My top Nigerian contemporary music artists

This is an evolving list of my top Nigerian music artists.  You'll find them on my iPod and I play them all the time.

Tuface

To truly appreciate Tuface, you MUST watch him perform live. His ability to freestyle and create lyrics on-the-spot is legendary. If he was a rapper, he would be a rap battle god. In summary, his live performances are electrifying and studio albums a pleasure to listen to. His musical marriage with Producer, J-Sleek is a match made in heaven.







StylPlus

StylPlus redefined contemporary Nigerian RnB. They made it grown up and sexy. 








Sound Sultan

Lyrics matter. Sound Sultan is a lyricist non pareil and musical craftsman. 











MI

MI made me fall in love with rap again. He made rap "musical" and demonstrated that it needn't be loud or profane.








Wizboyy

Apparently I have a thing for music from the Niger-Delta. Wizboy is all about natural harmony, effortless melody and great music!











Sunny Neji

I fell in love with Neji's album, Unchained. I'm an album junkie and feast on entire albums not just individual singles. On Unchained, every track is a winner.










Wizkid

Wizkid sings populist commercial tracks but is a bundle of true genius.








Psquare

A tad commercial but Psquare's music is VERY easy on the ears. They put on a VERY good show. These guys know how to dance!





D'banj

Dbanj's music is well em... But he defines charisma, dedication, ambition & hardwork. HE IS AN ENTERTAINER.











Tiwa Savage

Tiwa's was a highly anticipated album. Not sure the result, Once Upon a Time, met expectations but it's always a pleasure to hear her sing.






Banky W.

I am very biased. His sideburns make me forget everything else. Okay, I really like his music too. 











Omawunmi

Omawunmi defines gritty creativity, energy and hard work. She is progressively talented.











Waje

Darn! This girl can siiiing! From featured vocals to an album of her very own, Words Aren't Just Enough, Waje has come a long way, baby!

Lessons Learned

The other day I watched a wild dog dart across the road in front of my vehicle. I wasn't moving too fast and was able to easily avoid it. But I wondered what fate would have befallen the poor dog if it had been another driver moving at a much faster pace. I thought to myself that many of us live lives that way; oblivious to danger and peril. 

That experience sparked off a chain of thoughts. I began to think of the many lessons life teaches us. If we would but listen and observe, there are many principles to be imbibed on a daily basis. 

Over the years, I've learned some incredible lessons. Some have evolved into personal philosophy. I've codified some; been taught some; overheard some and read some.  I'd like to share a selection of my favourite life lessons with you:
1. Never live your life like a careless dog crossing the road - oblivious of danger. Don't be like the man King Solomon once described - toying with fire then as he carelessly sets fire to the house and it burns down, he says "I didn't mean it".

2. Never take Panadol for another man's headache - It's not your problem. He/she is grown. They'll deal with it.

3. When hunters learn to shoot without missing, birds will learn to fly without perching - Adapt and survive.

4. Never use your own values to judge another man's capacity for good or evil. You will live life in perpetual surprise. 

5. As your money increases, so will those who want to spend it with you. Avoid devourers. Learn the art of saying NO and being unavailable. 

6. Don't expose your friends, spouse or other people to being used and abused. Protect them. 

7. You don't have to answer every call. 

8. You don't have to attend every event.

9. You don't have to grant every favour. Care less about what others think of you. After they've gotten what they want from you, they'll move on to the next source. The day you push back and say no, they'll resent and abuse you. 

10. You don't have to be there for everyone all the time. If your tank becomes empty, you'll have nothing left to give. 

11. You have siblings and colleagues Let them carry some of the load. You are not Superman/woman. 

12. As you prosper, give commensurately. It enlarges you heart and keeps you grounded.

13. Never spiritualize another man's pain. Don't dismiss people's troubles with religious platitudes.

14. Never use the speed with which you bounced back to measure another man's pace of recovery. 

15. To know your true friends, watch how they respond to the things that are important to you, especially when you've been there for them in the past.

16. Some friends will cause you to consider a philosophy of hardness. Don't give in to the temptation to change who you are. Simply cut them off and focus on those who are worthy of you. 

17. Never get to the point where you begin to think of "friends" in terms of waste - waste of time, waste of resources, waste of life, waste of self. You should leave long before that. 

18. Never let the people who care about you regret the sacrifices they made and time spent with you. Do not be ungrateful and insensitive.

19. You cannot lead or project manage the unwilling.

20. Don't put your future on hold because you want to avoid offending people. People will always choose what is in their interest. If people don't put you into consideration when making routine decisions, should you consider them when making critical life decisions?

© Subomi Plumptre 2013. All Rights Reserved

No Bullshit Volume 2 - Development Diary: October 4, 2013

I just finished 3 of the final 7 chapters of my book No Bullshit Volume 2. The chapters are: Anthony the Taxi Driver, Emotional Blackmail and Tales of Desperate Love. It's been a very productive day.

Here's an extract from Tales of Desperate Love:

"We met for the first time. I deliberately wore red. You told me about your broken heart and attempt to find love again. I told you it had been a while since my last relationship. We felt a strong kinship. Months later you told me you wanted to kiss me after our first date but the gentleman in you wouldn't. The outfit worked well".

I'll start another article today, Schizo Generation. It explores how my generation battles with the traditional imperatives of our upbringing while embracing the liberties and knowledge of Western societies.

At this pace, my book should be finished in a week or two.

Rosemary Ajayi and Kathleen Ndongmo have promised to read the first cut. Will they be shocked, pleased or disappointed?