The pressure of being dubbed the next big thing in the entertainment industry has killed more burgeoning careers, stifled creativity, and made individuals lose their initial sense of originality and purpose more than car accidents or other forms of adversities known to humans.
Several entertainers have been unable to live up to the ‘next big thing’ tag, it could be due to various reasons, and that is what the author will explain in this article.
One of the most difficult things to achieve in this often-cruel world is greatness. There is less than 1% who have been able to attain great things in their fields, not as if the world isn’t amassed with potential and talent, however, not everyone is going to go on to become a mainstream superstar or become a global phenomenon.
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In the Nigerian entertainment industry context, several wealthy kids are more talented than Davido, however, none have been able to amass the wealth he has accrued nor exude his level of influence. It’s hard becoming the ‘big thing’ your 5-year-old self would have desired or living up the hype you garnered during your first year in higher institution.
The ’next big thing’ title has brought more pressure upon burgeoning stars who do not live up to the world’s expectations. There is an emotional and mental breakdown that they suffer that less talented people might never get to understand. It’s a cold, cruel world we reside in after all.
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Avoid Stepping Into A Great Man’s Shoes
In Robert Greene’s 48 Laws of Power, the 41st law states that, Avoid stepping into a great man’s shoes. It is a dangerous business trying to become the next Wizkid, Davido, or Rema, you would only hurt yourself. Oftentimes, emerging stars who are affiliated with bright personalities such as Wizkid and Rema would usually get overlooked and underrated by pundits, critics, and even close associates.
In the 2010s, Wizkid was signed to Banky W’s Empire Mates Entertainment (EME) alongside Skales, Niniola, DJ Xclusive and Shaydee, however, only one man became an international sensation. Wizkid was able to release his debut studio album titled Superstar. The album became instantly successful, making Wizkid the flagbearer of Afrobeats and the most popular Nigerian musician in the early 2010s. Following his departure and feud with EME record label boss, Banky W, around 2013-2014, the label suffered a decline in terms of prominence and financial gains. Wizkid had gone on to form Star Boy Records.
Despite Shaydee being pushed as the next big thing and Skales working tirelessly to release songs that could fascinate the audience, nothing seems to work. It was impossible to replicate the brilliance of Wizkid’s hit songs. Banky W has since changed the objective of his record label to other entertainment and marketing endeavours.
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The Forgotten Tag Team Partners
Rema used to be a member of the hip-hop duo, RnA, alongside rapper Alpha P. After joining D’Prince’s Jonzing World label, an imprint of Don Jazzy’s Mavins record label, Rema first achieved local prominence before becoming the king of the new school. Meanwhile, his childhood acquaintance, Alpha P, who bagged a major deal with Universal Music Group (UMG), has been unable to break even. Though he is exceedingly talented, he has been unable to replicate the potential he exuded during his adolescent years on the international scene.
This is tough, if you ask me.
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Other talented youngsters who have been forgotten are artistes such as Limerick, Davolee, Temmie Ovwasa, Yomi Blaze, Lyta, and Picaso Rhap who were all members of Olamide’s project, Yahoo Boy No Laptop (YBNL) alongside sensational musician, Fireboy DML. Interestingly, Fireboy was the last artiste to be signed by Olamide at the time, however, he has gone on to become the most prominent figure among them. After featuring on the collaborative concept album titled YBNL Mafia Family in 208, Olamide eased them of their services and they have since been unable to achieve much success in the entertainment industry.
The world has since moved on from them.
The Heartache of Not Becoming The ‘Big Thing’
There is a certain type of heartbreak and mental distortion that emerges when a person fails to attain the prominence they have always desired. This author cannot explain, however, it is a common attribute that every young person who isn’t living the life they have always dreamt about doesn’t come into fruition.
Imagine how people dubbed ‘next big thing’ feel when they are unable to achieve everything that they have always desired and dreamt about. Life sometimes is unfair and harsh, hence, we can’t express this comprehensively enough, only the victim would understand the turmoil more.
Recently, Nigerian recording artiste, Skales was able to explain how he is feeling reborn after experiencing an interesting resurgence in his music career. His 2015 single, ‘Shake body’, was revived after it was played by Spanish and Barcelona forward, Lamine Yamal. You can read more about this narrative below:
Skales: The curious case of Wizkid’s understudy- from underrated to unstoppable
Conclusion: Stop Trolling Entertainers
Audience needs to understand that entertainers are humans too, hence, they should be kinder to them and desist from using harsh and cruel words. Achieving greatness isn’t a parallel line; there will be twists and turns in this life of ours, hence, nothing comes easy. There will definitely be individuals who would achieve mainstream success, meanwhile others wouldn’t. This is real life, sad things do happen, we hope and pray not for it, however, it does.
Life isn’t a fairytale; some people dubbed ‘the next big thing’ would eventually not attain the prominence that they dream about.
