Hip hop in Nigeria isn’t the same way it was years back. About 3 decades ago, there was nothing like rap music in the Nigerian Music Industry. Only until the late 90’s did we begin to hear the kicking sounds of this genre in the music industry. That foreigner was hip hop; delivered into a society with genres like Juju, Reggae, Apala, Afro-pop and Gospel. Since then a lot of things have changed.
Since the turn of the app age, artistes don’t have to wait for live bands to make music or produce a song. Technology changed everything. Just like Olamide on “Lagos Nawa” It is easy to make a whole album in a day, even from the comfort of your home.
When we speak about the genesis of the genre in Nigeria, it is impossible to avoid mentioning some names. These grand masters are regarded as the who piloted and masterminded the Hiphop craft and bringing it in Nigeria. Rappers like Eldee the Don, Modenine, MI Abaga, Naeto C, Ruggedman,Terry tha Rapman just to mention a few.
The New Generation of Rappers
Most of the rappers who brought Hip-hop into the Nigerian shores have started taking their places in the retirement booth.This made a way for a lot of new school hip-hoppers and rappers to dominate the music scene and make a name for themselves.
However,there is a problem
New Rappers come in and keep dropping and releasing songs on a high level and frequency.Most of the songs which they release are actually good and dope,but it becomes difficult for them to breakthrough.I made a survey analysis of this development and the result was that a lot of rappers actually fail to receive mentorship from the legends who once ruled the scene and retired.
In all cardinal points of Africa,be it at the North,West,East and South,there is a champion and king there.In East Africa,we can say that there is a Khaligraph Jones who is sounding out to be the African kendrick lamar,in the North,we have…,in the South,we have cats like Cassper Nyovest,A-Recee,Nasty C,Emtee etc,but over here in West Africa,who is king…Is it the Olamide who isnt repping the hip-hop culture as he is supposed to, is it the MI Abaga who is busy with running the affairs of a record label,or is it the underground rappers like Boogie,Blaqbonez who are trying to make it mainstream.
Hip-hop isnt dead,but we are the ones wearing mourning clothes and acting as if the hip-hop culture is dead.If Hiphop is truly dead as they claim to be,then who dropped the roses,who buried it.There was a period in the Nigerian music industry where it was the rappers who were the boss.Infact,if you are a record label owner and you ddnt have a rapper on the artiste rooster of your record label,then you are missing it.MI Abaga,Naeto C,Modenine,Eldee were the frontline musicians in their various record labels and yet,they were rappers.Even Kayswitch and D-Prince had to form as rappers just to join in the hiphop train.
To be frank,Hip-hop has been doing absolutely well in the African continent,we had a Sarkodie from Ghana who gave us Acehood on “New Guy”,we had a Nasty C who gave us French Montana on his “Bad hair Extention album”.Cassper nyovest’s Thuto was a hit internationally and these rappers are getting the recognition and attention which they deserve in their various careers.
In 2018,many eyes will be fixed on the Nigerian hiphop scene,a turnaround seems imminent as rappers like Yung6ix,Dremo,A-Q,Boogie,Blaqbonez are looking like they will take the baton any moment from now.
If you have a comments,use the comments box.As a hiphophead,we want to know and hear what you think.Anticipate for the Part 2 of this write-up.
The post Will Nigerian Rappers Ever Get International Recognition[Part 1] appeared first on HIPHOPHEAD.
