5 hottest Nigerian rappers of the year

Hip-hop is messed up in 2016. There are very few mainstream rappers who are having to evolve their art to incorporate the shifting dynamic of Nigerian music and stay above the water.

This year, 5 artistes have been able to thrive in their various ways, with some chasing reinvention, one popping through the radar, and the others just solidifying on the work they’ve done over the years. These artistes are judged according to the quality and the impact of their work in the country and how much progress they made in this calendar year.

5. Zoro

Owoh Chimaobi Chrismathner aka Zoro SwagBag hails from Agwu in Enugu state. Tracing back to the music archives he’s the rapper on the massive hits ‘Owu sa gi’,‘Safe journey’ and recently dropped a resounding joint that instantly became the Enugu state anthem: ‘042’, followed by other unique singles such as, ‘OTU state of Mind’ and ‘Usain Bolt’.

While Phyno is heavily invested in the fast life, Zoro is regarded as the voice of the street, and a true son of the soil. He flows about the mundane, and raps on anything which defines the Igbo way. Already, his fan base in the East is formidable, and at the moment, he is currently in Lagos, working on getting his pop hit, very much like Phyno’s ‘Ghost mode’. Once that happens, Zoro will ascend, He has organic traction, has paid his dues, and is raring to go.

The Eastern prince started the year with the blazing ‘Ogene’ video with Flavour which positioned him for mainstream success. A remix featuring Ycee and Lil Kesh made very little push, but he has stuck to his guns, going for the kill with collaborations and more singles. His collaboration with Phyno – ‘Achikolo’ – is a hit in the south, with his profile continuing to rise in the South, South-East and East.

All he needs is one hit song to crossover completely into the West. For now he is a regional super power.

4. Ycee

Where Ycee stopped from last year, ‘Omo Alhaji’ continued the good work in 2016 as one of the most popular club bangers. A pursuit of Hip-hop success brought on ‘Sumi’, and now ‘Link up’, a collaborative single with Reekado Banks.

Although the rapper had huge plans for the release of his EP, “The First Wave,” he failed to drop it. But he also did perform at the MAMA, and snagged a deal with Sony for the release of his debut project.

3. Falz

Tell me what Falz cannot do, and I will show you what takes more than superhumans to achieve. Falz in 2016 has gone full circle, playing active roles in Music, TV, Comedy and Movies.

From opening his year with the amazing ‘Soldier’ video, the rapper scooped up an Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards, hosted events, and also dropped an EP.

Falz launched his singles ‘Soft work’, ‘Chardonnay music’, and ‘Bahd, Baddo, Baddest’, which all contributed to the music conversations in the year, and pushed the culture forward. He also won the BET award for the Viewer’s Choice Best International Act, where he overcame competition from Section Boyz, Tkay, Emtee and others.

And then there was “Chemistry” EP.

Falz was part of the team who pulled off one of the smartest music business moves of 2016. Falz and Simi took advantage of their chemistry and the public yearning for them to do more by creating an EP to that effect. The duo have one of the best projects of 2016.

2. Olamide

This was a crucial year for Olamide, one in which he achieved artistically, and entrepreneurially. The King Of The West and Nigeria’s rap star focused much of his time and resources into the release of two albums from his YBNL record label. His protégé, Lil Kesh flew out of the blocks with the “Y.A.G.I” album, while Adekunle Gold reaped huge benefits from the cultural “Gold” album.

Olamide also signed on two new acts – Temi Ovwasa, and Davolee – to swell his ranks and keep the business ticking over. All of these made him successful as a label executive who steered his house the right way.

Artistically, ‘Who u epp’ became the most viral rap single of 2016. The song contributed to pop culture and stands tall with his other suggestive hit tracks; ‘Konkobility’, ‘I love Lagos’, ‘Owo Blow’ and others.

A new album, “The Glory”, has been announced, and will conclude what has been a very productive 2016. Olamide also collaborated on Phyno’s smash hit single ‘Fada Fada.

Yeah. That’s enough.

1. Phyno

Eastern Nigeria is the home of some of the greatest legends of Nigerian music. Oriental Brothers, Osita Osadebe, Oliver De Coque, Bright Chimezie, and many more. But they have a new one in their midst, and his name is Phyno.

While the others in this long list of outstanding performers who gave a voice to the music from that region of the country can be grouped into Highlife veterans, Phyno original inspiration can be drawn from Hip-hop, a foreign culture, which he brought home, Ígbo-lized’ it, and became a voice of the region.

From 2012 when his ‘Ghost Mode’ collaboration with Olamide shot him into the limelight, to this point, where he is Eastern Nigeria’s first son with two albums, he has worked hard at his craft, engaging the audience and sticking to utilizing the Igbo language (the traditional dialect of the East), to make pop music.

Phyno generally did music until 2015, where he switched it up.

Since December 2015, the King of The East unlocked a new level of penetration from making nigh-religious aspirational and thanksgiving music. ‘Connect’ was the first, which ensured that he went through the winter months with a hit ringing all around. ‘Fada fada’ came next and proved to be a bigger hit than its predecessor. His amazing follow-up ‘E sure for me’ also gained traction from all around.

But Phyno moved on with a love song, as the Penthauze switched the narrative with ‘Pino Pino’, a single off his sophomore album “The Playmaker”, which was released in November 2016.

Just as the three singles before it, ‘Pino Pino’ distils the sonic magic of old Eastern Highlife music, and places it in a contemporary context. The song is produced by Benjamz, with the guitars being the most prominent of all the percussions on it. Played by Soularge, it carries the song effortless, complimenting every vocal from the singer. This fits in perfectly as a ‘wedding’ song template.

His sophomore album “The Playmaker” is currently one of the best works released in 2016, and documents the rapper’s progress from being a rapper, to his inclusive fusion of Highlife and other genres from the East into creating pop music. In this light, he is shedding more light on the core sounds that dominate that region, and championing a crucial part of their culture, while making everything look cool.

Phyno leads the new generation of Eastern musicians, and his style, which is ever evolving, is regarded as a pioneering movement. At this moment he is the Eastern mascot, the Igbo champion, and the inspiration for millions of Easterners.

All of these came together at the 2016 edition of his annual concert – Phynofest- which held on Sunday, November 20, 2016 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium. It was a tremendous success. Over 25 thousand people were present, screaming to his every word, and enjoying his performance.

Nobody knows how many more years he has left in his career, but at the moment he has done enough to be ranked alongside the Igbo music Kings of the East. As the years roll by, and the dynamic of music shifts, kings will fall, and dynasties of music will be broken, while new acts will rise and thrive. But the story of Phyno will be hard to forget. It is already etched in the Eastern stone.