ADVERTISEMENT

Triple MG deserves more credit for Tekno's transformation

Triple MG remains the best home for Teknomiles for now and for the foreseeable future.

Tekno

NotJustOk just recently placed him #2 on their annual #TheList of Hottest Nigerian artists this year, only behind, you guessed it, Wizkid (who, again, does not count).

Tekno is one of the most talented pop acts in the industry today, and he's always been since he burst onto the scene about 3 or 4 years ago.

Admittedly though, many of us (I, included) were not always 100% certain that he would fulfill his obvious potential as he has in fact done in 2015.

ADVERTISEMENT

Personally, I have been around Tekno, and I have experienced his talent and goofy personality first hand but at the time I met him, he was next in line to the throne at Triple MG.

Iyanya at that point was stealing every man's girlfriend during all his shows with his tactic of taking off his shirt and all that good stuff.

Naturally, there was a bit of doubt as to how Iyanya's stardom will affect Tekno's growth and development in the industry and how they'd both coexist.

At this time, Tekno had 2 strong singles out; "Holiday Ft. Davido" and "Dance" which were doing very well, but the doubts remained as to whether he could build on those significantly.

ADVERTISEMENT

In fact, some of the doubts naturally trickled down to the label and questions rose about whether Triple MG was the right label for his development.

Ironically, in the almost 2 years after Tekno's promising early singles were released, he was largely quiet, to make it all worse, on the label front, Iyanya fell off a bit and Emma Nyra left (not to mention all the personal drama).

What was once one of Nigeria's best labels with a solid roster became a shadow of itself, and the doubts especially regarding Tekno were even more magnified.

That was until late 2015, when Duro was released. Duro remains Tekno's biggest single to date, and although Pana has given it a real run for it's money so far, it still is.

Before doubters could say Duro might have been a one off, Tekno released Wash before we could catch our breath, he released Where, and finally to really stick it to all the doubters and cement his place as a superstar, he released Pana, which, in my opinion is the biggest song of 2016.

ADVERTISEMENT

It's also important to note that he has another single, Diana, that is also doing solid numbers.

Surprisingly though, through all this, some doubts have remained as to if Triple MG is the best label for him.

Some people have said, he'd be better off at a label like Mavin because of their structure and branding of their artists, and they have a point there. I've even heard people say he is now big enough to go out on his own and start his own label and while I definitely don't agree at all with that one, I do see their point.

In the end, I am of the opinion that Triple MG remains the best home for Teknomiles for now and for the foreseeable future.

I mean, at this point, it won't take a genius to see that fact. 4 hit songs in the bag, a 5th picking up, the departure of Iyanya, the former TripleMG face and part owner of the label, it is obvious that the label had been working on a restructuring that was ultimately geared towards making Tekno the main man.

ADVERTISEMENT

Now, I don't know specifics so I will not claim to rely on expert knowledge, so this is very opinion based.

For me, Tekno's rise to becoming the face to Triple MG, which I still consider one of the top labels in Nigeria, didn't start with Tekno releasing Duro.

It started actually when Iyanya was very much the star man. You see, the reason I got to ever hang around Tekno or experience his talent was because I worked with him on numerous shows around the US when he and Emma Nyra were billed as opening acts on Iyanya's US/Canada tour in 2013.

What that tour did for Tekno not only gave him tour exposure and experience but it also exposed him to a much more diverse audience that he ordinarily most likely won't have been able to reach at that time in his career.

During some of our conversations, he also let us know that he had been to other African countries for concerts with the Triple MG crew as well as with some of Nigeria and Africa's biggest artists.

ADVERTISEMENT

I think in retrospect, it will be safe to say that that was one step the label took in preparing him to be the superstar he is today.

In addition to getting tour exposure, the 2 years of "inactivity" from Tekno was a master stroke.

In that 2 years, as previously stated, the label went through a makeover.

Iyanya, who was a big part of the label, was trying to regain his previous glory while presumably mentally acquainting himself to taking a back seat on the label (or ultimately exit as he did), Emma Nyra was also trying to find her place, and amidst all that drama, there was no time or place for Tekno's light to fully shine.

Any project he dropped during that span will have taken a back seat to all that was going on on the label front and with the signee's personally. As soon as that was sorted out and the label became stable again, it was time for Tekno to step up.

ADVERTISEMENT

Now; clearly, even though he was publicly inactive during that span when the label was facing an internal restructure, it would be obvious to deduce that he was working vehemently in house on material, most likely some of his biggest hits we know today.

There's just one thing the label had to do though. Now that Tekno had recorded enough material, the label had to device a strategy to best promote their new top dog.

They could release Duro and maybe one follow up single and then promote an album.

Also, they could release one or two promotional singles to welcome Tekno back on to the scene and then release Duro as his "industry takeover" song and then forge ahead from there. However, what they did, strategy wise, has not gotten the credit it deserves

You see, after the long absence of a potential superstar, it was imperative to come out swinging, and, boy, did Tekno swing!

ADVERTISEMENT

Duro was an instant hit, the comeback he needed, it was like the culmination of all the energy we had missed in his time away.

Now, for a lot of labels. Duro would have been enough for the foreseeable future, you know, their artist had one of the biggest songs of the year, maybe it was time to milk the life out of that hit for all it was worth and maybe release something later; but no.

About 3-4 months later, Tekno was back with another hit in Wash.

If anyone thought Duro was a fluke, they were sure scratching heads now!

Tekno was now starting to become a real superstar.

ADVERTISEMENT

Again, this is where a lot of labels say, "you know what, we are doing well, let's milk this a little and maybe not drop singles for a while, or maybe work on a body of work."

To be fair, after releasing "Wash" Tekno did take a few months to do shows and make some money, but about 6 months after, he released yet another hit with Where.

At this point, he had found his style and was now fully verified as one of the hottest artists in the country, especially since our 2 biggest superstars were working on international deals and recognition.

The fact that Tekno released Pana just about 3 months later was just icing on the cake; which is ironic because it looks like it will be the biggest song he has released to date.

Even more impressive is that Tekno has released yet another single, Diana, after Pana which by all indications is also doing well.

ADVERTISEMENT

It will be foolish to not recognize the label's involvement in strategizing and planning Tekno's rise to superstardom.

From solid singles to quality videos and superb promotion and single arrangement, props must be given to what I still consider one of Nigeria's strongest labels.

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng

Recommended articles

Whoopi Goldberg has confirmed a 'Sister Act 3' is in the works

Whoopi Goldberg has confirmed a 'Sister Act 3' is in the works

Mardeee set to release highly anticipated single 'AWAY' on February 23

Mardeee set to release highly anticipated single 'AWAY' on February 23

Adesua Etomi pens heartwarming note to hubby Banky W on his birthday

Adesua Etomi pens heartwarming note to hubby Banky W on his birthday

Showmax, Infinix mobile to offer unparalleled viewing experience to viewers

Showmax, Infinix mobile to offer unparalleled viewing experience to viewers

I auditioned for Big Brother Nigeria on a dare - Ebuka Obi-Uchendu

I auditioned for Big Brother Nigeria on a dare - Ebuka Obi-Uchendu

'Love Nwantiti' extends its record as highest RIAA certified Nigerian song

'Love Nwantiti' extends its record as highest RIAA certified Nigerian song

Wizkid accused of chasing clout after dissociating himself from Afrobeats

Wizkid accused of chasing clout after dissociating himself from Afrobeats

Burna Boy calls American blogs 'parasites' for trending old image of his shaved beard

Burna Boy calls American blogs 'parasites' for trending old image of his shaved beard

Rebel Wilson wants everyone to know she didn't lose virginity till she was 35

Rebel Wilson wants everyone to know she didn't lose virginity till she was 35

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT