Rap isn’t dead - hip hop artist stepping up in Nigeria
Rhythm and Poetry, that’s what rap is according to Ajay Naidu. Rap music and hip hop culture has been around since the 1970’s, from what started out as a cultural exchange among youths of Black, Latino and Caribbean communities in New York, to becoming one of the most consumed genres of music in the world right now. Since making its way to our speakers, so many sub-genres have been birthed from rap, including grime, drill, trap, mumble rap, alternative rap,conscious hip hop, bounce, gangsta rap and so many more not included, with artists like Tupac Shakur and Eminem being notable leaders and cult heroes in the industry and now artists like Drake, Kendrick Lamar, J Cole, and many more leading the front lines with crazy bars and record sales.
The hip hop culture like so many others before and many to come, found its way into Nigerian and began to strive as early as the 1980’s with the album “The Way I Feel Rap” released by DJ Ron ‘Ronnie’ Ekundayo in 1981. It is credited with being not only the first rap album in Nigeria but also from Africa. Listening to DJ Ronnie’s project, you would see that foreign music has always influenced Nigerian artists, who have in adopting the style added their own indigenous and Afro filter. And from the the early 80’s, hip-hop and rap music has kept on and is still evolving. After the success of DJ Ronnie in the !980’s, came more artists ready to diversify in the genre, with groups like Sound on Sound and Emphasis, with their Afro-funk/disco, with few rhymes mixed in between. Nonetheless, it was a paving the way for more artists, with acts like the duo consisting of Junior(of blessed memory) and Pretty coming into the scene in the early 1990’s with their pidgin flows and indigenous bars while passing a message like in their hit single “Bolanle”.
The late 90’s through to the very early 2000’s saw the arrival of private radio stations and TV’s and easy access to American rap which had taken the global stage by storm and had started to inspire lots of Nigerian youth. Acts like Nigga Raw in the East, Cyrus the Virus, Plantashun Boiz, Trybeamen, Ruggedman and Sixfootplus kept the movement strong, making sure it was not just a phase in Nigerian music. It was also around this time that individual record labels with rappers at the center stage began to arise like “Little Fish Records”, also publications like “Hiphop World Magazine” online blogs and other TV/radio programs began to promote the genre.
Then came the phenom that was Mr. Incredible, M.I Abaga ushering a new era of rap music in Nigeria. With his single “Safe”, the rapper staked his claim on the industry, with a an industrious career that’s not going to be forgettable anytime soon. Once signed to Chocolate City music, a label that has done its fair share with promoting rap artists, he now owns his own label, Incredible Music. 2010 saw the likes of Ice Prince making his music known to the world and Baddo himself Olamide arrived in the music scene, taking ownership of street music and rap almost immediately. The 2010’s also ushered in the era of new and fresh acts like; Phyno, Reminisce, Vector, Show Dem Camp and many more.
Fast forward a few years, and you have not just hip hop artists doing rap music, with non hip-hop artists experimenting with rap music, most notably Burna Boy in his four track EP “Steel and Copper” with DJDS, and other features and Afro sensation, Rema, who’s early introduction into the music industry was filled with songs heavily influenced by trap music, a sub-genre of rap and also on his features in the Black Panther 2 Album.A lot of alte artists also mix rap into their music and projects, keeping up with their self expression through different style of music, like Cruel Santino, Zamir, Amaarae,etc. After its steady rise and a few silent eras, the Nigerian hip-hop industry is moving mad again with new acts like Blaqbonez, Psychoyp, Ladipoe leading the revival. We’re going to be highlighting the very best of the new era of the rap industry and artists leading the movements.
1) PsychoYP
The Abuja based artists has been in the music scene for a while, known for his fuse of afrobetas, drill, grime, trap and hip-hop. The twenty four year old first launched his music career on Souncloud(an online audio distribution platform and music sharing service that focuses mainly on independent and upcoming artist) in 2016 with the EP “Lost in the Sauce” and the following year a collaborative Extended playlists with Kuddi is Dead, “This is What You Wanted” and the second edition dropped in 2018. That same year he dropped the mix-tape “YPSZN”, the first of the trilogy. The project spawned the hit track “Oga” that would go on to have a remix with some of the rap giants in Nigeria, Ycee, Dremo and Blaqbonez. “YPSZN2” came the following year with features from BOJ and Terri to name a few. The ever industrious rapper, was at it again in 2020, with a joint collaborative EP with new boy Azanti, the EP being eponymous, saw the inclusion of hit track “Caro”. The next year, 2021, saw his first solo EP titled “Euphoria” be released, showing the world what he was capable of, with features from Alpha P, J Molley and more. And just last year, 2022, the last of the mix-tape trilogy, “YPSZN3” dropped. The mix-tape features some of the best rap music has to offer, with Odumodublvck, Backroad Gee, Jeriq, Ycee and many more all on the project. YP has shown he is one of the most dedicated and hardworking rappers in the industry and that he has earned where he is right now, with a project dropping every year since his introduction into the music scene. He is signed to Apex Village, a label promoting Nigerian young artists along with acts like; Zilla Oaks, Ayuu, Marv OTM. Most recently, he went on a North America tour with Rema. At a young age, he has already established himself as a leader in the hip-hop industry and one of the most exciting acts.
2) Blaqbonez
Mr. Boombastic, Bad Boy Blaq, Emeka the Stallion, BRIA, the young preacher, whatever you may call him, Blaqbonez is that guy. From disvovering he could rap at the age of 13, to paticipating in several underground rap battles, to becoming one o fthe best rappers in Africa. He won the Terry Terry Tha Rapman's Zombie Competition in 2012, beating 3000 rappers in the challenge. Which led to him being featured on the rappers mixtape “World Domination” alongside other industry giants; Olamide, Vector and many others. The Chocolate City signee, is know for his comic remarks on twitter, anti love messages, and being an overrall funny guy but let that not distract you from his skill set as a rapper. Known for dropping sweet bars and having a sick flow, Emeka not only raps, but sings, being able to come up with catchy hooks even as a rapper. The self acclaimed Best Rapper in Africa has been industrious over the years, constyantyky feeding his fans and music lovers around the world with good music and raps.
In 2018 he dropped the EP “Bad Boy Blaq” a project part of the L.A.M.B series that attempted to reawaken the spark in Nigerian rap industry, with a re-up coming the following year. The EP was executively produced by M.I. 2019 saw the release of “Mr. Boombastic”, an EP that came with a promotional single, “Jesus is Black (Letter to Kanye West) where the rapper pleads with Ye to postpone the dropping of the “Jesus is King” EP scheduled to drop the same day. April of 2021 saw the young preacher be born , with his album “Sex Over Love”, an album he preached anti love messages while delivering sick ryhmes and flows, the album contained features from Amaarae, Buju, Nasty C, Tiwa Savage and many others, with a deluxe coming out later in the same year. The album made him a cult hero as he kept spreading the message of not beon a fool to love and anti love messages, a gospel Nigerians received whole heartedly. In July of 2022, Blaqbonez was again in a collaborative album titled “Behold the L.A.M.B”.LAMB being an acronym for Loose Kaynon, A-Q, M.I, and Blaqbonez, the major contributors to the album with features from YP, Chike, and others. His latest project is his secind studio album “Young Preacher”, already a hit with songs like ‘Whistle’, ‘Fake Nikes’ and ‘Back in Uni’ the video of the latter a comical satire where he dons the appearances of several Nigerian musicians and was directed by him. The rapper keeps dropping bangers, both in the studio and his tweets.
3) Odumodublvck
The Big Dog, known for his boisterous raps and stage performances and his infamous traditional Igbo cap balaclava. He is known for his fusion on afro drill and afro grime with his own version of gangsta rap all mixed together at presented in Pidgin. Although bursting into the scene quite recently, he’s been in the industry for some time with his first studio project coming out in 2017 titled “T.A.B.S(To All Blvcksheeep)” . He is a member of the Anti-world Gangsters, which is also the name fo the album with Replay that dropped in 2018. His single “Dog Eat Dog” was released in 2022. His stellar 2022 continued with features on hit track songs like “Bando Diaries” with PsychoYP and “Vigilante Bop” with Alpha Ojini. Odumodublvck signed to Native Record Label in 2022, alongside fast rising acts Smada, the same year the label was founded and released his first song under the label, “Picanto” featuring Zlatan and ECko Miles.
4) LadiPoe
Formely known as Poe, he is the self acclaimed “Leader of the Revival”. Ladipoe was the first rapper signed to Mavins since their re-branding from Mo’Hits and is one of the few mainstream rap musicians in Nigeria. Best known for his songwriting, witty one liners and calm but great flows and the depth and delivery of his music, also for his neat fashion sense. Ladipoe has proven to many that rap is not dead. Active since 2014, Ladipoe has been around for a long time but it took sometime before he started amassing the global recognition he has worked hard for. In 2018, he released his very first studio album, “Talk about Poe” since then has gone on to release hit singles like “Lemme Know” a fan favourite with a remix with lovable artist Teni and then in 2020, “Know you” a beautiful love rap song with Simi that became a sort of anthem to Nigerians during the Pandemic, a song that showcased his storytelling and flows all in one package. He continued the revival in 2021 he dropped arguably his biggest song in “Feelings” featuring BXSN fka Buju, The song has ammassed over 80million streams on streaming platforms worldwide, and became “a song of the summer.” It topped local radio charts for weeks making it the highest charting rap song and also won him a BET music award for Best International Flow. In 2021, hi smuch anticipated EP “Providence” dropped with features from Amaare, Rema and Fireboy. His most recent involvement in a project was in the Mavins “Chapter X” family album. He continues to be an inspiration to other younger rappers, leaving up to the “Leader of the Revival” name.
5) Pretty Boy DO
Multi coloured hair, an eccentric and unique fashion sense and a style of music that can only be gotten from him, you have probably heard of the enigma that is Pretty Boy D-O. He has personally named his style of music “culte” a blend between cult and alte. Where he presents street music in another way. Known best for his songs that battle socio-political issues and lyrics that dispense ghetto wisdom deep rooted in Lagos street life. Apart from his rap, D-O is alsowidely known for his edgy style with jis signature multi coloured buzz cuts with different prints, colurful outfits and grills. He has had three studio projects, with the first one coming in 2018 titled “Everything Pretty” which introduced us to his militaristic, reggae dancehall. In 2020, he dropped “WildFire” which was directed to the gatekeepers in the music industry and of recent “Love is War” in 2021 which had the hit track “Police and Teef”.
The Rap industry in Nigeria is far from finished with so many new acts and old ones finding their spark. There has been an increase in the rate of Nigerian rappers even the ones in diaspora with so many coming together to form communities, Other acts carrying the torch of the rap industry include; Jeriq, AKtheKing, Dnd Section, SGawd, Zilla Oaks, and so many many more. So whether it is a freestyle session in a classroom or a rapper spitting fire tracks in a studio, Rap lives on in Nigeria, it isn’t dead and these artists are leading the way.