Nigerian Hip Hop has been a topic of concern on & offline in most recent times. Whilst most listeners allege to want to support the movement, insiders have maintain the theory that the music is there but most listeners arent moved to look for it. Nigeria is a passive market musically, we hardly look for music that we may like, what ever that radio and clubs blast is really what we accept as the whole music scape, leaving a lot of brilliant material unheard.
In no particular order, and not insinuating these as the greatest ever, but we collated 10 great Nigerian rap songs that you’ve most likely never heard, and will never hear.
Dj Jimmy Jatt – E Toh Be (ft Banky w & Phyno)
“Rappers scared an RnB dude might hurt em”
Dj Jimmy Jatt is the silent king of local hip hop. His debut, The Definition is arguably the greatest Nigerian hip hop project with verses from over 50 rappers and a truck load of classic. This record is however off his second album, The Industry. This beat is a very traditional hip hop beat, but the king of RnB Banky W, proved that he may be a contender for the rap title too.
Terry Tha Rap Man – Spazmodic (ft Mode 9)
“Mr Gangsta rapper, how do you function, the only brick you move is working in construction”
Nigerian rap was largely pioneered by the Swat Root crew, consisting of Mode 9, Terry, OD, 6 Foot Plus amongst others. This list could easily be all swat root records as they held the underground scene with premium hip hop in the early 2000’s, but this is one of their more notable records.
Mode 9 – 360 Poetry
“Im too ill, like Siamese twins with aids”
This list could easily be ALL MODE 9 but below is 360 Poetry off his pentium IX tape. Mode 9 was the first mainstream rapper to put out a mixtape in Nigeria.
Sauce Kid/Ikechukwu – The Truest
The Storm Records Underground Renaissance
Storm records made hip hop cool for the kids on the island. They were the first to actually mirror the international scene and translate it to Nigeria. Storm records are the real pioneers of the alte scene, for that time, they were quite alte. The record below is one of the many internet leaks they put out for the culture, Sauce Kid’s DA RIP OFF MIXTAPE.
SDC – Send It My Way ft Poe
“Im the truth like the words of dying man”
First time i ever heard of SDC. I was sitting in my aunties living room in Kensington south London when my brother showed me this video. Icouldnt believe the calibre of bars these guys were spitting for Nigerians
Sauce Kid/Sinzu – Lord Know
“The birth of gangsta rap”
Sauce Kid needs his own “Never heard” list. Sauce was always a beacon for Nigerian hip hop, one of the unsung greats. In view of his prison release, we look forward to what he has for us.
Lynxxx – Follow Me ft SDC & Poe
“Spitting bullets like militants out in the east, any rapper sicker than me must be deceased”
Lynxxx was on of the leaders of the Island Hip Hop scene, not really a lyrical spitter himself, he was surrounded with them and never hesitated to make hip hop records to show their skills.
O.D – Dont Hate
“Bros no dey rap like say u dey for jand, drop something wey all man fit understand”
OD told us we could be dope and sound Nigerian. One of the dopest yet, the market couldn’t sustain him. A painful casualty.
Ill Bliss – Hustlers Footsteps ft Phyno & Naeto C
A Hustlers Anthem
Oga Boss raps for those in suits pushing proposals from one desk to the other. Someone who started off joggling a 9-5 and rap, Ill Bliss always talks about the hustle to make ends meet.
Alaye – Eyes Dont Lie ft Naeto C
Hip Hop RnB
Storm records really gave us high quality hip hop to never listen to *sigh*. Alaye was first introduced to Nigeria by P Square on Temptation. Once the record blew up, he scored a deal with Storm records. This was one of the few tracks he release, I think Alaye’s contract only saw 2 singles released, 2 singles that we never heard