Wizkid, Olamide, Brymo are the best stars to collaborate with

Collaboration is one of the most defining elements of pop music. Everyday there are new musicians, coming together to combine their creative powers, fan base, and talents to birth art.

Music is an art form comprised primarily of sound and silence. Anything other than these is based on interpretation. Music in Nigeria can be anything, dependent on pop culture, and the soul of the alternative acts. It can be primitive. It can be sophisticated. It can be chaotic. It can be organized. But it can be all of these things if you share knowledge, learn, and build consensus with others. That’s why Patoranking, the Dancehall leader, can collaborate with Wande Coal who is pop culture’s soul.

Historically, music has largely been individualized, and it still is to a large extent. But with the resources we have today, and the ease of recording and communications, there has been a huge spike in collaborations done worldwide. Wizkid was not in the country when he voiced his parts in Tiwa Savage’s ‘Bad’.

With an influx in resources comes an increase in competition, making it far more difficult to carve out a career as a musician. Upcoming acts and generally any acts who need a shot in the arm or an idea for a new song view collaboration as a major source of inspiration and advantage. But the question is, which artiste would be the best act to give you maximum talent, press, starpower, and most certainly provide you with a hit song?

I will narrow down the genres to Hip-hop, Pop, and Alternative, and provide the top people to collaborate with.

Hip-hop – Olamide

The King of the realm, Olamide always has defined and grown his game via collaborations. The rapper has over a hundred collaborations in his career, growing with each, and adding value to all. Recently, he opened himself up to collaborate with the industry, and he did get a barrage of songs. Google ‘Who you epp’, and the magnitude of his desirability on a record will be spread open.

What Olamide brings to a song is inexplicable. Depending on his vibe and the instrumentation, the rapper can choose to drop hardcore rap, deliciously engage in trolling, sing his heart out, or drop a moderate verse. He can throw in all of these together, giving you more value for your time and effort.

Honorable Mentions: M.I, Phyno, Vector, Falz.

Pop Music – Wizkid

Starboy holds the record as the most difficult act to access. The singer has been on a roll since he came out strong with his “Superstar” album, growing every day, and recently making his way to the Billboard Hot 100 chart via a collaboration with Drake.

Wizkid is blessed with the Midas touch, currently turning everything he touches into hits. The name Saeon got on the map due to her ‘Boogie Down’ collaboration with Wizkid. Seyi Shay got a breakthrough in 2015 because she set things rolling nicely by promoting her ‘Crazy’ song with the singer. There are a ton of instances, where the presence of Wizkid has turned a bad song to a hit.

All he needs to do is say “Yaga”, and rapture would happen.

Honorable Mentions: Davido, Tiwa Savage, Timaya, Flavour, Patoranking

Alternative – Brymo

Fast forward three years from his departure from Chocolate City, Brymo’s indie career has blossomed. Without the pressure of conformist radio and label executives, he has immersed himself in a creative space, where poetry and reflection has given him license to create beautiful music. That music can be found on two albums – “Merchants, Dealers & Slave”, and “Tabula Rasa” – and an international curated release.

That his music is unique in every way is a strength to his brand, as he goes against conformist radio with sounds that are a fusion of percussion, lush drum patterns and imagery. Brymo is one of the leading lights of the alternative scene, carving his path in a society where pop music is a way of life, and subgenre-specific audiences continue to dwindle. Commercial music, as it is commonly referred is interwoven into the fabric of daily living, and to ignore the pull of it can be tasking. Brymo remains part of a determined group of acts, dedicated to following the alternative route.

That’s what makes Brymo a unique artiste to collaborate with in this genre. Hook, lines, and sinkers all come from a man who has a vocal ability that cannot be rivaled.

Honorable Mentions: Timi Dakolo, Asa, Aramide