Dear Efe,

It was sometime in April last year that your name came to the consciousness of the average Nigerian youth. After spending 90 days in the Big Brother House, you had emerged as clear favorite due to varying reasons from your grass to grace tales, ‘keeping it real’, coupled with well-crafted street slangs like ‘Based on Logistics’ and your general persona. Outside the likes of fellow housemate Bisola, who put in a strong showing, you stood out and it was no surprise when you were announced winner with 57.61% of the votes and carted away the sum of N25M alongside an SUV.

I remember how most people celebrated with you on that night as you couldn’t hold back the joy and almost took off your shirt on stage. Your story had resonated with a lot of Nigerian youths, who in turn casted votes en-masse in support of you. But like you said in your recent twitter rant, their money expired the day the show ended and yes I do agree, they sought entertainment and you provided it in abundance and no one’s vote translate to ownership of your life or choices.

And ever since then, you have tried to pursue your career in music, which is something you stated consistently while in the house. You released your EP titled Lagos in 2016, it came and went without much fan fare, not only because you weren’t the star you are now back then but also because the music was just awful.

Since leaving the house, you have released singles like “Call Olokpa”, “Based on Logistics”, “Somebody” and “Chidinma” to mention a few. The latest is “Warri” featuring Olamide. The consistency has been impressive, though I’ve had to develop self-control not to comment on how poor the lyrics have been. I also won’t bother to note how weak your delivery was on almost every track; despite the good beats provided by Duktor Sett, you did everything but rap well.

I thought long and hard about penning this letter but you recently took to Twitter to unleash your umbrage at what you presumed to be prejudice and unfair critique from people who felt they owned you, calling some of them broke (funny), attacking blogs and even releasing a ‘freestyle’ targeted at your critics. What has changed over the course of one year? How come the supposedly humble Efe now post tweets reeking of someone with an entitled form of privilege.

Your tweets have been trending on the internet where your ‘fans’ and young people who have been influenced by you will think of this as a case of you being scapegoated. But as someone predisposed to supporting any Nigerian who can actually rap, it is only fair I bring your shortcomings to your notice.

Let me say that, while I won’t sit in the coolest corner of my office and say the criticisms and comments have not gone overboard on occasions and as a human, there are limitations to that which you can take, I however do take exception at your rage towards people criticizing your music especially when what has been offered thus far is not encouraging.

I am not even close to being mad at your chanting the word ‘nigga’ at least 15 times in the recent freestyle you dropped to promote your EP which drops  tomorrow. What you choose to do with your money and your life is totally your decision, like you have reiterated severally, but going forward, from a concerned observer, here are a few pointers you honestly should consider:

– Get someone who understands English into your team: It’s hard to comprehend how someone on your team gave the go ahead for your new EP to be titled Am Sorry Am Winning. There is a place for poetic license but there is no place for not paying attention to details in your art. To compound matters, the second track on the project is spelt “I done care”? Guy, you need an A&R, preferably someone who got C6 in WAEC.

– Get a good writer: See everyone and their mother can rap these days, all it takes is your ability to mumble a few incomprehensible words over a beat and viola, you are a rapper! But if this is truly your chosen career path, then a bit more effort is required. My favorite memory of you as an artist is your cameo in Yung6ix’s single “Gbe Seyin” video, if you need to get 6ix to help you out with your lyrics on occasions, please do. There’s no shame, even the almighty 6 god supposedly has a ghost writer.

– Drop the siege mentality: No one really cares what you do with your money or hates you because of it. You won a competition and have chosen to continue life in the public space, so it is normal for you to be placed on the highest pedestal. If the music has been good so far, you will get your deserved praise and probably be praising blogs for it. But the truth is the music has been nothing near good and it will take a strong man to give your EP a listen. So stop attacking blogs or music sites, you will need them in your corner. If you insult people by telling us that our money has “expired”, who on earth do you think is going to buy your EP?

I am writing this letter clearly not as a fan, I am writing this letter not because I need any form of attention (it’s not as if your name carries that weight honestly), but I write because I have seen many hug this deluded path that inevitably leads to self destruction. I wish you nothing but happiness and success and honestly hope your 7-track EP gives the audience a reason to reconsider. But if rap is really what you have chosen to do, then you need to focus less on the haters and more on your art. A word is enough for Efe Money.