Veteran Nigerian rapper and former Chocolate City boss, Jude “M.I” Abaga, has set the internet ablaze after claiming that a significant portion of the Nigerian music industry’s funding comes from so-called “Yahoo boys.” The comments, made during a recent episode of the So Nigerian podcast, have triggered a storm of reactions from fans, fellow artistes, and industry insiders, some praising his honesty and others accusing him of stirring unnecessary controversy.
In the candid conversation, M.I didn’t mince words. He stated that “a lot of artistes, that is the funding that they have” when referring to money from internet fraud, adding that this reality is “an indictment on our country.” For him, it’s not about glorifying or endorsing fraud; it’s about exposing the uncomfortable truth that many rising stars, with raw talent but little access to legitimate funding, often find themselves backed by individuals with questionable sources of wealth.
The rapper painted a hypothetical picture to illustrate his point: “Let’s say I’m a Yahoo boy, I’m not, but let’s say I was and I just made ₦100 million. I’m now a criminal… I can put it in real estate. What I’m trying to say is that, the fact that it goes to artistes… is one of the major ways that artistes can get investments… It happens to be other young people who just happen to have money.” The rawness of the analogy is perhaps why the statement has gone viral - half the internet is debating whether he’s simply speaking facts or damaging the industry’s reputation.
M.I’s frustration seems rooted in the lack of institutional and corporate investment in Nigerian music. Despite the country boasting some of the world’s most-streamed artistes, from Afrobeats giants to up-and-coming sensations, he believes the business infrastructure hasn’t caught up with the talent. Without banks, brands, and formal investors stepping up, the vacuum leaves space for shady funding to fill the gap. It’s a problem he describes as a national failure, not an individual one.
Reactions online have been predictably split. On X (formerly Twitter), some fans defended the rapper, applauding his courage to “say what everyone already knows but won’t admit.” Others accused him of dragging the names of hardworking artistes through the mud. “You can talk about lack of funding without associating us with Yahoo boys,” one upcoming singer posted, clearly upset. Industry veterans have also weighed in, with a few quietly agreeing in interviews that “the streets have always had a hand in music money,” though they prefer to keep that conversation behind closed doors.
It’s not the first time M.I has sparked heated discussions. Over his career, he’s worn the hat of both artiste and industry critic, often speaking about the structures or lack thereof - that shape Nigerian music. This time, however, the chatter feels louder, perhaps because the topic touches on Nigeria’s double-edged reputation: an entertainment powerhouse that still battles a global stigma over internet fraud.
Interestingly, the conversation has also reignited the broader debate about ethics and survival in creative industries. Should artistes care where their funding comes from if it helps them produce hit songs and escape poverty? Or does accepting such money inevitably taint the art and the artiste? M.I’s comments, whether intended or not, have placed this moral dilemma front and center for a new generation of Nigerian musicians.
As the dust continues to rise, one thing is certain - this discussion won’t die down quickly. In fact, it may force more uncomfortable truths into the open. If M.I’s aim was to provoke a reckoning on how Nigeria funds its cultural exports, he has succeeded. But in the court of public opinion, where perception often matters more than nuance, he’ll need to keep explaining himself to avoid being permanently tagged as the man who called your favorite artiste a Yahoo boy’s project.
For now, the streets, the studios, and social media are buzzing with the same question: was M.I Abaga simply holding up a mirror to the music industry, or did he just pour petrol on an already blazing fire? Only time and maybe the next viral podcast clip will tell.
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