I was born in the 21st century, but I’ve had the opportunity to listen to songs from the 90s, especially genres like Fuji, Juju, and other old-school vibes. One thing I’ve noticed about 90s music, which isn’t very common in today’s songs, is the depth of the lyrics. Back then, the words carried so much meaning and substance. The songs weren’t just about the beats; they were about real-life experiences, emotions, and lessons. Even afrobeat songs then had more meaningful lyrics.
But today, when you listen to most Afrobeat songs, you’ll realize that it’s mostly the beat that carries the song. The lyrics? A lot of times, they don’t make much sense. It’s like artists now focus more on creating a catchy hook or a danceable rhythm rather than telling a meaningful story. Of course, there are still some artists who put effort into their lyrics, but let’s be honest—most of the popular songs today are just vibes.
Back in the 90s, music was a tool for storytelling, teaching, and even correcting societal issues. Artists like Ebenezer Obey, King Sunny Ade, and Ayinde Barrister used their songs to talk about life, hard work, respect, and the realities of the world. Even in hip-hop and R&B, you’d hear songs that told deep stories—songs that could make you reflect on life. But nowadays, it seems like most songs are just about parties, money,love, flexing and sexual things.
Another big difference between 90s music and today’s music is accessibility. Back then, you couldn’t just wake up and decide to listen to any song you wanted. You had to either buy a cassette or wait for the radio to play your favorite song. There were no streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, or Audiomack. But today, everything is at our fingertips. With just a few clicks on our phones, we can listen to thousands of songs from any artist, anywhere in the world.
This change has also made it easier for musicians to make money. In the past, an artist’s main source of income was selling physical copies of their albums or performing at shows. But now, with digital streaming, endorsement deals, and social media, musicians have more ways to earn. An artist can drop a song today, and by tomorrow, it’s already trending worldwide, making them millions of streams and cashing in serious money.
Despite all of this, I can’t deny the fact that most of the songs I vibe to and enjoy listening to are from today’s artists. No matter how meaningful 90s music was, I find myself gravitating more towards current-day sounds. The beats, the energy, and the modern production style just hit differently. So, if I had to choose, I’d say I prefer today’s music—simply because it’s what I connect with more.
That being said, I still have mad respect for 90s music. It’s clear that music back then had a different level of creativity and purpose. And even though the industry has changed a lot, I think it’s important to appreciate both eras for what they are. The 90s gave us songs with deep meaning, while today’s music gives us vibes, fun, and accessibility. At the end of the day, music evolves, and we just go with the flow. I actually do hope that the musicians we have now can put more effort into writing songs that hold meaningful lyrics.