Popular Nigerian rapper Phenom has revealed the alleged amount Grammy award-winning singer and performer Burna Boy was paid by the international label Atlantic Records to join the outfit as far back as 2017.
The Murder Dem crooner who addressed many issues in his recent interview with the podcast show, The Yarns alleged that the African Giant had received an advance to be at 5 million dollars from Atlantic Record Label in 2017.
Phenom revealed that the deal had reportedly been facilitated by Nigerian-American music executive Matthew ‘Baus’ Adesuyan, who is the owner of mini label outfit of Atlantic Records, Bad Habit.
This revelation was made by Phenom after he was asked if he would consider returning to the studio as a rapper. He revealed that money can be the only motivation driving him to hit the studio once again.
He said, “If you really want someone like me to rap, give me $1 million. Lock me up in the studio. Those rapping in America, they [music executives] give them big contracts. Even before Burna Boy made a comeback to music, the guy that gave him the connection to Atlantic Records [Matthew ‘Baus’ Adesuyan], they gave him [Burna Boy] $5 million when he was coming back.”
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Phenom goes on to cite an example of Odumodublvck and how he would change his style of music if he is being offered a huge pay cut. He said, "If someone like Odumodublvck is given $100,000 advance by his label, he will have to drop rap, start singing and enter TikTok to make it back for the label.”
This interview once again brings to the spotlight the question of if the rap genre as a whole is beneficial for Nigerian rap artists and if the lack of benefits is one of the reasons they often switch and change their sounds today.
