My Views on the “Hold Me back” Nigerian Version Video

It’s no more news that Rick Ross was in Nigeria few weeks ago for a show, and after the show he decided to shoot a video for his “Hold Me Back” track off his “God Forgives I Don’t” album.

Oh that video dropped yesterday, and Nigerians have aired their views via different social media platforms. Some absolutely love the video, while others see it as a slap on the face of Nigerians for being portrayed in such light to the rest of the world.

For those who feel the song has no message, i will take time out to type the lyrics of the of the song.

[Intro] I see how these niggas playin’
But I could adapt
These niggas won’t hold me back [x8] These hoes won’t hold me back
These hoes won’t hold me back
These niggas won’t hold me back
These niggas won’t hold me back

[Verse 1]
I look in my fridge, my sh*t lookin’ scarce
I got a few kids, we need some sh*t on the shelf
I get a knock at the door, they say my rent overdue
And while my niggas sell drugs and don’t know what else to do
The only thing on my mind, I’m tryin’ to keep on the lights
I call up my slime, I need a kilo tonight
Everything whipped well, I’m eatin’ steak, no more soup
Then I parked the Capri, I went and bought me a Coupe
Everything takes time, but this sh*t came fast
Niggas standin’ in line, they wanna hold me back
I multiplied my hustle, stimulated my mind
Motivated my niggas and we’ll never divide, no

[Hook]
These niggas won’t hold me back [x4]
These hoes won’t hold me back
These hoes wanna hold me back [x3]
Noooo

[Verse 2]
First I got me a Taurus, then I copped me a Lexus
I took over Florida, my connect out of Texas
Then I start sippin’ purple, got my sh*t screwed
When you feedin’ your circle, watch your shipments improve
Fabricate ’bout your fortune, all my fabric’s imported
Fornicate in my fortress, 40k still my mortgage
24k my toilet, all my taxes reported
All my exes deported, shout-out Texas, New Orleans
All these niggas influenced by a hustler’s endurance
I just me the purest, but I need some insurance
Niggas watch who you f*ckin’ just to hate on your b*tches
Niggas breakin’ the rules, niggas facin’ suspicion

[Hook]

[Verse 3]
Momma workin’ three jobs ’til I told her to quit
How we rose from the sewer, funny now I’m the sh*t
Niggas ain’t gettin’ money, but they got an opinion
Had this tech makin’ racket, serve you like you were tennis
Killers ride for that paycheck, AK okay, check
B*tch nigga let’s play chess, yo b*tch next, no latex
These niggas won’t hold me back, told the feds they sold me set
Whip ‘em right and then come right back
Whip-whip-whip ‘em right and then come right back

[Hook x2]

[Verse 4]
P*ssy Bottom niggas, p*ssy Bottom niggas
They all p*ssy Bottom niggas, p*ssy Bottom niggas
Lookin’ down on these niggas, p*ssy Bottom niggas
Pushin’ my new Ferrari on these p*ssy Bottom niggas
P*ssy hoe, p*ssy hoe
She a p*ssy hoe until she give me p*ssy hoe
P*ssy hoe, p*ssy hoe
P*ssy hoe, she a p*ssy hoe

The song is just about the rise from nothing to something, the rise from struggling to flossing, how he was broke and stuff and hustled his way to the top, how people who didn’t do nothing for him when he was broke now feel they can hold him back, how he’s determined to achieve more even with the hate etc.

For those who feel the Nigerian version of the video is just a way to ridicule them, take time out to watch the Original version of the video and then also the Nigerian version again. Watch both videos below

Hold Me back (Yankee Version)

Hold Me Back (Naija Version)

Now that you are done watching both, i am sure we can all agree that both videos have similarities (Both were shot in the slums). Why did he shoot in the slums? that i don’t know, but i av my own opinion on why he did shoot the videos in the slum, and it goes thus: for a song that portrays struggle, hustle, poverty and how hard work can take anybody out of it, the best place for someone like Rick Ross to shoot the video is the slums. he was once like the people in the slums, he remembers the struggle, he remembers the hustle, and he remembers the people who he was once like.

The song is a Ghetto song, it’s a song about the streets, it’s about the common man, it’s only logical to shoot such a video in the ghetto, on the streets. I salute the director of the videos also, there is a difference between making a Slum Scene and actually using a real slum, and in this case a real slum was used, which i think it’s something that Nigerian video directors need to learn, that’s what originality and creativity is about.

For those who have a problem with the quality of the video, i challenge them to show me a better Nigerian ghetto video (Directed by a Nigerian) that’s as original, precise, straight to the point as the “Hold Me Back” Nigeria video. To think that the video was short within a short time and came out good is a plus.

How many of our own Nigerians artistes have done songs/video to show the plight of Nigerians who live in poverty? majority of them portray Nigeria in their videos like all is fine and we all live the good life. Some don’t even shoot their videos in Nigeria, they go to other African countries to shoot videos, is that what you like? people who don’t believe in a country that made them rich and famous. Some make it worse by using White models in their videos, the height of inferiority complex. Its a shame that anybody will feel offended by a foreigner who came over to Nigeria to shoot a video in the slums that we Nigerians have forgotten about.

By the way did y’all see the tribute to Rashidi Yekini? I loved that, R.I.P to the Legend of Nigerian Football.

Now finally to those who just don’t like the video because they feel it portrays Nigeria in bad way to the outside world, first of all let me make a point clear to you all, The average, shallow minded, myopic, stupid and dumb non – Nigerians (especially the whites) see Nigeria and Africa as a whole as a jungle of black monkeys who hang on trees and stuff, and there is Nothing anybody can do to change it, because majority will die in their ignorance.

That aside, i have some questions for those who feel insulted by the video being shot in the slums. Are the visuals of the video that of Nigeria or not? Is Nigeria a developed country? What does the average Nigerian worth? How much does the average Nigerian spend in a day? Is Nigeria a paradise for majority of Nigerians? Those people in the slums, are they lesser Nigerians than you are? Are you really offended because u feel bad for them or because of your own ego? Do you care about those particular set of people? Why do you have a problem with the whole world seeing how majority of Nigerians live? . .  Answer those questions in your minds, they are rhetorical.

A country blessed with so much natural resources, and yet so much poverty and suffering by the majority of it’s people, a country that cannot boast of steady power supply, good health care, good roads, good water supply, good education and several other basic infrastructure that every Nigerian deserves, why will you as a Nigerian want to help the looting and corrupt leaders of Nigeria hide the fact that majority of we Nigerians live in abject poverty and penury in the midst of plenty?

And it’s funny and ridiculous that you think you can hide the fact that majority of Nigerians live in poverty because of corrupt leaders, i mean these leaders steal public funds and store in the hands of these same people we are trying to hide from. The world is not blind, they can see, they know how we live in, they know that majority live in poverty, you can’t hide that fact.

The fact that you are privileged and have access to more money and luxury does not change the fact that majority of Nigerians are poor and live below a dollar everyday. I find it very inhuman to feel offended that Nigerians like you and i are in a video, but because they live in the slums, you are bothered about how the outside world will feel about us in general. The outside world will only talk, they don’t care about you and i, they won’t solve our problems, it is You and I that will solve our own problems and get ourselves out of the abject poverty that we have been subjected to as Nigerians by our thieving and corrupt politicians.

Do you know the joy and happiness those people in the slums felt? Do you know what is means to be rejected by the govt of your own country, and left to live in permanent misery and poverty? Only to be remembered by a foreigner, who went ahead to shoot a video so that the we all can see their plight. Y’all should be ashamed of yourselves, for feeling offended over the joy of Nigerians who got remembered for once in a very long while.

The Govt have forgotten these people, left to die in the slums, now you are also going to betray and deny them, because you have more money? Shame on YOU!!!

What have you done to help out? have you touched the lives of Nigerians who live in poverty? what have you contributed? Nothing, absolutely Nothing!

Nigeria go better . . .

Tosinadeda

2012

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43 thoughts on “My Views on the “Hold Me back” Nigerian Version Video”

  1. Thought provoking. you said exactly what was on my mind when I saw the fuckery people were spewing on twitter. The video shows us what we truly are…and why we must rise against corruption

  2. Nice one tosin! They won’t understand and I’m sure even with this they still won’t admit that they have dull brains to have faulted rick ross on that video.. Keep ur good work man.. God bless!

  3. ..I too like you dis guy! You write pure, unadulterated truth. I wonder why they’ll feel offended. Rozay did well, very well indeed, and should be given a national honour or sum’n.. We need to check ourselves. Something is wrong with the system.
    Well said…

  4. Who else wud bring d truth out into d light despite criticism nd opposition than d ever blunt omo jesu. Tnx for d piece jare. I enjoyed evry bit of candid truth inside of it

  5. You see most of these people don’t Even know wat hiphop is dey are mad dat a Foreigner is helping dem Disgrace their government dey prefare Omo Baba Olowo the video was not only On Point it has History Struggle And Dats Wats Rap Is About Understand The Art …God Bless Tosin God Bless Rozay God Bless Hiphop and hopefully Nigerian Rappers Will learn from Dis I Have Actually

  6. This is a fantastic post! I share the same sentiment. You hit the nail on the head. I saw nothing wrong with the video it was totally in the context of the song. Since Nigerians don’t listen to lyrics they didn’t get the message.

  7. God bless you for speakin the truth..Never mind dis pussy hoe niggaz..dem com dey form pass Rozay sef..mschew!!..MMG

  8. Wow!!!! Don’t care how cliche this sounds, but dude! U just spoke my mind!!!! Its quite silly to break a mirror because u don’t like the image it’s produced. Remember, it only reflects what it sees! Its funny hw wen these guys come to Nigeria, d organisers always try to restrict dem to d posh sides of town, but of course dey can’t be impressed by what we have to offer. What actually catches their fancy are our famous slums and inhumane living conditions they’ve heard so much about already. Who do we think we r deceiving with our home videos?

    This was a well written piece…concise…researched
    Suffice it to say it hit d nail squarely…in2 d head.

    P.S. If u don’t mind, I’d like my readers to also c dis. U can send to my mail laylow1388@yahoo.com

  9. For the record- I don’t dig Ross one bit but he did nothing wrong with this song/video. Its just that:The ‘truth’ is always bitter- ALOMO! Who complained when Majek Fashek did ‘Majek in New York’? He not only showed d slums and beggars in NY he actually wrote words(lyrics) about it. My own thought: I kinda feel-till tomorrow-the whites wrecked Majek’s career/life cos of that song. Point is: no one likes to be shown the dirt in their own eye;instead of making amends,we just take it personal and attack that person pointing out the ills. Its just so sad. It really is ALOMO…

  10. Looks like you’ve had this bottled up for a while

    I particularly like the ‘Africa… black monkeys’ part, truth is have we done anything as Africans to correct their wrong perception and prove that we aint black, talking, cloth-wearing monkeys but equal to the Whites?
    Any how sha that’s for another day

    The koko is …
    Nice Rozay write up!

  11. Was indifferent from start, but after reading this, I know where I belong. Thanks for sharing your thoughts……thoughtful, I mean very thoughtful.
    *buh the video picture should’ve changed when the Nigerian flag was displayed.

  12. Valid points (not all around) but I for one loved the video, people live day to day from hand to mouth and that’s the reality for a lot of Nigerians, 80% according to stats,

    However

    “What does the average Nigerian worth?” What the fuck is that?

  13. Then he should have ended each with a scene in him enjoying the good life in a beautiful environment…. Whether u like it or not, ppl wud start feeling that’s how naija is… BBC n co have been showing it, Rick Ross didn’t do justice to us…..

    You don’t take advantage of an already bad image…. Common sense

  14. Tosin has said it all….a problem is only addressed when brought to the table, which ricky has done now its left for the government and its subjects to address it…if u once knew oshodi down to mushin u will realise that change is possible….no life is more valuable than the other as long as heaven is concerned…..so all governors and local government chairmen should sanitise where they are elected to serve or else there will be more videos that would make airplay even on CNN!!!!! Every nigerian musician now goes to SA, UK, US just to shoot videos which there are either singing or rapping in their native dialet or mixed with pidgin english, basically that’s promotion for those countries and will attract more tourist and foreign investments there, people are really suffering in this country I must say.

  15. Nice piece u hav here tosin, this is a challenge to our very own artists, they’re d one’s suppose 2 potray 2 d outside world what a typical nigerian is goin through rather than feelin bad bou wat a foreigner did. He’s simply tellin d world wat he went tru 2 reach where he is. It s time we rise up and reclaim our country.

  16. This is the best shit written on this issue you spoke the same shit I have been yellin’ @ these lame-ho brovas.I know how many videos that has been sot in brazil,Jamaica depicting it the way it is…beautiful by snoop and pharell had the sexy brazilian ladies roofs brazil is know for was in there same in Michael Jacksons they don’t really care about us…and countless jamaica rude boy videos.Nigerians need to shut the fuck-up!…with all the loot stolen here we expecting to keep hiding the truth?wake the fuck-up.Nice one tosin.

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