After all is said and done, Hip Hop music still remains one of the top genres in Africa, with South Africa and Nigeria taking the lead. More rappers spring up out of nowhere everyday. And just when you thought people weren’t paying attention anymore, rappers started doing the unthinkable i.e filling stadiums. African rappers are making platinum albums and it just gets bigger from here.

We have come to the middle of 2018 and with the start of July, you already know there will be a lot of great things to come. We are not going to sleep on all the goodies that came in the past six months. From the AKA album, to Olamide’s music, to Mode9’s surprise comeback. Here is a summary of the major events in hip hop, since January 2018.

JANUARY

Crazy, the year started with a bunch of meaningful nonsense. It was the “shaku-shaku” thing draging itself in from 2017. We had Reminisce doing “Problem” and Olamide on the monster hit “Science Student”. D’banj also featured two street rap acts, Slimcase and Mr Real for his shaku-themed “Issa Banger.”

Although most of the month was sacrificed to shaku-shaku, Terry Tha Rapman still dropped a mixtape. Hosted by DJ Jimmy Jatt. The tape contained 21 tracks in total.

Boogey also caused a kerfuffle when he dropped his album, and set the price at N1, 500. Towards the end of the month also, HipHopHead announced the artist of the month challenge.

FEBRUARY

Early February, Olamide’s “Science Student” earned its ban. An artistic video was later released that campaigned against drug abuse. The same month he performed a freestyle “Omo Ologo” on which he reference the snake swallowing JAMB’s money story.

February didn’t only come with the ban. It also came with some drama as M.I played us all. He teased the “Yung DenzL” album, and dropped the Rendezvous playlist the same week. It still stands as one of the best projects out this year.

MARCH

Phyno drops first single of the year in March titled “Isi Ego”. Also, Cassper Nyovest bags a Nickelodeon Kid’s Choice Awards nomination. Ice Prince also staged a comeback with “If I Tell You”.

Olamide hooked up with his former boss, ID Cabasa to work on “C. Ronaldo”, a song that was released on his birthday. As if that wasn’t enough, he announced the launch of his new TV Station “Voice Of The Street”.

But March came with more drama. M.I raised eyebrows when he named Nasty C as one of his favorite rappers. They said he was looking for free collabo? No be me talk am.

APRIL

A-Q opens with his M.I-esque “Shaking Tables” as Blaqbonez promised a new single (we’re yet to see anything). Dammy Krane featured Yung6ix while Sina Rambo and Olamide teamed up for “Baba Sina Rambo”.

Not forgetting the story of the Facebook user who listed 20 best hip-hop songs, and there was no rap song on it. LMAO.

MAY

May started with the Rap Kulture Uno mixtape, and then the month swayed into a couple petty things. Like Limerick blasting rappers and Meffizy taking shots.

Also in the same month, Cassper earned a BET nomination. While Mode9 dropped a surprise EP “Long Story Short” said to have been recorded in 2007.

Then Murk Reminisce challenge came with much rave. But its hype was short-lived as the buzz from Falz’s “This Is Nigeria” dwarfed every event within that period. Falz owned May!

JUNE

Falz kept soaring with “This Is Nigeria”, reaching  6m views and more. He literally owned the news!

Then AKA followed with his not-so hip hop album “Touch My Blood” which quickly became the topic for the week of release.

The #EndSARS campaign also found it’s way into hip hop. With many rappers, joining and supporting the campaign with songs. There was RuggedMan, Vector, Mr Raw, Zlatan Ibile and Mode Real.

Now July has finally come. While we’re expecting Nasty C’s album this weekend, nobody knows what else to expect in the next 31 days. Let’s keep our fingers crossed!

About the author

Quasar Miami formerly known as Tylz, is a young rap artiste and an outspoken music industry commentator. He writes in a very controversial manner and is known to “never let the sleeping dogs lie”. In October 2017, he was inducted into HipHopHead as a contributor.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent the views of HipHopHead.

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