A retrospect to 2014 when Stanley Enow beat Burna Boy at MTV Awards by winning the Award for “Best New Act”. His signature song ” HEIN PĂRE” released in 2013 was a massive hit internationally as it had several nominations and bagged numerous awards. He became soi-disant “Cameroon’s rap Messaih” This song imprinted his name on the list of Top Afropop and African rappers that year and several years after. The song topped music charts on streaming platforms and made it the 1st track on the Top 10 countdown on Trace Africa for almost a year.
Through the success of the street anthem, Stanley Enow was able to effortlessly fetch music collaborations with other African rappers and top music artists during that period and a few years after that.
Today, 9 years later Burna Boy is a soi-disant “African Giant” with several albums to his name, record-breaking in stream numbers, shutting music arenas with sold-out concerts, an amassing of assets, and proliferation of international collaboration with renowned artists worldwide.
Stanley Enow still believes he holds the key to the industry as he keeps making strategic business and music moves. He’s very much high spirited he will be taking the industry to the “promised land” as he’s working on a Grammy Award-worth-winning project.
Do you think if these two artist cross paths on the same platform or nomination list history will repeat itself?
Fast forward to 2023, Stanley wins best African artist at the Urban Music Award[ UBA ] London which is the 19th edition ahead of African superstars like Wizkid, Tems, Burna Boy, Diamond Platinumz. [See picture below]
Talks about Jovi and Stanley might not end anytime soon, critics and fans always have a way of bringing back a debate at every opportunity. Does the industry center around these two because it was the only beef that ever made waves or that they can still milk out the buzz from it at every given instance? Observing the turnout of events it long ended as a contest for supremacy, itâs more about âcruiseâ catching fun. Either fans or camps of both parties are not resulting in breaking the circle by uncovering the fundamental differences that exist.
Emotions often dominate and when that happens there’s the assumption that there are only two ways to amicably settle the dispute. Either one party is right or the other party is right. Then thereâs the truth aside that which embraces objectivity with a more rational approach in giving âreasonâ a chance to reassert itself after an avalanche of emotional debating.
The Truth – âreasonâ
Jovi undisputedly remains in the history books of the music industry as one of the pioneer of pidgin rap/ Mboko. The logical explanation to this is that the success of DON FOR KWAT a 2012 jam gave hopes to pidgin rappers around the nation that you could rap in pidgin or mboko and get appreciated. It was the gateway to self believe amongst rappers to confidently come out of their shelves and present their realities via rap unapologetically, stories that will make waves because of the relatable power.
DON FOR KWAT laid the foundation for rappers in two ways Inspiring a new breed and motivating those who were still skeptical about the HIP HOP culture. Many Cameroonian rappers were heavily influenced by the Western HIP HOP culture especially with the rise of so many old school rappers in USA. There was zero originality, a cross section of rappers were wanna be American rappers âHow can you be more American than Americansâ funny right!
Just like many musicians especially rappers have signature songs where theyâre mostly referenced most based on its widespread recognition and exposure DON FOR KWAT was like the signature style for the new Hip Hop era, it was the blueprint for rappers to build on and redefine their artistic directions.
Was Stanley Enow among the new breed of inspired rappers thereafter? Well HEIN PERE was released in 2013 , the success of this piece gave hope to rappers and the rap game that pidgin rap could go mainstream with an international recognition. The success of HEIN PERE served as a catalyst to the movement DON FOR KWAT had laid down. It gave birth to another breed of rappers as well while reigniting the fire in rappers who were still in doubt about the acceptance and success of pidgin rap.
HEIN PERE laid the first bricks on the foundation, it become an International discussion.
You might miss out on being rational and objective but these two rap songs revolutionized Cameroonian HIP HOP sphere and influenced the rap culture. However , years gone by we know who actually had a vision for the creating a safe space for a movement to live. Remaining steadfast to the same believe without experiencing a paradigm shift the mboko god stayed representing and preserving.
The fundamental differences now lie in the contrasting artistic philosophies and career paths, the discussion is no longer same couple with the creative levels. An understanding of this is a pivotal element to guide subsequent debates.
It’s no flux the Industry has been buzzing with a supposed disrespect turned into an online wrangle, coupled up with threats, warnings, hate speech, insults, disrespect upon disrespect from two camps with opposing views and thoughts.
Following the incidence of Stanley Enow’s Album Launch on November 15th where Fhish felt disrespected by the former, being invited and ignored at LAS VEGAS VIP stands as the root problem to the suppose superficial battle.
Following a “sarcastic comparison ” a popular Cameroonian Blog 237Showbiz published soliciting opinions from fans that which they are vibing between which song “Glory” of Stanley Enow or “Holla Holla” of Fhish, the former found it as disrespectful as he reweeted on his Twitter handle
[See screenshot below]
Based on your observation and critical analysis, is time the factor paying back to Stanley Enow for his disrespect he first portrayed towards Fhish?
Stanley Enow Co founder of Motherland Empire doubles as a rapper and singer, or say rapper tend singer. However this Bayangi boy came to spotlight via his debut track “Hein Père” in 2013 which was a hit undeniably. It fetched him nominations and awards locally and globally. He dropped his first studio album a couple of years later “SOLDIER LIKE MY PAPA” and has featured with so many international artists. The multi award winning artist commonly known as King Kong set to release his second studion Album“STANLEY vs ENOW” this November’s 22nd made a publication as follows…
“My career as an artist still feels like a dqream come reality. Chasing my dreams brought me as far winning the very prestigious MTV AFRICA AWARD MUSIC AWARDS. Iâm sure this wouldnât have been possible if I didnât have access to my childhood rights. As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the CRC, my humble wish is to see all children have access to basic life necessities like vaccination, proper healthcare, clean water, health food, decent shelter and a family that cares.
—Stanley Enow, Cameroonian Musician ?”
#CRC30
#WorldChildrensDay
This message comes at a time to commemorate his essence as Brand Ambassador of Unicef Cameroon. Coupled up with his so man extra music activities he has branded himself world wide professionally like a public figure, entrepreneur, businessman than an artist. Probably the inspiration that birthed his newly released track “GLORY” a piece off his up coming Album.