From Eedris Abdulkareem dragging President Olusegun Obasanjo on Jaga Jaga to M.I making an entire rap track from the titles of different fashionable songs on Protected, Nigerian rap has been something however boring. And whereas we could have switched precise rap beefs for Twitter fights, newer rap gods are taking the sport to an entire new stage.
Is rap nonetheless the way in which it was when Modenine, Sasha P and Dagrin dominated the sport? No. However that’s to not say the style’s not alive and kicking in 9ja.
These are a number of the Nigerian rappers it’s best to have in your radar in 2022.
Zlatan
You understand you’ve made an affect on popular culture when there’s a dance named after you. Regardless of being on the scene for some time, 2018 was the yr all of us bought our actual dose of Zlatan together with his breakout hit, Zanku (Legwork). Since then, the rapper has scored huge hits with Burna Boy, Naira Marley, Tiwa Savage and Davido.
Persevering with the legacy of rappers like Dagrin and Olamide, Zlatan’s Yoruba-heavy circulation has crossed over into the mainstream and made him one of many leaders of recent college road Hip-Hop artists. Nonetheless can’t recover from the “You’re not Ayefele, so what’s your excuse?” line from Killin Dem.
Psycho YP
Psycho YP is among the most dynamic rappers within the nation proper now. Going by means of each emotion from his rage on songs like Smoke 4 Free to badass confidence on Massive Strikes, Psycho is creating his lane on the subject of rap and nobody can cross his line. From lure music to Afropop, Psycho is doing the factor and we’re totally invested.
SGawD
Chances are you’ll not know SGawD now, however belief us once we say it’s good to get into her now. With a sick circulation that may stand toe to toe with a lot of the rappers within the sport proper now, it’s no shock that her 2021 Savage Bitch Juice EP made our albums/EPs of the year list. SGawD is something however refined on the subject of telling her tales by means of rap. With each bar, SGawD calls for our consideration.
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Tomi Obanure
Whereas the world could view Lagos as the one leisure hub in Nigeria, a not-so-quiet storm of experimental rappers is brewing within the capital metropolis of Abuja with Tomi Obanure on the forefront. Flipping drill music made well-known by artists like Chief Keef, Pop Smoke and Unknown T on its head, Tomi has created one thing distinctive to the Nigerian flavour. From his 2019 drop, FFPO to this yr’s I’ll Sleep After I’m Lifeless, Tomi reminds us that he’s 6’ 3”, horny and one of many ballsiest rappers round.
DETO BLACK
The world was in deep lockdown mode when Odunsi (The Engine) dropped the EP, EVERYTHING YOU HEARD IS TRUE. However whereas we had been all excited to listen to model new Odunsi, Body Count was the track everybody simply couldn’t cease speaking about. Exiting the stage for feminine rappers to shine, the observe launched us to the badass DETO BLACK. There’s no means you possibly can’ve missed the rapper whose unapologetic strains remind us of the enjoyable, in-your-face circulation within the model of faves like Doja Cat and Megan Thee Stallion. With ladies taking centre stage in rap on a worldwide scale, rappers like DETO are holding it down for the ladies right here.
EESKAY
If you happen to’ve been to an EESKAY present, you’d know that the rapper has a behavior of turning the group right into a mosh pit. Proudly owning a giant a part of the drill scene in his personal proper, EESKAY’s circulation is witty, hedonistic and infectious. On his new mixtape, Drill.Or.Nah — Nah right here means New Afro Hip-hop — which options the rave-starter, Agbalagba, EESKAY exhibits us as soon as once more that he’s not your common rapper, as an alternative he’s an artist able to shift the tradition.
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