Veteran Nigerian hip-hop firebrand Eedris Abdulkareem is back in the spotlight — and as usual, he’s not holding back.
In his latest protest anthem titled “Tell Your Papa,” Abdulkareem sets his lyrical sights on Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, calling out the growing disconnect between Nigeria’s ruling elite and the everyday suffering of its citizens.
With the signature grit and activism that defined his iconic 2004 track “Jaga Jaga,” Abdulkareem delivers a sharp reality check, urging Seyi to “go tell your papa” that the country is in turmoil. Through biting verses, he tackles rising insecurity, unbearable inflation, mass poverty, and the broken promises of the current administration — painting a grim but all-too-real portrait of life in Nigeria for millions.
The track comes on the heels of Seyi Tinubu’s glowing public praise for his father during a youth-focused event in Adamawa State this past March, where he dubbed the president “the greatest in Nigeria’s history.” Abdulkareem’s response? A no-nonsense rebuttal in song form, challenging Seyi to step out of his security bubble and witness first-hand the hardship and despair plaguing the people.
“Remove the escort, come enter bus… Make hunger wire you small, make you tell your papa wetin we dey face!” Abdulkareem spits in one verse — a fiery demand for empathy and awareness.
“Tell Your Papa” isn’t just a diss track — it’s a protest, a rallying cry, and a raw, rhythmic documentation of Nigeria’s socio-political state. And while some may see it as controversial, it’s vintage Eedris — the voice of the street, unfiltered and unafraid.
From his past clashes with former President Olusegun Obasanjo over “Jaga Jaga,” to this latest shot across the bow of the Tinubu dynasty, Abdulkareem proves once again that music remains one of Nigeria’s loudest tools for protest. In a time of national uncertainty, he reminds us that the mic can still be mightier than the sword.
