Says modern music is booming but lacks lasting message
Veteran Nigerian highlife legend, Bright Chimezie, has shared his thoughts on today’s music scene—praising the new generation for their sound but calling out their lack of meaningful lyrics.
Speaking on the CreativTea podcast, Chimezie said while music is now more profitable and widely consumed, much of it lacks substance and longevity.
“Great sound, but where’s the message?”
Chimezie acknowledged that younger artists are “doing quite okay” when it comes to rhythm and production—but he believes that lyrical content is often shallow.
“What message are they passing to society?” he asked. “I did Respect Africa in 1984, and 40 years later, I can still be proud of the lyrics.”
“Will you be proud of your lyrics in 40 years?”
Chimezie challenged young musicians to think long-term about their work. He urged them to consider whether they’d feel proud watching their old performances with their future children.
“Can you sit back with your kids 40 years from now and be proud of what you said in your songs?”
A call to raise the lyrical bar
While praising their hustle and creativity, Chimezie made a clear appeal to today’s artists: pair your fire beats with lyrics that actually say something.
“They’re doing very well,” he said. “But I think it’s important for them to add good lyrics to their music.”
