Kanye West Urges American Artists To Step Up Their Game: Learn From Nigerian Musicians

Why Kanye Thinks American Artists Need to Take Notes from Nigerian Musicians

Let me paint you a picture: Imagine an industry where creativity meets business acumen. Now, imagine that same industry where artists not only create music but also run their empires like CEOs. That’s the vision Kanye West has for American artists, and he believes Nigerian musicians are already leading the charge. In a candid chat with DJ Akademiks, the 47-year-old rapper didn’t mince words when he called out his fellow American artists for lacking the business savvy that their Nigerian counterparts have mastered.

The Problem with American Rappers: Where’s the Business Mindset?

Here’s the deal: Kanye isn’t just throwing shade for the sake of it. He’s pointing out a real issue in the music industry. Too many American rappers are so focused on the creative side of things that they forget about the business side. And let’s be real, you can’t just rely on lawyers, managers, and record labels to handle everything for you. You’ve got to take control of your own career if you want to build something that lasts. West is tired of seeing talented artists fall victim to poor financial decisions and bad contracts. He wants them to wake up and realize that the music business is just as much about numbers as it is about beats and rhymes.

Kanye’s Challenge: Get Your Stuff Together Like Nigerian Artists

So, what’s Kanye’s solution? Simple: Take a page out of the Nigerian music playbook. Nigerian artists have shown time and again that they know how to run their businesses like pros. They’ve built empires from the ground up, and they don’t rely on outsiders to do the heavy lifting for them. In Kanye’s words, “Until motherfuckers can really get their stuff together like the Nigerians, the Chinese, the Jewish, or like the tech Indian or some shit, everything I’m saying counts.” It’s a bold statement, but it’s one that challenges American artists to step up their game and take ownership of their careers.

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And here’s the kicker: Kanye isn’t just talking about Nigerian musicians because they’re trendy. He’s talking about them because they’ve proven that they know what they’re doing. They’ve built their own labels, negotiated their own deals, and carved out a space for themselves in the global music scene. That’s the kind of independence Kanye wants to see from American artists.

The Financial Vulnerability of U.S. Musicians: A Wake-Up Call

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: financial vulnerability. Kanye is concerned that too many American artists are leaving their financial futures in the hands of others. They’re relying on external management, lawyers, and record labels to guide them through the business side of things. But here’s the thing: if you don’t have a solid understanding of how the industry works, you’re setting yourself up for failure. West isn’t just being dramatic when he says, “When you start, I administer pain, mentally. Because none of these niggas [rappers] are as smart as me.” He’s pointing out a harsh truth: too many artists are coasting on their talent without developing the skills they need to succeed in the long run.

And it’s not just about being smart; it’s about being strategic. Kanye goes on to say, “Artists are dumb, bro. It’s like they can’t even fucking count, bro. Jewish people and lawyers run their whole shit—the contracts, the setups, etc.” It’s a harsh critique, but it’s one that highlights the importance of understanding the business side of the music industry. If you don’t know how to read a contract or negotiate a deal, you’re leaving yourself open to exploitation.

Kanye’s Final Challenge: Can You Run a Label Without Outside Help?

West isn’t just talking; he’s challenging the status quo. He wants American artists to prove that they can run their own businesses without relying on external help. “Okay, go and ask them to run a whole record label without a Jewish person. I will take back what I had to say. Go and set up your whole TV network, make it run, no Jewish investor—let me see how that works.” It’s a bold challenge, but it’s one that highlights the importance of self-sufficiency in the music industry. If American artists want to truly succeed, they need to take control of their own destinies and stop relying on others to do the work for them.

In the end, Kanye’s message is clear: it’s time for American artists to wake up and realize that the music business is just as much about business as it is about music. If they want to build lasting careers, they need to take a page out of the Nigerian music playbook and start running their businesses like the pros they aspire to be. So, what are you waiting for? Get your stuff together and take control of your career. The future of the music industry depends on it.