The success story of Nigerian Hip Hop musicians cannot be overlooked as an artiste, you cannot pretend like it is not happening (except you want to lie to us that you are not aware of it). I am sure some of our top Gospel Musician must have at one point of their life check out the amount of money some of this Hip Hop musician are getting through endorsements, concerts, performances etc. and question themselves, Why Did I choose Gospel over Hip Hop?
For a secular artiste, an endorsement from corporate bodies is a big advantage. The cash involved is a symbol of stability and having arrived. No wonder they are able to release super duper clean musical videos and do songs that you cannot resist but dance to even if they are making no sense. For example, a top Nigerian Blog recently released the top 10 Nigerian artistes with the biggest endorsement, the least on the list is a boy who released just a single few months ago, according to the Blog, the boy endorsement worth N10 Million naira (He is the least on the list oh!).
Despite the money and fame that comes with doing Hip Hop, some people choose to do Gospel Music! Each time I think about this few but determined individuals who choose to do Gospel instead of doing Hip Hop, I ask myself, "Why!" because I believe there is a reason for every choice we make in life.
Like myself, I am sure a lot of Nigerians want an answer to this same question. BelieversCompanion put together the response we were able to gather from top Nigerian Gospel Musician who responded to the Question: "Why Did you Choose Gospel?":
Adekunle Ayoola (Soul Snatcha)
One-half of the popular gospel rap group Rooftop MCs, Soul Snatcher is a musician that can tell you how tempting it is to jump the gun (moving from Gospel to Hip-Hop). Soul Snatcha is not new in the Gospel music lane, his career dated back to those years when Rooftop Mcs was topping musical charts in Nigeria. When Rooftop MCs dropped their single titled "Lagimo" featuring Cobhams Asuquo, the Gospel Group topped the country's music chart for a long time (I have never seen a Gospel Music that has topped Nigeria's Music chart like this single till date).
Do you know the amount of temptation that would have come with that? (Being the number one single in the country). If you ask him if he has been tempted to ditch Gospel for Hip-Hop, I think he will have more than enough to say. Despite the temptation, He has remained a Gospel Musician. Why did you stick with Gospel Snatcha? why not join the money makers? See his response below:Well I wouldn't say I chose gospel music. the way I see life is through the Christian worldview. So everything I do comes from that conviction. Whatever I do be it eating drinking joking its to glorify God and reflect my worldview.
Onos Brisibi
Onos Brisibi response to this question is outstanding. The Oyoyoma crooner answer is a reflection of Psalm 63: 1-11. She said:
I love God and we have been given a mandate to spread the word of God to the unsaved ,broken hearted and all. One sure way to do that is through music. It is a medium by which I tell of the Person of My Lord and Savior and it's easily accepted.
Music has no barriers .its a beautiful tool of evangelism. If a music is sweet ,you will play it again and again by the second and repeated time you definitely will get the message. It is a great healing tool, it inspires, it restores. Gospel music is the word of God in music, ensure you guide your craft with your all and always remember that it's a gift that has been given to you by God to bless, inspire, envagelize and win the unsaved for God.
Omolara Ogunsanya
Omolara Ogunsanya popularly known as Molara picked Gospel because she want to promote God's work with her talent. According to her:
I took to gospel because of the call of God, There is a need to propagate the gospel, I choose to do that through my songs.
Busola Martins
Arabaribiti crooner Busola Martins who is a gospel songwriter, worship leader and a key member of the RCCG music team in New Zealand said:
I choose gospel because I got to know the Lord as a young teenager. So I see no other way outside gospel.
Gold Owen
Did I really choose Gospel? Well when I started, I didn't think of it, I grew up in a Gospel setting, that was all I knew. But currently, I can say I choose gospel for who I am... I am Gospel in every way, when I sleep and wake up.. My lifestyle is Gospel, I don't have a circular life, I live Gospel.
The Jos-based Gospel Musician released a single some months ago titled "where I for Dey"
Samuel Amubieya
Nigerian Gospel Musician, Samuel Amubieya popularly known as BariJesus have this to say:
While on campus, I was a DIE-HARD fan of the Late Fuji Musician, Ayinde Barrister, after my university education I rededicated my life to Christ and starts a group called "Be Advance and Responsible In Jesus (BARI Jesus).Interesting...
The lyrics of the Late Fuji star do jump into my mind, in other not to be sounding like an unbeliever by singing the lyrics of Barrister, I decided to be replacing the lyrics with Bible words whenever the inspiration comes. That is why most of my songs sound like the Late Fuji songs.
Desperate Worshippers
Our vision is to bring healing, encouragement, inner strength and hope to as many as possible through our songs and to make them worship God in spirit and in truth. There is no better way to make this vision of ours come through than to do good Gospel Music.
Desperate Worshippers has gone on to release two singles, Ancient of Days and El-Shaddai.
Egedegbe Ernest
I chose gospel music because I want to be an artist that will always contribute positively to the music that the world will listen to. Gospel music is Healing Music.
Negative Music = Terrible World Positive Music = Better World
Adebayor Emmanuel
I didn't choose gospel, God wants me here that is why am here.
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