The title of this post might ring a bell to some people and to some others it might not. Well I suggest you first checkout http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advance_fee_fraud for a low down on what 419 is. 419 has grown to become one of the worst Internet hoaxes such that there are now sites dedicated to fighting its spread. An example is 419eater.com. A recent article on the trend was posted on CNN’s website. With this much online interest on Nigeria in connection with 419, Modenine recorded a song on the phenomenon last year titled “419 state of mind part 2”. It’s a great song; you should check it out. It’s from this same term that the UK based Nigerian hip hop group “419 Squad” got its name from.

Like most people out there I’m anti-419…and that’s where it stops. I’ve never really bothered myself about the phenomenon. But a recent experience hanging out with a dude who’s into 419 made me learn a lot more about the industry and finally understand or grasp the idea behind some of the moves peeps around me have been pulling. Let me let y’all in on what I’ve learnt.

Before I start let me first make this statement. I’ve since known what 419 is and the measures one can take to prevent oneself from falling victim to the scheme. This I’m sure is also known by every internet freak. So it makes me really sick when I’m searching for stuff on Nigerian on Google or Technorati and a lot of the results are from people running their mouth and hating on Nigeria because of 419 scam/spam. Fuck y’all! You know the safety measures, so implement them and shut up.

Most a times the fear of a bleak future, the need to fulfill financial responsibilities and hardship surviving push peeps into getting involved in the scam. Other times share curiosity; negative peer influence and greediness are the motives for involvement. And believe you me there’ve been many petty and big time successful 419ers. I was surprised to learn some are even around me.

In relation to 419 which peeps do through scam letters, there are two other common online scams. And these are perpetuated through chatting and through phising.

Via chatting guys pose as ladies and try to sweet talk other guys into falling in love with them and ultimately to send them money. They use pictures of beautiful women sourced online in their chatting profiles and send it to their dumb victims via email. Also they often enlist the help of their female friends to answer calls from their dumb victims and keep up the guise. Their victims are often old white financially comfortably guys who are losers in the game of love. How else can one explain a guy swallowing all the bull shit that a girl from across the globe loves you, and then end up sending her money. Someone you’ve never seen before. Ain’t there girls in your city to checkout? Damn, the older the dumber.

Phising is not too common in Nigeria. And that’s because it requires brains and many of the 419 peeps ain’t brainy enough (or are limited by resources and time) to sit down and learn. In Nigeria it’s often perpetuated on a small scale and involves stealing people’s password and holding it ransom in exchange for money. Victims of phising are often careless people and internet novices.

419 is the big one, the center point of internet fraud in Nigeria. Greed is often what draws the perpetuators, what draws the victims and what in some cases eventually brings about the downfall of the perpetuators. And that’s because some people who hit it big still go on with the fraud instead of going legit until they’re finally caught. The format for the trick is often via email; telling the unsuspecting recipient that there’s a large amount of money stashed somewhere not known by the necessary authorities. But if he/she can provide some money it’ll be secretly secured and the loot shared 50-50. An advanced fee/money is always sought, thus the term “advanced fee fraud” (419). The scammers make generous use of fax machines, email extractors, telephones and money transfer systems like Western Union to carry out their nefarious activities.

All this requires a lot of patience and investment in time and resources by the scammers. And Internet cafes often turn to the scammers’ second home. To counter the menace the EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) over here has been on its toes. Me thinks 419 runs (schemes) is boring and a waste of time. It’s better to engage in discovering the beauty of the internet through the millions of wonderful sites out there. 419 has never been my thing and I’m glad I channeled my internet freakism to other positive angles.

419ers beware! So says the EFCC

Where do I start? Well here goes. I’ve been in the university over my supposed four years, no thanks to frequent strikes…and well my own unseriousness. But Insha’ Allah I’ll be outta this bitch soon and go face life as a man. Lately I’ve discovered a mistake freshmen of Nigerian universities make year in year out, thanks to experience (it’s the best teacher isn’t it?) and my more mature outlook on life of recent. I now feel it’s time to say something about it. I hope prospective undergraduates/freshmen get to read this. What I’m about to say is a little bit like what parents often tell their kids before they enter the university, but very different in some aspects. Read on and see why. This write up is some how mainly for my guys. Why you might ask? It’s because I’m a guy and therefore naturally more knowledgeable on guys issues. Damn, what the hell where you expecting.

I’ve come to realize that when freshmen (or Jambites as they are often called) enter the university the main thing on their mind is having a good time socially on campus. They seek acceptance among their peers, and this is about moving with the right crowd: the happening people on campus and the number of conquest you can make (as regards to girls). Their mind is chick possessed, no thanks to the freedom of campus life and the sheer number of female students around. Slowly without them realizing it happens that academics is pushed to the bottom in the list of their objectives/aims on campus. Even guys who did brilliantly in secondary school fall prey. Having passed through secondary school with ease they think the university will be a piece of cake and that the same last minute preparations for exams/tests will help. In the long run it doesn’t. They neglect their studies and pursue chicks. They might be successful but most often this lays in store, the problem starts. They don’t read thus resort to cheating (during exams or exchanging money for marks) and do poorly in their exams. Dues to their extravagant life styles they’re often broke and into debts, stealing becomes the way out. For some it ends in jail or being shot. Some start doing and/or dealing in drugs. Some join cults or have problem with cult members. Some go down with STDs…pimping has its price. A lot end up never graduating or graduating with 3rd class degrees and fucking up their life for ever.

Here now is the secret to success/the way out. Do what you fucking want in school: be seriously involved in student union politics, be a party freak-social activity nut and into girls, be into booze-cigarettes and join the Keggites, be a fellowship and religious fanatic, be all about the money and into business schemes, be into watching films in your hostel lounge or room 24-7, be an athlete and play sports 24-7, be a game freak living for PlayStation or chess alone, be a talkative well known in your hall-department and faculty, be a musician making your hits and performing at shows, be a nerd/geek spending a third of your day online etc. Be what you fucking want to be, live for what you want to live for BUT DON’T MESS WITH YOUR STUDIES. Always make time out to read your books, gather that knowledge and pass your courses, that my friend is the only way out. With this you’ll graduate when you’re supposed to graduate and will do so well. Only then can you claim to be the man and even have the best of both worlds (girls-or what ever you specialize in and your academics). Knowledge is power; remember graduating well will help towards making that money in future (as you’ll have financial responsibilities building up) and making a good name for yourself. First things first; chicks will always be there ready to swarm over you like bees do to honey. Some bitches you’re rolling with ain’t even worth it talk less of being in your class. Good luck man.

Campus life in Naija, you gots to hustle and still get the chicks. Pictures taken from ravenique3’s picture gallery

Gone are the days when all my thoughts were of (I used to dream of) making it in the rap game. You know releasing an album and blowing up big time. Times don pass, things don change. The industry in Nigeria is harsh and unorganized. We’re still very much at an infancy stage when it comes to artist welfare, marketing, exposure and publicity. Plus I guess I just ain’t feeling a rap career no more. I got other plans up my sleeve, but still I’m loving the Hip hop game and culture and will rep it till i die. I now do music for the love of music itself. I like music so I’m taking the once in a lifetime opportunity to express myself and in the process create something other people can listen to and feel.

I was in this state when I did the song you’ll soon hear. It’s the first new shit from me since about two years ago when I did my first two songs produced by Rule Clean. Now I’m feel I’m iller, a better rapper and so much better than I was when I did my first two songs. I studied a whole lot of emcees and switched up my flow considerable. So on this track I’m spitting ill and coming in straight English laced with occasional Pidgin English to get a cool Naija (Nigerian) style. The song is explicit though…contains swearing. I’ll probably head back to studio to do a radio friendly (clean) version.

I cooked up most of the ideas for the song and featured ODC on it. He’s one of the best emcees I’ve seen and really admire in my school. When you think of “hate it love it” The Game and 50Cent, “just a moment”- Nas and Quan, “renegade”- Jay-Z and Eminem, “Sounds Of Blackness”- Modenine and Mo Dogg think of this song. It’s called “from ABJ to UNN”. We’re repping ABJ (Abuja. Abuja is also known as the FCT, Federal Capital Territory) where we from and UNN (the University of Nigeria, Nsukka) where we school at on the chorus. I’m based in Garki Abuja while he’s based in kubwa (KUB) Abuja. UNN students are called lions and lionesses, so the campus is also called the den. It’s good you know this so you’ll understand the chorus (song). On the song itself we talk about the rap game, life and girls plus we’re just generally spitting to show our lyrical dexterity on a beat. The beat was made by E-Zone (my one time partner in rap when I used to perform in campus shows) and finishing touches were added by El-Cee. Chuks was in charge during recording, he also did the mixing and mastering. They’re a trio of guys in my school trying to start their production/studio thing and going under the name “Haunted sounds”. The song was done with the fruity loops software, it’s not of the highest sound quality but it’s good anyway. It was recorded on Sunday the 31st of July 2005. It was fun doing it, you know peeps were around and they were feeling it and giving suggestions when necessary. Chuks finished mixing and mastering it late into the early hours of Wednesday August 3rd 2005.

Click on the links below to listen to it lo or high streamed. I’m in love with the song and I’m sure you’ll like it. I welcome constructive critism.

Play “from ABJ to UNN” Hi or Lo filed/streamed

Hazy Abuja…students chilling in Nsukka(UNN). Props to napturalglory.com and pbase.com for the pics. Damn, when will I get myself a camera phone or a digital camera?