Liberian rapper Nuchie Meek isn’t one to bite his tongue, and this time, he’s making it clear, his sacrifice set the tone for the MTN Liberia Music Awards (MLMA) to step up their game.
The artist took to Facebook to express how he forfeited his prize money after winning at the 2023 MLMA, all in a bid for better treatment of artists. His revelation comes just hours after MLMA announced a whopping $12,000 USD payout across three major categories: Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, and New Artist of the Year.
Nuchie Meek, who was supposed to receive $600 USD (or its Liberian dollar equivalent) as his prize money last year, claims he turned it down because he felt artists weren’t being treated fairly. Instead of pocketing the cash, he used his platform to demand better standards.
“I also decided to say it publicly in a song ‘They Not Like Me’ to share more awareness on the progress & standards we asked of them!!” – Nuchie Meek
He also acknowledged that industry veteran Jackie Russ was instrumental in pushing for these improvements.
Now, with Artist of the Year alone bagging $7,000 USD, Nuchie Meek believes his bold stand last year helped pave the way for a more rewarding future for Liberian artists.
“Now this how you make sacrifices for others to enjoy!!” – Nuchie Meek
Could this be a turning point for MLMA and the Liberian music industry? Will artists finally get the respect—and the bag—they deserve? Let’s see how far this momentum goes!
