Controversies have continued to trail the death of Nigerian rapper, Mohbad at 27, formerly of Marlians Records, and reportedly hounded for leaving the label with drug and gang war in the mix typical of the American industry, KEHINDE OSASONA writes.
Music genres vary across the globe; however, it would not be out of place to say that gangster raps, a typical hot lyrical kind of music, was thrown at the entire globe by the Americans.
Renowned for its gang war, drugs and record label battle, the rivalry between the East and West Coast hip hop rappers/artistes in the United State of America in the 90s was not only legendary but also infectious.
Prior to the death of Tupac Amaru Shakur and Christopher Wallace, popularly known as the Notorious B.I.G., the two gang leaders who held sway in their different camps were often engaged in different fracas often leading to death on both sides.
While Tupac plied his trade with Death Rows Records, his main rival, BIG and his gangs floated the Bad Boys Records.
Although the two most influential names in hip-hop and gangster rappers were killed in mysterious circumstances in 1996 and 1997 respectively, the title of their hit songs and the way they laced their songs with lewd and vulgar words made keen followers of music to predict easily what would eventually consume the duo.
Biggy in one of his titled hit songs sang ‘Ready to Die’ and in response, Tupac also sang ‘Hit em up’.
Tupac had a brief but stratospheric career first as backup dancer then metamorphosized to a self-styled gangster rapper and most influential figure in hip-hop, selling over 75 million records.
Their influences were so huge that many other rappers in America, Africa, and beyond aspired to be like them.
While it lasted, their lyrical prowess, which shook America and other parts of the world, swayed the young generation of artists and left as its relic drugs, streets and gang fights, musical rivalry, record label war and arrays of social menace which is yet to fade out.
However, some 26 years later, a former gang leader, Duane “Keffe D” Davis was indicted by a grand jury in Nevada and charged with the murder of the rapper’s death in Las Vegas.
Mohbad’s story
Before his death on September 12, 2023 under controversial circumstances, Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba popularly known as Mohbad, formerly of Marlians Records, Blueprint Weekend, learnt had left the record label in 2022 after a misunderstanding that cropped up over poor promotion by the record label, unsatisfactory sharing formulas and other reasons.
Mohbad had alleged that he was regularly hounded by people sponsored by his former label.
He also alleged that after his exit from the record label, he was bullied, assaulted at shows, and at other music video shoots and functions.
Based on his confession and what transpired after leaving the record label, many believed that the alleged bullying and harassment meted at Mohbad may have been orchestrated by the Head of the Marlian Records, Azeez Fashola, also known as Naira Marley; one Balogun Eletu also known as Sam Larry; and another singer, Owodunni Ibrahim also known Primeboy, who is currently on the run.
Other members of the label include, Oniyide Azeez, Zinoleesky; Olamilekan Kudus, CBlack; Inim Fabian, Fabian Blu; Tori Keeche and Vusic.
Shortly before Mohbad’s death, a friend and artist, Bella Shmurda this medium learnt had raised an alarm, saying owing to bullying and harassment suffered after being kicked out of the label, his friend (Mohbad) was suffering from mental health and once attempted suicide.
But after the revelation, the report has it that neither his record label nor family took any action to salvage the situation.
Although Naira Marley and the parents had at different interviews claimed to have waded in on behalf of Mohbad by offering advice and assistance.
His mother has insisted that she reached out to the record label to sort things out between them.
Blueprint Weekend, however, could not ascertain the level of interventions as claimed by Naira Marley, Mr and Mrs Aloba, parents of the artist.
Another report has it that Mohbad kept living with the condition for months and he went as far as organising candle light procession for himself while alive over fear of the Marlians gang and even contemplated suicide at some time.
Also, in a post on social media in 2022, Mohbad had alleged that he was assaulted by the label’s executives after he demanded a change of manager.
Sharing a video of himself on his Twitter handle back then, Mohbad claimed that he was assaulted at ‘Marlian House’ and as a pointer to his claims, in the seven-second video clip, the singer could be seen with bruises on his back, neck, and hands.
In a series of other videos that went viral on the internet, Mohbad was seen being assaulted by some people allegedly led by the suspected Sam Larry, during a video shoot, and on some other occasions.
Similarly, there was a report that Mohbad also petitioned the police, alleging threats to his life by Sam Larry and others.
In the petition, he alleged that he narrowly escaped with degrees of injuries when Sam Larry and 15 others stormed the location of his video shoot with some armed men, wreaked havoc on the place, destroyed equipment worth over N5m, after assaulting him.
Investigation revealed that the artist may have fore saw his death long before it came as he had continually referred to his bitter experience in some of his lyrics.
Mohbad’s death trended on the social media so much that it caused buzz, traffic coupled with reactions in both the street and the music industry; reminiscent of what transpired after American rapper Tupac was allegedly shot dead by an unknown gunman.
IGP orders probe
The acting Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, had authorised a “thorough” investigation of the death Mohbad.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, disclosed on X, formerly Twitter, alongside a photo of the IGP and the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Idowu Owohunwa.
Adejobi captioned the post: “IGP and CP Lagos deliberating on the death of Mohbad at the Police Airwing, Muritala Mohammed Airport, Ikeja Lagos on Saturday.”
He added that the IGP “immediately directed CP Lagos to deploy the command’s resources to carry out thorough investigation on the matter. The IGP promised the CP of adequate support on the case.”
The directive came two days after the police gave an assurance of their commitment to a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances behind the death of the 27-year-old’s death.
Police exhume remains
As part of the Lagos State Police Command’s full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Mohbad, the remains of the singer was exhumed. According to a statement Saturday by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Benjamin Hundeyin, the probe followed “growing public concerns” and a preliminary police review of the general circumstances surrounding Mohbad’s demise.
“The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Idowu Owohunwa, has directed the commencement of full-scale criminal investigation into the case,” the command said.
The objective of the investigation, it said, is to establish facts, “clearing all doubts and ensuring that justice is manifestly served through a meticulous process that will deploy all requisite protocols (which may include exhumation), as well as technical and scientific tools that are vital to the detailed investigation of homicide allegations of this nature.”
The protests
Protesting the untimely death of the artist, his fans mainly youths in Lagos and Ogun states and Abuja, FCT, did not only organise a candle light procession in honour of Mohbad, they also carried placards with inscriptions like #Justice for Mohbad’, ‘Keep resting Imole RIP’ among others demanding for justice.
In Abeokuta the Ogun state capital, hundreds of youths took to the streets in a peaceful protest to demand justice over this mysterious death.
Clad in black tee-shirts, the youths began the rally at the Panseke Area of Abeokuta had placards with inscriptions such as: “Justice For Mohbad”, “Government Must Arrest Naira Marley and Sam Larry,’’ among others.
The protesters among other things asked that the police must investigate the cause of the singer’s death and bring the culprits to book.
Police efforts
Following the outcry over Mohbad’s death the Lagos State Police Command in accordance with the directive of the Inspector-General of Police set up a 13-man special investigation team to probe the circumstances surrounding the death of the artist.
The command has since arrested Sam Larry and he is assisting the Police with its investigation.
This medium learnt that he was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport after arriving from Kenya and he was immediately taken to the state police headquarters for questioning.
In the same vein, Naira Marley was also arrested after he reportedly breezed into town to help the police in their investigation.
The spokesperson of the Lagos State Police Command, Ben Hundeyin, confirmed this in a statement on X, formerly Twitter, stating: “Azeez Fashola, aka Naira Marley has been taken into custody for interrogation and other investigation activities #justice4Mohbad #justiceforMohbad.”
Nigerian social media has been flooded with speculation that Naira Marley was linked to Mohbad’s death.
The singer had signed a deal with Marley’s record label in 2019, but local media reported that the two parted ways on bad terms in 2022. MohBad also accused Marley of assault months before his death.
Police declare Primeboy wanted
In a related development the Lagos Police, on Wednesday declared wanted another associate of the late artiste, Owodunni Ibrahim aka Primeboy in connection with the murder of Mohbad, just as an offer N1m bounty was placed on him.
According to the command, following his failure to honour police invitation successfully sent to him since the commencement of the investigation into the circumstances leading to the death of Mohbad.
Lagos police spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, who disclosed this on his X handle, described Ibrahim to be “approximately 1.64-m tall, male, dark-complexioned with tribal marks and Yoruba by tribe.”
According to the PPRO, Ibrahim’s last known address is 3rd Power, Oke Eletu, Ikorodu.
“If seen, contact the nearest police station or call 0803 688 5727,” Benjamin stated.
He added that the state Commissioner of Police, CP Idowu Owohunwa, was giving a sum of N1 million to anyone with useful information leading to his arrest.
“CP Idowu Owohunwa hereby offers a handsome reward of N1,000,000 (One Million Naira Only) to anyone with useful information leading to his arrest,” he posted.
Conspiracy, altered video
The mysterious death of Mohbad has prompted an outcry in the West African country, with protestors rallying to demand an investigation.
Blueprint Weekend checks has indicated that a video shared thousands of times on TikTok which claimed President Bola Tinubu accused rapper Naira Marley of being involved in Mohbad’s death were altered. Indications have emerged that the clips were digitally altered, using footage from a news report.
Our correspondent’s checks revealed that it was from a TikTok account that adds voiceovers to videos of famous people, including several featuring Tinubu.
“Finally!!!! Tinubu speaks about Mohbad death (sic),” reads the caption of a TikTok video published on September 30, 2023.
Viewed more than 513,000 times, the clip showed Tinubu giving a televised speech.
The news headline at the bottom of the screen read: “President Bola Tinubu”. The top left corner features a TVC News logo. TVC News is a Nigerian 24-hour television news channel based in Lagos.
“Even though Naira Marley was the one who killed Mohbad, they can’t arrest him because Naira Marley is my boy and my business partner,” Tinubu purportedly said in the video.
While several commentators seem to doubt the video’s authenticity, others have expressed their dismay at Tinubu’s alleged involvement with Marley.
However, the claim that the video showed Tinubu publicly discussing Marley’s alleged involvement in Mohbad’s death is false.
In the clip, Tinubu’s mouth movements are clearly out of sync with the audio, although it does seem to sound like his voice.
Using a reverse image search, it was found the original footage was from a TVC news report from June 2, 2023. This is as several verified elements to confirm this is the same footage seen in the TikTok clip.
TRENDING: Moment President Tinubu Announces Appointment Of Gbajabiamila,…
Sociologist speaks
While speaking on the consequences, a Sociologist, Ani Helen, described the happenings in the entertainment and particularly music industry as the height of the rots in the society.
Ani, who spoke exclusively to Blueprint Weekend expressed regrets that happenings in our music industry could be used to mirror our society by foreigners and outsiders, saying all hands must be on deck that all the bad trends won’t augur well for a growing nation and her generation in the long run.
“Let me tell you, there is more to all these gangsterism, drug war and label rivalry. Imagine, it has gotten to a level where you have to belong to be a signee to a record label else, you won’t be allowed to blow as they always call it.
“Today, virtually all of them belong to one fraternity or the other. Some have even gone as far as patronizing Illuminati and the Church of Satan. It is that bad.”
On the way forward, she advocated social equality, value re-orientation and rejiging of the primary school curriculum to suit current trends, saying mass re-orientation on the part of the home front, government, church, school and other entities can also help to stem the menace of drug abuse, street fight, cultism, get rich-quick syndrome, bullying, audio lives or fake lives that have characterised individuals especially the youth in their different stratum.
