Eedris Abdulkareem
Eedris Abdulkareem is a household name in Nigerian entertainment industry. He is one of the pioneers of indigenous rap in Nigeria. As one of the famed members of The Remedy music group that also includes Tony Tetuila and Eddy Remedy, Eedris was very relevant in his active years in the Nigerian music industry. He had few cases of controversy then even though he really addressed national and societal issues through his music. The Nigerian hip hop singer is back in the news in a fresh case of controversy.
Mr. Remedy as he’s fondly called back in the days has paid his dues when it comes to the Nigerian entertainment industry. Along with rapper Mode 9, they set the pace for the next generation of rappers to follow. He’s just a popular face in the Nigerian public and in 2000, Eedris was among the personalities voted for to carry the Olympic torch in a relay through the country. Bringing back Eedris Abdulkareem in the news with a case of fresh controversy is sure to trend.
Eedris Abdulkaree has passed messages through his music that we all could relate to. Popular among his songs is Mr. Lecturer; a track that thematized students in Nigerian colleges and universities receiving higher grades in exchange for money and sex even before the sex for mark scandals that rocked the nation in 2019. Call him a prophet like Fela, you are not wrong.
He surely caused trouble in 2004 when he released his third album titled ‘Jaga Jaga’ which is a Yoruba word for shambles; this is as a result of corruption and suffering in the country. The title track was then banned from airplay by then President, Olusegun Obasanjo. In response to this, he released his fourth album where he replied the President for the criticism of ‘Jaga Jaga’ in another track titled ‘Letter to Mr. President’.
In January 2012, he released a sequel to ‘Jaga Jaga’ during the protest against lifting of fuel subsidies during the tenure of President Goodluck Jonathan tagged ‘Occupy Nigeria’.
Eedris Abdulkareem became a martyr for Nigerian music artist when he had a brawl with American rapper, 50 Cent on a plane heading for a show in Port Harcourt in December 2004. During that era, Nigerian musicians always play second fiddle to American artists even if the show was to be held in Nigeria. Nigerian artists were paid peanuts and treated badly those days.
Eedris decided to stop this as he sat on a seat meant for 50 Cent on the plane which led to a melee with the rapper and his bodyguard. Curtis Jackson aka 50 Cent because of this incidence headed back to the US. Although Eedris has since apologized to 50 Cent on stage, it has been said to lead to his decline as an artist but a catalyst for Nigerian artists to step higher.
There are reports this week that the ‘Jaga Jaga’ crooner was arrested for beating up his landlord over unpaid electricity bills. He was said to owe #535,000 accumulated electricity bill which made his light to be disconnected by the officials of Ikeja Electricity Distribution.
According to the report, Eedris wife was said to have rented the apartment. In his response, the veteran rapper accused the landlord of making advances to his wife and that he has sexually abused one of his female tenants in the past. Eedris was then arrested by policemen after beating the landlord who claimed Eedris is a dangerous man.
Although the rapper who owned La Kreem record label is said to have been released, the matter is still ongoing at the police station.