Let'us Talk the Man Called Brymo

Brymo

You as a poet or a literary/art enthusiast, when they mention Brymo in your presence, the image that strikes your mind is that of a poet like Alexander Pope or Jonathan Swift. These two great figures of the 16th century, the Restoration Period in the hierarchical periodization of literature, are known for two things: timelessly relevant thematic preoccupation and brave artistic ingenuity.

Looking into the contemporary phase of Nigerian music scene, with an insightful look into Brymo's music artistry and spirit, especially his gradual rise to stardom as an artiste of Maikori's Chocolate City; his wonderful collabo with Ice Prince in Oleku and the rest, you wonder why does Brymo not choose to be a literary figure -perhaps a poet- rather than being a mere artiste?

In the course of this reflection you will be like if Brymo would be a singer -after all, music is a distinct and unique part of art -why does he choose to sing in the period when epochal influence on pop, hip-hop is total bunkum and immorality? Why does he launch his career by the time the general acceptability of any genre of music is arguably defined by how long you can constitute street mediocrity on microphones?

I don't listen to music. But the fact that I don't doesn't keep my auricles off the best of it. I have musicians that are in the book of my interest. Without any iota of doubt, Brymo is one. Why? The guy is great lyrically. Just as a good poet has fantastic things to do with language, so is music to Brymo.

His lyrics are powerful, poetic, story-telling, subtle and highly refined. No wonder when Zaynab Zee Zee, a self-professed bibliophile would write in one article published on the Pulse.ng, she put him on the list of five Nigerian hip-hop maestros who musical lyrics incredibly cross the present boundary of stereotypical waves of ordinariness, to the important part of our daily discourse.

When Maikori was celebrating his 50th birthday, Toni Kan wrote a piece begging Maikori to see Brymo as a replica of the Biblical prodigal son and thus, accept him back to Chocolate City. Describing Brymo as a repentant son who has seen it all of the outside's fantasy, then slyly seeking the litanies through his Purple Jar track, Kan was of the opinion that Brymo is a bitter herb that cannot be left to rot. Why? He's too good.

Listen to Mirage, If You Were Mine, Life is Too Short, Dear Child, Purple Jar and others. You see a man talking about you and everybody who has in his or herself something and somebody.

But unfortunately, I am seeing Brymo, just like the great Eedris Abdul Kareem, 9ice and others leaving the stage gradually for those who know how to do the madness better.