist sang (or rapped) which words? Well, if you’re feeling confident, this quiz is here to test your knowledge.
Go ahead:
If you are anything like me, January has gone on for 80 days already. I was listening to FireBoy’s album the other day and I thought that some lyrics make a good cry for help. Here are some that resonated with me.
1 From the song Vibration – *”Egba mi, o pari oh”
*Someone save me, it is finished.
This was my reaction while checking my balance throughout December. I kept on asking: “who spent all this money?” Somebody send help!
2) Gbas Gbos from the song Gbas Gbos
Friend: How is your bank account like?
Me: Gbas Gbos. The usual.
3) “We go go America on a midnight train” – From the song What if I say
This is a financial red flag. Firstly, we don’t have a functional railway system in Nigeria. Secondly, we don’t have trains that go to America from here. Thirdly, if you enter midnight train in Nigeria, what you see is what you get.
4) “I am just trying to survive, I just want to win” – From the song Wait and See
This was my motto all through University.
5) *”If I say I should talk, where will I start my story from?” – From the song Energy
*Ti ba ni ki soro, melo ni mo fe so gan.
This is my reaction when people ask me anything about the situation of my finances. Where do I start from exactly?
1. When Kanye didn’t know simple history.
2. Maybe Future’s eye is paining him.
3. When Biggie Smalls forgot the meaning of ‘Nombre’.
4. So Kanye can’t count again?
5. Akon was just plain rude.
6. Just look at this yama yama.
7. Na wa o! Common vertical line is too confusing for Chamillionaire.
8. Rick Ross needs to be flogged for this.
9. When your favourite rapper is an olodo.
10. Even Drake needs cane for ever thinking of this line.
Listening carefully to the Ojuelegba crooner – Wizkid, it is evident that most of his lines are answers to a lot of real life situations. Here are a few of them.
When your girlfriend is mad at you and locks you out.
Song: Scatter The Floor
When you attend an Owambe and the dance floor is popping.
Song: Pakurumo
When your friend keeps asking you how their face looks.
Song: Don’t Dull
“Are you sure you will be able to make it? I think there is traffic”.
Song: Shout Out
For those that keep saying “I think I am way too skinny”.
Song: Shout Out
When your visitors finally arrive after a long trip.
Song: Jaiye Jaiye Ft. Femi Kuti
When you get asked why your friend keeps going back to their ex.
Song: Ojuelegba
When you are trying to make it clear to someone you have been talking to what you want?
Song: In My Bed
When everybody finally understands what you have been going through.
Song: Show You The Money
Getting asked “How are you doing?”.
Song: Ojuelegba
When your friends ask if you can really pay for their expenses?
Song: Jaiye Jaiye ft Femi Kuti
When you are wondering what to do when you have a lot of money.
Song: Jaiye Jaiye ft Femi Kuti
And your wife asks what you are getting her as a Christmas gift.
You never listen to mainstream Nigerian songs for the content. If you need content, find Asa or Bez.
So get a banging beat and you’re good to go. But the fact that we don’t listen to the lyrics doesn’t mean there’s no limit. Sometimes, try. We are begging.
1. Check Up – DJ Mewsic POM ft. Skales, Vector, Hakym the Dream
This sounds suspiciously like he got this line from Ice Prince.
2. Export – MI ft Yung6ix
No. Ehn ehn. Nah.
3. The Game – Olamide ft. Phenom
This is just disgusting.
4. Icholiya – Phyno ft. Ice Prince & M.I
I’m hungry.
5. The Truth – Vector (Mode 9 Diss)
Smelling rap. You can do better?
6. RIP Drake & Meek Mill – Vic-O
Greatest. Rapper. Ever.
7. Prick No Get Shoulder – Brymo
What?!
8. Bullion Van – MI ft. Phyno and Runtown
Lyrical evangelist terrorist.
9. Freestyle – Davido
Well hello, Nigerian Iggy.
10. Thank You – Ice Prince ft. Choc Boiz
Dear Jesse, this is sad.
11. Kpansh – Yung6ix ft. MI
Now we know he can read the alphabet…wait!
12. Elbow Room – Mode9
Why in the name of all that is good and evil will I be holding a lemon and a torch?
13. The Infiltration Mixtape – Cyrus tha Virus
STOP!
14. 2Mussh – Reminisce ft. Sinzu & Ice Prince
How dare you, Ice Prince? How dare you?!
15. Comment Tu T’appelle – LeriQ ft. Burna Boy, Dammy Krane, Ozone, & Mojeed
Flying saucer ni.
16. Ta Lo Sobe – Omo Akin ft. Dotstar, IcePrince, Jesse Jagz, Shadow D Don
This. Is. Not. A. Good. Thing.
17. Too Much Money – Iceberg Slim ft. Banky W
That’s not even… Sigh…
18. Eziokwu – Lynxxx ft. Various artistes
This is why Glo dropped him.
19. Taxi Music – X.O Senavoe
We didn’t want to get it.
20. Ghostmode – Phyno ft. Olamide
Like a toolbox, I’ve got all your tools.
21. Omo Naija Remix – Reminisce
Baba Hafusa, what is spastic?
22. Back When – Davido ft. NaetoC
Are you done with that Masters yet? We hope not.
23. Anamachikwanu – Ill Bliss
The horror!
24. Naija Delta Money – Pryse
Just as well there’s no balcony. I would have pushed you off for this.
25. In My bed – Wizkid
LMAO!!!! What??? How???
Look at all these lines. Just see.
Just stop. Please.
So seriously, what are the worst Nigerian raps/lyrics you’ve heard?
