Blaqbonez: Streaming Farms Are Inflicting Irreversible Damage on Nigerian Music
Popular Nigerian rapper Blaqbonez has raised concerns about the harmful effects of stream farming on the country’s music industry. According to him, the widespread use of bots and fake plays to inflate streaming numbers is causing irreversible damage to the ecosystem.
What He Said
Reacting to X post by singer Magixx, who criticized artists for faking their streams—“Y’all faking your numbers I hope you sleep well at night… keep deceiving your family members”—Blaqbonez joined the chorus of condemnation.
Quoting Magixx’s tweet, he warned of looming consequences:
“The damage we’ve done to our industry is irreversible, and one day it will all come crashing down. But for now, let’s keep pretending the charts actually mean something—when really, they just reflect who can afford to manipulate them. It’s like iTunes in the 2000s all over again.”
Industry Impact & Concerns
Eroding credibility: Blaqbonez argues that charts now serve as a showcase for those who can pay for high numbers, not for artists who merit recognition.
Talent overshadowed: He specifically called out the absence of Ayra Starr’s hit “Hot Body” from Nigeria’s Top 10—despite its popularity—suggesting that chart deception and gatekeeping are at play.
Wider consensus: Other platforms like Pulse, NotJustOk, RoyalNews, and Gistlover also highlighted streaming manipulation as a growing threat to industry fairness and growth.
Broader Conversation
Both Magixx and Blaqbonez highlight a worrying trend where plays are being artificially inflated through automated systems—commonly known as stream farms. This manipulation not only skews chart placements but also threatens to undermine the integrity of the music space and starves deserving artists of exposure & revenue.