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Tuesday 10 April 2012

A Fan's Open Letter To D'banj

D'banj goes from Dapo 'D'banj' Oyebanjo to Daniel 'D'banj' Banjo, and
an ardent fan isn't happy abourrit! Read his open letter to the
superstar below...
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.
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?
Lol, country music star from Nashville indeed...continue reading...

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.
***

Thoughts?

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