In the late 90s, the Nigerian music industry was gradually gaining its roots among the Nigerian citizens, though the youths at that time were still more engrossed with foreign music.
At most parties and radio stations, Nigerian songs were getting about 30 to 40 per cent airplay until in the 2000s and mid 2000s when foreign music was virtually faced out till today.
Back then, for those who were lovers of the Nigerian music, artistes like Junior and Pretty, Remedies, Plantashun Boiz, Daddy Fresh, Daddy Showkey, Baba Fryo, Nico Gravity, Lagbaja and several others changed the face of the industry many now enjoy today.
But it is sad to note that of all the artistes who worked tirelessly to make the industry what it is today, only a handful of them are still relevant in the industry and are calling the shots.
Most of the artistes that ruled the industry more than a decade ago have gone underground and most people have attributed this to the tough competition in the industry now.
One person in the old generation of artistes that does not believe that competition chased him out of the music industry is Baba Fryo, who was famous for his ‘Denge Pose’ smash hit single.
In an interview with Nigeriafilms.com, the Ajegunle-based musician disagreed with the insinuation that the young artistes forced him out of the industry.
“No, never, I don’t even think of other people when it comes to music, I think about myself alone because if you buy a big car today, it will not move me,” he told us. Explaining the reason behind that, he said, “Thinking about other people’s successes might give me a bad idea. So, I think about myself alone.
” When asked why he has remained underground for a long time, Baba Fryo said,
“There is nothing, everything is just cool. I am just trying to stay cool. It is just natural that I stay cool for some time, but I am coming out in 2015 with something different.
” He boasted to Nigeriafilms.com that it would be easy for him to make a comeback when he is ready to do so because he will do “the kind of music people will love, not the kind of music other people play.”
