Top 20 contemporary classic Nigerian albums (1998-2017)

Since 1998, Nigeria has been blessed with an insane amount of albums drawn from diverse genres. From Hip-hop to R&B, through conscious movements and pop, we have been opportune and privileged to have had the best albums grace our lives.

And so we have sought to seek and curate the best 20 projects ever to have been released in Nigeria across that time. These are what is generally called the ‘classics’ albums; those projects that stand out across the years, giving us the best of sounds, moving the culture forward and influencing a new wave.

The top 20 classic albums of Nigeria was assembled by the seasoned editors of Pulse, based on a number of factors inclusive of critical acclaim, impact and cultural influence. They are arranged in no particular order.

Wande Coal - Mushin 2 Mo’Hits

Mo’Hits, 2009

Wande Coal’s first ever LP is an explosive project that still stands as the pop bible of many Nigerian artists. A young unproven quantity at Mo’Hits records, the man grabbed Nigeria by the throat, and gave everyone an outlet to appreciate pop music with hits like ‘Se na like this’, ‘You bad’, and ‘Bumper to bumper’.

Plantashun Boiz – Body & Soul

Kennis Music, 2000

Speaking of influential pop groups in contemporary music in Nigeria, none can stand taller than Plantashun Boyz made up of Black Face, 2Face, and Faze. After teasing the country with songs off their album, they released their debut project 'Body and Soul' in the year 2000, marking a turn in Nigeria's pop scene as a new millennium kicked off. Fresh, innovative, and genius, this album marked a new beginning in the Nigerian music industry.

2face Idibia: Face 2 Face

Kennis Music, 2004

The first album for 2face Idibia after his departure from Kennis Music was the right dynamite for a solo mainstream breakthtrough. The iconic evergreen classic, ‘African Queen’, the conscious finger-wagging ‘U no holy pass’, and the camaraderie-inspiring ‘Nfanga Ibaga’ all peaked, giving him the emotional and popular acclaim to immortality.

2face Idibia – Grass 2 Grace

Kennis Music, 2006

2face Idibia followed his debut up with another classic. This time he kept the theme the same, but brought in new sounds including Ghanaians VIP on ‘My love’. Love tales, ballads and political protest music makes it still stand relevant to this day.

Bez – ‘Super Sun’

CAMP, 2011

Bez Idakula’s first outing was a mix of soft-rock tradition, heart-aches, fusion rhythms and experimental soulful gestures. Bez wins every time this album is played for composition, deft songwriting and emotional impact.

M.I Abaga – Talk About It

Chocolate City, 2008

M.I Abaga singlehandedly changed the face of Hip-hop by democratizing it for the mass market on “Talk About it”. The short black boy took the genre mainstream, and created pop melodies and punchlines from a new template which worked like wildfire.

Asa – Asa (Asha)

Naïve Records, 2017

Asa's first album for Naive Records combines her probing guitar playing with the sleek sound of local and international songwriting. Hits such as ‘Fire on the mountain’, and ‘Jailer’ earned Asa a new rock, soul and jazz audience.

Asa – “Beautiful Imperfections”

Naïve Records, 2010

Asa continues her hot streak with another album. Second album “Beautiful Imperfections” is a warm, immersive blend, with Asa's husky, lightly swinging vocals its focal point. She makes mellow pop about life and its troubles, while also showing strength in the hot Parisian jazz-influence. With songs like ‘Bimpe’, and ‘Be my man’.

Brymo – “Merchants, Dealers & Slaves”

Brymo, 2013

“Merchant, Dealers & Slaves” is a beautiful, emotionally rich and soulful construction from Brymo. The singer with the rich voice delivers the best album of his career till date as he faces legal woes with his record label Chocolate City.

Modenine – “E Pluribus Unum”

QuestionMark Entertainment, 2007

The greatest lyricist from Nigeria has many albums, but this is the only one amongst many that was the cream of the crop. Hit singles ‘Cry’ and ‘Nigerian girls’ gave him mileage amongst many. And to date, it’s still Modenine’s most critically acclaimed project.

9ice – “Gongo Aso”

Alapomeji Ancestral Records, 2008

By his second album, 9ice became the most popular singer in Nigeria, with sold-out tours and hit collaborations. Built around the power singles ‘Street Credibility’, ‘Gongo Aso’, and everything else. This is a ridiculously over-the-top party album that just gets better with age.

D’banj – “Entertainer”

Mo’Hits Records, 2008

The London returnee played savagely-delivered party music with sick production from Don Jazzy.  These became a great influence on many artists looking to go pop, among others. D’banj and Don Jazzy created a ruckus especially on the anthems ‘Igwe’, ‘Fall in love,’ and ‘Suddenly.’

Psquare – “Game Over”

Square Records, 2007

Their previous albums had already made Psquare and the most successful group in Nigerian music. But they were still celebrating when they made “Game Over”, where their mastery of romance in many forms became complete. Soulful ballads like ‘Am I still that special man’ are matched by hardcore-dance rockers such as ‘Roll it’.

Jesse Jagz – “Jagz Nation, Volume 1: Thine Album Come”

Jagz Nation, 2013

On Jagz Nation Vol. 1, Thy Nation Come, Jesse Jagz presented himself as an anti-pop hero and mainstream music rebel. He shed his populist skin and wore a toga that is a tapestry of ‘Loopy bars’ and reggae music. This was Jesse using Rastafarianism to push his art and not his brand.

Femi Kuti – “Africa for Africa”

Knitting Factory, 2010

In rhythm and in sound, and in his defiant attitude and fiery spirit, Femi Kuti, along with his band, Positive Force, unabashedly pay tribute while continuing, fearlessly, to address issues relevant to today's Africa and the world beyond. This is one of the most inventive and explosive albums of Femi to date.

Timaya – “My Story”

Dem Mama, 2007

Timaya and K-Solo partnered for what is the first LP to truly enjoy commercial success from the South. Channeling true life stories from the Niger Delta, and aspirational music templates, he created a record that had an instant impact on the country

Duncan Mighty – “Koliwater”

AireMighty Rcords, 2008

Another one from the South, the audio engineer had travelled far and wide, before he sorted his business, and focused on releasing singles. Debut album “Koliwater” turned out evergreen singles, with ‘Dance for me’ going mainstream immediately. Other singles ‘Ako na Uche’, ‘Ijeoma’ and ‘Ara Agba ndi ara’ became national anthems.

Styl-Plus – “Expressions”

Styl-Plus, 2006

Formed fully in 1998, Styl-Plus combined romantic melody with soulful lyrics. They sang about love and desire in a pure form, with sparse guitar-driven production, and the syrupy, mellow imagery of songs such as ‘Olufunmi’ and ‘Runaway’ carving inroads into the market with a  style that influenced many, but was unable to replicate.

Asa – “Bed Of Stone”

Naïve Records, 2014

On her third studio album, Asa took a highly conceptual route. Asa wrote most of the music in Nashville, bringing on more Jazzy and reggae undertones. It has her concentrating on a woman’s emotional and physical journey through life situations. She finds love, loses it, engages nostalgia, and tastes anguish. This is masterful.

Femi Kuti – “Shoki Shoki”

Insomniac/Interscope Records, 1998

When Fela died in 1997 of, his crown was inherited by his 37-year-old son, Femi Kuti. In the world of Afrobeat, Fela casts an enormous shadow. Yet on the remarkable Shoki Shoki, Femi not only lives up to Fela’s legacy, but also develops his own distinctive version of Afrobeat. While he may not get as deeply into the realities of geo-politics as his father did, “Shoki Shoki” powerfully and joyfully explores the problems and possibilities faced by Africa at the beginning of the new century.