Open Letter To D’Banj As He Officially Changes His Names from ‘Dapo Oyebanjo’ To ‘Daniel Banjo’
Dear D’Banj,
I love your work, I really do, I think you’re one of the greatest musicians of your generation, but I must say, your new affiliation with G.O.O.D music seems to be getting to your head.
I love your work, I really do, I think you’re one of the greatest musicians of your generation, but I must say, your new affiliation with G.O.O.D music seems to be getting to your head.
For
years you’ve been known by your official name, Dapo Oyebanjo, even
using it as part of your twitter handle. Well all good things come to an
end, and your affiliation with your new label seems to have brought
that particular chapter of your life to an untimely conclusion.
D’Banj
you’ve now gone from ‘Dapo Oyebanjo’ to ‘Daniel Banjo’. All I can do is
laugh, I mean, Daniel ‘Banjo‘ ? What are you, a country music star from
Nashville?
I
mean, I get it, Daniel provides the ‘D’ and Banjo provides the ‘Banj’,
but negro please, you’re hustlin’ backwards. Why abandon the successful
person you are to become a less successful version of what you’re not?
You’re a Nigerian, not an American, and no matter how hard you try,
you’ll never be one, so be yourself and have faith.
Plus,
truth be told, based on a fan base, you’re the BIGGEST artist in the
entire G.O.O.D music family other than Ye’ himself. You don’t need to
become an Americanized version of yourself to fit in, not to knock their
hustle, but I promise you, John Legend, Pusha T, Big Sean, Kid Cudi,
Common and your other label mates wish they had as many rabid long-time
fans as you do, they Don’t. You’ve accomplished something most of them
will never get to do, they should be insecure around you, not vice
versa.
Either
way, Dapo Daniel I’m sure you still have people who can advice you. I’d
suggest they step up and tell you to accept who you are and not try to
be something you’re not. Truth be told, your music is what people are
interested in, not the un-africanization / westernization of your name,
heck, just go study the life of Tupac Amaru Shakur to see how having an
ethnic name is immaterial to one’s success.
Or
go further back and study the work of one of your mentors, the late,
great Fela Anikulapo-Kuti who actually went from his westernized
“Ransome-Kuti” to the very Nigerianized ”Anikulapo”. Till today his name
still rings out in all corners of the world, heck he was even
immortalized with a show on Broadway.
Anyway, all I’m trying to say is people love those who keep it 100, please get back to that.
I’ve spoken my piece.
– Deuces.
I’ve spoken my piece.
– Deuces.
This is dummy text. It is not meant to be read. Accordingly, it is difficult to figure out when to end it. But then, this is dummy text. It is not meant to be read. Period.
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