As much as we Nigerians hate to admit, 2017 has seen Nigerian musicians exploit the Ghanaian bounce unapologetically.
From Davido, Mayorkun, Falz, Olamide, Wizkid and too long ago 2Baba, the rhythm has been utilized extensively, such that it is now a bore.
Mr Eazi, the instigator of this musical madness, has since made a public assertion expressing his semi-displeasure over how exploitative Nigerian musicians have been towards the Ghanaian wave.
‘It’s like everybody just realized that ‘yo what formula is Mr Eazi using?’ Ok we’re gonna end up doing it. December last year almost 60% of Nigerian artiste were in Ghana playing shows.
‘Now everybody is using words like Banku, Shitor, Maami, Odoo, Sika. My guy, how come? How do you know Odoo? How do you know Sika? How do you know Maami? From where, what’s the connection?’ said Mr Eazi during an interview on Capital Xtra UK.
Runtown, who happens to be a chief practitioner of the said exploitation, immediately clapped backed at Mr Eazi saying he is about to finish what Mr Eazi started.
Sound god has indeed been a major benefactor of this wave as his biggest song yet, ‘Mad Over You‘, explored the Ghanaian bounce extensively. The success of that track led Runtown to reapply the same formula on his preceding single and feature, ‘For Life’ and ‘Pain Killer.’
Nigerians all broke up with the Ghanaian bounce after Mr Eazi sold us out but Runtown seems to be stuck to the good old [Ghanaian] element.
His feature on DJ Neptune’s latest release, ‘Why’, isn’t quite different from the already tiring Ghanaian sound. Similar synth, kicks and progressions – even though Runtown refrained from using Ghanaian slangs, the influences were very evident.
‘Why’, which is off DJ Neptune’s soon-to-be-released G.R.E.A.T.N.E.S.S album, is in no way a bad record, but it is a reflection of our past. We have gotten over the Ghanaian craze but Runtown is still emotionally attached.