Veteran music executive and talent manager Obi Asika claims that controversial singer Eedris Abdulkareem took a bullet for other Nigerian musicians by protesting the inadequate treatment of local performers during American rapper 50 Cent’s 2004 concert in Nigeria.
In a recent episode of Hip TV’s Trending, the recently appointed Director General of the National Council for Arts and Culture made a statement.
Asika said, “The basic situation was this, Nigerian brands did not respect Nigerian artistes. They made Nigerian talents feel like they have to beg to get on stage. They diminished them. Now, they are complaining that Nigerian artists are costing too much. It is because the brands didn’t respect the first set.
“Eedris was one of the first set. He was one of the biggest artists in the country. He told the organisers of the show that he wanted the same rights as 50 Cent. They did a show in Lagos, they were supposed to go to Benin or Port Harcourt, so they got into the plane… 50 Cent wasn’t even there at that time.
“Eedris went to sit in the business class properly to discuss collaboration with 50 Cent but he was bounced out and an altercation ensued.
“What he did, he took a bullet for other artists coming behind him. Because they ended his career. After that whole thing happened, you didn’t see him [popping] again. They painted him like he is a trouble maker but he is not a trouble maker.”
Obi Asika is the CEO and founder of Storm 360. Many Nigerian entertainers, such as Naeto C, Ikechukwu, Sasha P, General Pype, L.O.S., Ms. Jaie, Tosin Martins, and Yung 6ix, have credited Storm 360 with influencing their careers.
He has been a co-convener of the Africa Soft Power Project since June 2020, which has allowed him to have an impact on the nexus of art, technology, and entrepreneurship for three years. His pioneering position at the Iba Ajie Asika Resource Centre speaks to his commitment to community-driven innovation in Onitsha, which began in January 2016.
