The Editor – MIAbaga.com & Tosin Adeda Share their Views on Rick Ross’ “Hold Me Back” Music Video

Rick Ross‘ Nigerian version of his “Hold Me Back” music video caused an uproar from Nigerians ever since the day it got online. A lot of people have given it very negative comments while some others have totally done quite the opposite. So, to give a more objective view on the hot topic, here are two different reviews on the issue:

The Editor – MIAbaga.com {click here}

“Does it make you angry? Does it rile you to see your country portrayed as poor and suffering and full of struggle?

It burns you, does it not? To have some foreigner- who knows nothing of your history and pain, of the stories that flow within your blood- to have this foreigner come in and tell your story?

Is it not the height of disrespect and insensitivity? Does it not chafe against the thick skin you have grown to cover your other wounds?

Does it not make you angry?

We should wax sanctimonious about national pride being slighted.

We should vent our displeasure online.

We should occupy something.

Because God forbid the truth ever be told about what things really are.

God forbid a stranger remind us about those things we choose to ignore everyday.

God forbid we ever face the truth about ourselves.

God forbid we do not go on the internet and rail about how our country is being cast in bad light. God forbid we do not talk about how there is a small minority which lives better than portrayed. God forbid we do not ignore truth one more time.

God forbid we don’t.

@miabaga_dotcom

#RickRoss

”When I made this record..I wrote it in a mind of a N**** who may not have anything. You could stand in the rear, but that don’t determine where you end up” – Rozay

This article was written by The Editor and does not express the personal views of the Rapper MI Abaga.

Thank you.”

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Tosin Adeda – http://tosinadeda.wordpress.com/2012/09/19/my-views-on-the-hold-me-back-nigerian-version-video/

“It’s no more news that Rick Ross was in Nigeria few weeks ago for a show, and after the show he decided to shoot a video for his “Hold Me Back” track off his “God Forgives I Don’t” album. Oh that video dropped yesterday, and Nigerians have aired their views via different social media platforms. Some absolutely love the video, while others see it as a slap on the face of Nigerians for being portrayed in such light to the rest of the world.

For those who feel the song has no message, I will take time out to type the lyrics of the of the song.

[Intro]
I see how these niggas playin’
But I could adapt
These niggas won’t hold me back [x8]
These hoes won’t hold me back
These hoes won’t hold me back
These niggas won’t hold me back
These niggas won’t hold me back

[Verse 1]
I look in my fridge, my sh*t lookin’ scarce
I got a few kids, we need some sh*t on the shelf
I get a knock at the door, they say my rent overdue
And while my niggas sell drugs and don’t know what else to do
The only thing on my mind, I’m tryin’ to keep on the lights
I call up my slime, I need a kilo tonight
Everything whipped well, I’m eatin’ steak, no more soup
Then I parked the Capri, I went and bought me a Coupe
Everything takes time, but this sh*t came fast
Niggas standin’ in line, they wanna hold me back
I multiplied my hustle, stimulated my mind
Motivated my niggas and we’ll never divide, no

[Hook]
These niggas won’t hold me back [x4]
These hoes won’t hold me back
These hoes wanna hold me back [x3]
Noooo

[Verse 2]
First I got me a Taurus, then I copped me a Lexus
I took over Florida, my connect out of Texas
Then I start sippin’ purple, got my sh*t screwed
When you feedin’ your circle, watch your shipments improve
Fabricate ’bout your fortune, all my fabric’s imported
Fornicate in my fortress, 40k still my mortgage
24k my toilet, all my taxes reported
All my exes deported, shout-out Texas, New Orleans
All these niggas influenced by a hustler’s endurance
I just me the purest, but I need some insurance
Niggas watch who you f*ckin’ just to hate on your b*tches
Niggas breakin’ the rules, niggas facin’ suspicion

[Hook]

[Verse 3]
Momma workin’ three jobs ’til I told her to quit
How we rose from the sewer, funny now I’m the sh*t
Niggas ain’t gettin’ money, but they got an opinion
Had this tech makin’ racket, serve you like you were tennis
Killers ride for that paycheck, AK okay, check
B*tch nigga let’s play chess, yo b*tch next, no latex
These niggas won’t hold me back, told the feds they sold me set
Whip ‘em right and then come right back
Whip-whip-whip ‘em right and then come right back

[Hook x2]

[Verse 4]
P*ssy Bottom niggas, p*ssy Bottom niggas
They all p*ssy Bottom niggas, p*ssy Bottom niggas
Lookin’ down on these niggas, p*ssy Bottom niggas
Pushin’ my new Ferrari on these p*ssy Bottom niggas
P*ssy hoe, p*ssy hoe
She a p*ssy hoe until she give me p*ssy hoe
P*ssy hoe, p*ssy hoe
P*ssy hoe, she a p*ssy hoe

The song is just about the rise from nothing to something, the rise from struggling to flossing, how he was broke and stuff and hustled his way to the top, how people who didn’t do nothing for him when he was broke now feel they can hold him back, how he’s determined to achieve more even with the hate etc.

For those who feel the Nigerian version of the video is just a way to ridicule them, take time out to watch the Original version of the video and then also the Nigerian version again. Watch both videos below:

Now that you are done watching both, I am sure we can all agree that both videos have similarities [both were shot in the slums]. Why did he shoot in the slums? That I don’t know, but I have my own opinion on why he did shoot the videos in the slum, and it goes thus: For a song that portrays struggle, hustle, poverty and how hard work can take anybody out of it, the best place for someone like Rick Ross to shoot the video is the slums. He was once like the people in the slums, he remembers the struggle, he remembers the hustle, and he remembers the people who he was once like.

The song is a ghetto song, it’s a song about the streets, it’s about the common man, it’s only logical to shoot such a video in the ghetto, on the streets. I salute the director of the videos also, there is a difference between making a slum scene and actually using a real slum, and in this case a real slum was used, which I think it’s something that Nigerian video directors need to learn, that’s what originality and creativity is about.

For those who have a problem with the quality of the video, I challenge them to show me a better Nigerian ghetto video [directed by a Nigerian] that’s as original, precise, straight to the point as the “Hold Me Back” Nigeria video. To think that the video was short within a short time and came out good is a plus.

How many of our own Nigerians artistes have done songs/video to show the plight of Nigerians who live in poverty? Majority of them portray Nigeria in their videos like all is fine and we all live the good life. Some don’t even shoot their videos in Nigeria, they go to other African countries to shoot videos, is that what you like? People who don’t believe in a country that made them rich and famous. Some make it worse by using White models in their videos, the height of inferiority complex. It’s a shame that anybody will feel offended by a foreigner who came over to Nigeria to shoot a video in the slums that we Nigerians have forgotten about.

By the way, did you all see the tribute to Rashidi Yekini? I loved that, R.I.P to the legend of Nigerian Football.

Now, finally to those who just don’t like the video because they feel it portrays Nigeria in bad way to the outside world, first of all let me make a point clear to you all; “the average, hallow minded, myopic, stupid and dumb non-Nigerians [especially the whites] see Nigeria and Africa as a whole as a jungle of black monkeys who hang on trees and stuff, and there is nothing anybody can do to change it, because majority will die in their ignorance”.

That aside, I have some questions for those who feel insulted by the video being shot in the slums. Are the visuals of the video that of Nigeria or not? Is Nigeria a developed country? What does the average Nigerian worth? How much does the average Nigerian spend in a day? Is Nigeria a paradise for majority of Nigerians? Those people in the slums, are they lesser Nigerians than you are? Are you really offended because you feel bad for them or because of your own ego? Do you care about those particular set of people? Why do you have a problem with the whole world seeing how majority of Nigerians live? Answer those questions in your minds, they are rhetorical.

A country blessed with so much natural resources, and yet so much poverty and suffering by the majority of it’s people, a country that cannot boast of steady power supply, good health care, good roads, good water supply, good education and several other basic infrastructure that every Nigerian deserves; why will you as a Nigerian want to help the looting and corrupt leaders of Nigeria hide the fact that majority of we Nigerians live in abject poverty and penury in the midst of plenty?

And it’s funny and ridiculous that you think you can hide the fact that majority of Nigerians live in poverty because of corrupt leaders, I mean these leaders steal public funds and store in the hands of these same people we are trying to hide from. The world is not blind, they can see, they know how we live in, they know that majority live in poverty, you can’t hide that fact.The fact that you are privileged and have access to more money and luxury does not change the fact that majority of Nigerians are poor and live below a dollar everyday. I find it very inhuman to feel offended that Nigerians like you and I are in a video, but because they live in the slums, you are bothered about how the outside world will feel about us in general. The outside world will only talk, they don’t care about you and I, they won’t solve our problems, it is you and I that will solve our own problems and get ourselves out of the abject poverty that we have been subjected to as Nigerians by our thieving and corrupt politicians.

Do you know the joy and happiness those people in the slums felt? Do you know what is means to be rejected by the government of your own country, and left to live in permanent misery and poverty? Only to be remembered by a foreigner, who went ahead to shoot a video so that the we all can see their plight. You all should be ashamed of yourselves, for feeling offended over the joy of Nigerians who got remembered for once in a very long while.

The government have forgotten these people, left to die in the slums, now you are also going to betray and deny them, because you have more money? Shame on YOU!!!

What have you done to help out? Have you touched the lives of Nigerians who live in poverty? What have you contributed? Nothing, absolutely Nothing!

Nigeria Go Better…

Tosinadeda

2012

Please share your thoughts on both articles…

Source: MIAbaga.com | Tosin Adeda Blog