Of late, a conversation around the viability of rap music in Nigeria has been sparked by MI when we combine the King of Nigerian Rap’s Loose Talk interview with his latest release. While MI may be mad at a whole generation of rappers, there are some who are worthy of note. That list will include an act like DAP who has displayed remarkable consistency away from the limelight. On his latest release, Open Letter II, a sequel to Open Letter, the rapper is as meditative as he was on the initial record which came six months ago.
On the introductory record, he reveals the struggles behind convincing his parents he could manage being a student and going to Abbey Road as part of Vice’s, The Undergraduate. He takes us on a journey from his days in college to the many exploitative contracts he was presented and finally how he found himself being supported by those he was most comfortable with. With the initial letter, DAP highlighted one of the issues most young creatives encounter with the music- a narrative- something we cannot ask enough of from artists.
On Open Letter II, DAP again allows his emotions emerge as he takes us on a journey of his thoughts and the conflict that often goes on in his brain. In the self-directed, produced and edited video, DAP opts for simplicity as he pens some words to friends and family before he goes on to rap all the lines from the record without a single camera cut and then closes with another short blurb which gives us some understanding of the thoughts he grapples with.
Dear MI, some Nigerian rappers are holding their own, maybe you just don’t know about them.