Beyond the Numbers: Blaqbonez Argues Artists Should Not Be Defined by Streams and Chart Positions

Nigerian rapper Emeka Akumefule, widely known as Blaqbonez, has issued a strong, clear challenge to the prevailing metrics of success in the music industry, particularly within the Nigerian scene.

He asserts that the true value of an artist or their music should not be solely determined by streaming numbers or their position on music charts, arguing that these figures are often unreliable and easily manipulated.

Blaqbonez's stance comes from a place of deep concern regarding the integrity of digital metrics. He has previously and repeatedly highlighted the detrimental impact of "streaming farms" and the use of bots to artificially inflate play counts and chart rankings. In his view, this practice inflicts "irreversible damage" on the industry.

Responding to a fan's critique about his recent celebration of his diss track, "ACL," hitting number one on Apple Music Nigeria, the rapper clarified his position. He explained that while the excitement of charting is understandable, his primary message remains: chart performance should not be the definitive measure of an artist's talent or success.

Blaqbonez stresses that streams and chart numbers can be "easily manipulated," suggesting they are often a reflection of who can afford to "buy it," rather than pure organic listening or artistic merit.

He strongly urged music fans and critics to assess music based on its intrinsic quality to "use your ears sometimes" rather than defaulting to raw data.

He pointed out that many of the artists he personally enjoys listening to in Nigeria are not currently featured high on the official charts, reinforcing the idea that genuine talent exists outside of the top-ranking lists.

The rapper warns against the tendency to "label someone a failure depending on numbers that we know can easily be manipulated."

Blaqbonez's commentary is a significant contribution to the ongoing debate about authenticity, industry pressure, and the digital landscape of music, urging a shift in focus from easily manipulated statistics back to the core element of music: artistic excellence.