"Murder Dem" is a song by Nigerian rapper and record producer

Jesse Jagz Jesse Garba Abaga (born 10 August 1984), known professionally as Jesse Jagz, is a Nigerian rapper, record producer and songwriter. He signed a record deal with Chocolate City in 2010 and released his debut studio album ''Jag of All Tradez'' that ...

. It was released on December 2, 2012, by Chocolate City. The song was originally intended to be included on Jesse Jagz's second studio album, '' Jagz Nation, Vol.1. Thy Nation Come'' (2013), but was ultimately removed from the final track listing due to Jagz's departure from Chocolate City.

Sample and performance

The song samples the church hymn, "

Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee "The Hymn of Joy" (often called "Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee" after the first line) is a poem written by Henry van Dyke in 1907 with the intention of musically setting it to the famous "Ode to Joy" melody of the final movement of Ludwig van Beeth ...

". Jesse Jagz first performed the song on the reality TV show, ''

Nigerian Idol ''Nigerian Idol'' is the local version of the Idol series franchise. It is the second Idol franchise for the country as it was already part of Idols West Africa which was also shot and produced in Stockholm, Sweden. The show started with its fir ...

''.

Music video

The music video for "Murder Dem" was directed by MEX films. It was uploaded to YouTube on February 27, 2013, at a total length of 3 minutes and 47 seconds. In the video, Jesse Jagz plays the general of Jagz Nation, a fictional character, who is on Nigeria's "most wanted list". Throughout the music video, several newspaper headlines hinted to the possible assassination and capture of the general. In addition, footage of the

Nigerian Army The Nigerian Army (NA) is the land force of the Nigerian Armed Forces. It is governed by the Nigerian Army Council (NAC). The Chief of Army Staff is the highest ranking military officer of the Nigerian Army. History Formation The Nigerian ...

was shown in the video. Moreover, footages of

Bob Marley Robert Nesta Marley (6 February 1945 – 11 May 1981; baptised in 1980 as Berhane Selassie) was a Jamaican singer, musician, and songwriter. Considered one of the pioneers of reggae, his musical career was marked by fusing elements o ...

and

Fela Kuti Fela Aníkúlápó Kuti (born Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti; 15 October 1938 – 2 August 1997), also known as Abami Eda, was a Nigerian musician, bandleader, composer, political activist, and Pan-Africanist. He is regarded as the p ...

were also shown. The video's primary scene was a room equipped with a television set and posters on the wall.

Critical reception

Upon its release, the song received positive reviews from music critics. A writer for Nigerian Sounds said, "The track showcases Jesse's Avant Garde production style beginning with the popular Christmas carol, "Joyful Joyful" and the bars alert people that "he's been gone for a minute but he's back like he left sum'n!"

Accolades

The music video for "Murder Dem" was nominated for Most Gifted Ragga/Dancehall Video at the 10th Annual

Channel O Music Video Awards Channel O Africa Music Video Awards, once known as Spirit of Africa Music Video Awards, are Pan-African music awards organised by South Africa -based Channel O television channel. The awards were first held in 2003 under the name Reel Music Video A ...

, which took place at the Walter Sisulu Square in Kliptown,

Soweto Soweto () is a township of the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality in Gauteng, South Africa, bordering the city's mining belt in the south. Its name is an English syllabic abbreviation for ''South Western Townships''. Formerly a s ...

on November 30, 2013.

Track listing

; Digital single

References

{{authority control 2012 songs 2012 singles Jesse Jagz songs Reggae songs Song recordings produced by Jesse Jagz