10 Nigerian artists who need to work on joint albums

Collaboration is the back bone of the music industry. Artists join forces all the time to complement each other and create great records.

The Nigerian music industry is littered with plenty of great collaborations which have created a healthy culture of artists leaning on each other for support. Think of DJ Jimmy Jatt’s ‘Style e’ a DJ Jimmy JATT record which featured 2face Idibia, Modenine, and Elajoe. Then there’s Jamix on ‘Omo Naija’ featuring 9ice, M.I, and Terry G.

But it rarely ever gets beyond just singles. Artists in Nigeria rarely do come together for larger projects. That’s why joint albums and EPs are a rarity in the Nigerian music industry. Underground, there are numerous young artists droppig joint projects. But that culture does not translate into the mainstream, and fans are hurting.

Imagine a world where we can get up to 10 songs from two A-List Nigerian artists? Wouldn’t that be a blessing?

In the spirit of the culture, Pulse Music looks through the industry, and points out 5 sets of artists who would do the nation a great service to work together on a full-length projects. We are also giving them album titles, because what’s stopping us? They just haven’t done it themselves, so why not?

And the slackers are…

M.I Abaga, Jesse Jagz – “Blood N’ Bars” (BNB)

This is meant to be a no-brainer. Two brothers, with an abundance of Hip-hop talent, who share both blood and music. Jaga and Abaga have been a strong combination whenever they have worked together. At some point, together with Ice Prince, they had a chokehold on the windpipe of Nigerian pop culture. These days, they have more time on their hands, and it wouldn’t hurt to do this for the fans who have stuck with them through the years. They could mix bars, go the way of juxtaposing Jagga’s dancehall with M.I’s guttural charge on the mic. The possibilities are endless.

Asa and Brymo – “Sunset Muse”

This will be a dream come through. Asa and Brymo are the two most soulful Nigerian acts who hold the key to ‘good music’. They are like two halves of a book, each completing the other when put together. Character, quality, depth and ethereal melodies will be the selling point of this project. And watch out for the playful jazz duets, and meandering songwriting. This will be a lifetime collector’s item.

Sound Sultan and 2face Idibia – “Third Mainland Bridge”

This should have happened long before this article. These two are legends and best friends who have worked with each other in various capacities, leaning on each other in melody, songwriting and record collaboration. But somehow, they have never translated that into a full project.

That will be dope to see. 2face and Sultan represent the bridge between the early stages of the current Nigerian music industry and today. They have had over two decades in the art, staying relevant at each turn by adapting their music to emerging trends and listening. This they have done in Lagos, the hub of everything art in Nigeria.

What better symbolic way to title a project which takes their longevity, connectivity and experience into context than “Third Mainland Bridge”? Nothing beats that.

Olamide, Reminisce – “Street Philosophy”

Dialectical indigenous rap music is the tool of trade for these rappers who embody the struggle of the streets and utilize it for their music. They are the faces of Yoruba rap, successfully becoming the leaders of the genre and amassing both the respect and credibility of the streets. They are kings who can properly detail their philosophies together on a project which can serve as the street bible for rap. Hard-hitting punchlines, detailed storytelling and wisdom drawn from endless conversations from the corners of slums. It will be the perfect cocktail for such a project.

Wizkid and Wande Coal – “The Black Star Project”

These are the classic Nigerian pop artists. Where Wande Coal created the pop blueprint with his “Mushin 2 Mo’hits” LP, Wizkid fed off that to create another classic project “Superstar.” Subsequent years have seen both stars mature to become demi-gods. Wizkid is chasing international recognition, and Wande Coal comes off his throne to sprinkle dope records every blue moon. But they both share an ear for great melody, and insane talent.

This will be one of the best pop combinations ever, each bringing both dexterity and experience to the project, and creating a dope project. It’s Black Diamond and Starboy coming together to create “The Black Star Project”.

Davido, Dammy Krane – “In-House” EP

The combination between Davido and Dammy Krane when they collaborate is electric. The stars have an uncanny chemistry that results in a big win for the playlist, whenever they hit the studio. Their creations include ‘Incase of Incasity’, ‘Izzue’, and ‘Ladies’. These songs always turn out to be great creations of pop music. Perhaps internalizing the talent from the Krane would provide a readily available in-house partnership that might result in an EP. Just an EP. Nothing more than that.

Phyno, Flavour – “Beasts From The East”

Phyno and Flavour are two illustrious sons from the East, who have worked  hard to rise from Enugu to Lagos and make music on their terms. Where Flavour went the way of Highlife, Phyno embraced Hip-hop and modernize Igbo dialectical rap. It’s a dream come through whenever they have worked together, blending their Eastern influences to great effect. A project from both acts will mark time as the combination of Igbo nation’s finest. On the music front, it will straight up be a Hip-life project, straddling the line between both sounds.