Nigerian born America based rapper, Jidenna Mobisson, popularly referred to as Jidenna, while speaking on why he Nigerians are known for scamming in his recent interview, he revealed that he was shot in the leg when he was six years of age.
Speaking during a session at the Breakfast Club, the 34-year-old afro-beat singer said Nigerians are naturally smarter than other people around the world and they love to dominate in any profession they find themselves, not excluding fraud.
Jidenna, further clarified that Nigerians are hardworking and good people, but not as bad as many people think. “Scamming happens in Nigeria. And the reason why Nigerians are known for scamming is not that we’re bad people,” he said.
“It’s because we’re smarter than a lot of people. So, as criminals, we’re going to be top at least. Yes, so we will be the best at hacking and everything we do. I used to sell chains from China town. In the hood, I know all the latest jewelry. So, I get cheap ones and take them to downtown Boston to sell to white boys. That was a scam.”
He cited an example of the mass shooting in America which many don’t generalize the country for. Narrating how he got shot while growing up, he said; “I got shot as a child when I was six. My family went through a robbery, kidnapping. Women were assaulted. In most robberies, when the robbers want to say they mean business, they usually shoot up. For mine, they shot down and caught me in my foot,” he continued.
“Luckily, we escaped. They went to go rob somebody else on the highway. This was in Nigeria. I don’t want to paint Nigeria like ‘this is what happens.’ It’s like painting the United States based on the mass shootings. We all know it happens but that’s not it.”
Jidenna recently released a new album titled ’85 to Africa‘, featuring respected Afrobeat musician Seun Kuti and Banku music pioneer, Mr Eazi.