So I think last year or two years ago, Wendy Williams was hosting her iconic Wendy's moments when she argued if Nicki Minaj should be called a legend or not. In fact, it was posted on different blogs and people were arguing for or against her status, with more people being in favour. I mean, the legendary Tank had to ask why she can't be called one. And if you don't know Tank, I would assume Gen Z and move on.
But really, when we say someone is a legend, what metrics or criteria do we use for that measure? Before we delve into that, let us look at the dictionary definition of what or who a legend is.
A legend according to Tara McCarty is one who has changed the course of a genre, transformed musical expression and is said to have influence. A great definition and I stand by this. The Oxford dictionary defined it as an "extremely notorious person in any field" and I have a lot of issues with this definition because that means any Femi or Ekaette can be called a legend because they are popular.
Let us examine some famous people and why we can confidently call them legends. I think this would show you why I go with Tara's definition.
Michael Jackson is known all over the world for the Moonwalk, a very impressive signature move, but also his songs and performances. There is hardly anyone in the dance world now who won't bring up MJ when they want to talk about their inspiration to dance. The likes of Breezy(Chris Brown), P-Square, Ciara and many more name him as a great influence. His albums are still making waves and he is the highest selling artiste in history, dead or alive, selling a billion and more records worldwide and this was the era that streaming and social media weren't dictators.
His performances are legendary for the casualties that just cannot handle being in his presence. He is Beyonce's biggest influence when it comes to music and performances. He used his pltform to speak on messages people didn't want to and is even famous for having fans conduct vigils at his hotel rooms whenever he was on tour or in any city. He was so great that he had to have armies as bodyguards when he went to some countries because he was just that great.
Trust me, when you say legend, the late Michael Jackson is the very definition.
Now let us talk about Cardi B, a stripper and reality star turned rapper who is famous for her shoe throwing, fighting, not writing Raps, gangsterism, WAP and her famous beef with Nicki Minaj, I hope you can see that she is definitely not a legend as your dictionary definition would put it.
Being a legend requires influence, longevity, substance, breaking barriers and she clearly is not in that league.
Being popular does not make you a legend because anyone can become one(Ice Spice the "munch" lady)
For clarification, these are legends
Beyonce
Jay Z
Kanye West
James Brown
Elvis Presley
Eminem
Dr Dre
MI
Sunny Ade
Sina Peters
FELA
Banky W
Philip Emeagwali
Tuface
P-Square
Maya Angelou
Oprah Winfrey
John Hagen
Bishop David Oyedepo
Bishop E. A. Adeboye
And these are not legends but just popular
Megan thee Stallion
Saweetie
Pop Smoke
Iggy Azalea
Rema
Oxlade
Blaqbonez
So you could argue or not but this is certainly what I think about or who I remember when I think about Legends
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Who don't you agree with on this list? 🤣🤣🤣🤣