Small Doctor “Guns” For 2pac’s shoes

Over 2 decades ago, the American music industry suffered great losses in the deaths of 2 legendary rappers Tupac Shakur and Notorious BIG. A major player in the build up to the two assassinations was lyrical content of their raps termed gangsta rap. They also wielded weapons in videos and real life promoting violence and fueling the west coast versus east cost rivalry. Both artistes were not strangers to drive bys, jail time and gun shot wounds until they were eventually felled by bullets.

The recent rise in violence related to Nigerian artistes which is also a reflection of their lyrics in recent times makes one wonder if they are set for same path. Burna boy, Wizkid, Davido and most recently Small Doctor have been involved in some kinds of threats, assaults and outright physical attack on other artistes, fans or strangers.

When the news got out yesterday that Small doctor and his gang/friends were arrested for threatening a policeman with an unlicensed firearm, i initially was not perturbed until i realised that this is an artiste with over a million followers on instagram. Like him or not, he has an enormous level of influence on the youths. And here he is probably unrepentant and feeling like a legend for having the effrontery to threaten a policeman with a gun. Whatever his reasons, he broke the law and should face the consequences to serve as  a deterent to other artistes towing same path as well as the follow follow fans. Nigeria is not America and you are not 2pac.

What is really amusing is that the artistes like Small Doctor that are quick to copy the negative life style of some American hiphop artistes are not willing to pay the price of consequences unlike the 2pacs and Biggys. Notorious BIG not only flaunted his negative lifestyle with his lyrics but also rapped about being “ready to die”. Which Nigerian artiste would want to have 5 bullets removed from his body and left on a wheel chair in jail ike 2pac? The average Nigerian hiphop artistes wants to live large and live long. Why then start on a course that will derail young fans who look up to you?

I hope others will learn from the arrest and impending prosecution of Small doctor and evaluate your every decision before making them. Ask yourself if you are willing to face the consequences like those you are copying.

Author

Ibukun Rasheed