Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, recently turned heads with a unique blend of diplomacy and pop culture by quoting legendary rapper Flavor Flav to justify Nigeria’s refusal to accept deportees from the United States.
In an interview on Channels Television, Tuggar said, “We have enough problems of our own. We cannot accept Venezuelan deportees,” while citing the iconic Public Enemy lyric: “Flavor Flav has problems of his own / I can’t do nothing for you, man.”
This unexpected musical reference quickly gained traction online. Nigerian author Lola Shoneyin even teased Tuggar on X (formerly Twitter), encouraging him to share his top 10 rap songs. Tuggar didn’t wait until year-end and posted his all-time favorites the same day.
Below is Minister Yusuf Tuggar’s official Top 10 rap songs of all time:
My Mind is Playing Tricks on Me – Ghetto Boys (1991)
Paid in Full – Eric B & Rakim (1987)
Fight the Power – Public Enemy (1990)
It’s a Shame – Monie Luv (1990)
The Story of OJ – Jay-Z (2017)
Get Your Freak On – Missy Elliott (2001)
The Crown – Gary Byrd & the GB Experience (1984)
It Takes Two – Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock (1988)
Nuthin’ But a G Thang – Dr. Dre ft. Snoop Dogg (1992)
Do for Love – 2Pac (1998)
The minister’s playlist sparked further conversation online—not just for its nostalgic picks but also for the absence of any Nigerian rap artists.
While Tuggar is known for his firm diplomatic stance, this rare personal reveal adds a fresh, human touch to his public persona and showcases how music can intersect with politics in unexpected ways.
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