Solid Star slams award organisers, says ‘talented artistes are being ignored’

Contemporary R&B singer, Solid Star, has criticised African award organisers and the media for promoting mediocrity over substance.

Born Joshua Iniyezo, the singer took to social media to compare the U.S. presidential election victory of Donald Trump to Africa’s entertainment industry.

According to Solid Star, the media often celebrate those without talents and “blind” the fans from “real talents”.

He also noted that artistes are envious of each other’s talents, and as such, fail to support those with the real gift of music.

“Donald Trump won the US election against all odds, and we were all blinded by the lies, propaganda, and hype of the media. The media even blinded themselves bringing out polls and predictions that the probability of Trump winning against Hillary with all his scandals was 30:70. But at the end, he won and shamed everybody.

“This is the same issues we have in our entertainment industry in Africa, the media have succeeded in blinding the fans from what is real, pure and good, from what real talent and good music is about. They hype their family and friends and ignore the ones that don’t text them good morning everyday and form fake friendship with them.

“I am not about the life of faking or acting a friend in your face and do otherwise behind your back that is why I have little or no friends in the industry cos even the artists are jealous of each other and they don’t support real talents because they don’t want to be exposed.

“This is not directed at anybody or media house. It is a general issue that we all have to look into. Imagine an AWARD ceremony that calls itself credible, giving one artist an award and even made him make a video which was broadcasted on the screen at the award thanking them and later withdrawing the award to give to someone else. This shows the irregularities, partiality, and mediocrity in the whole system.”

The singer also criticised his recent nomination by the Headies awards and also noted that many gifted artistes have began to doubt themselves after being repeatedly overlooked by award organisers.

“An award organizers recently released a list and even though I was nominated I wasn’t satisfied because the main category that would have meant a bit to me was missing on my nomination which is best reggae/dancehall.

“I can only pick one song out of the whole bunch that did a bit better than Wait refix ft Patoranking and Tiwa Savage for their year in view. No disrespect to any artist nominated or the organizers but somethings are just so wrong.

“A lot of talented artists have been ignored for so long that they even start doubting themselves. Even the Grammys which is also not 100 percent credible have their flaws but try as much as possible to recognize real talent.

“These African Award organizers bring together some bunch of unqualified music critics and whatnot to set up the nomination list and that’s where the problem starts from.”