Here are all the 2016 Nigerian albums out in the market

The year 2016 is in full swing, and the albums have began to roll in.

Albums in 2016 are taking their time. This year, we have had only three artistes release mainstream albums, with the fourth one not targeted at Nigeria. Yemi Alade’s second coming has been packaged in the album, J Martins’ journeyman status was reflected in the divergent LP, Lil Kesh tasted victory with “Y.A.G.I” release, and Jaywon recently made “Oba Orin” taste the sunlight.

Of all these albums none can boast of a 2016 hit song. None.

Lil Kesh

Album – “Y.A.G.I” (Young And Getting It)

Nigeria is blessed with teeming music talent but lack adequate opportunities and genre-specific audiences to fully match the supply. Lil Kesh’s story is a live picture of focus and motivation that would gladden hearts around that talent pool, and inspire thousands pursuing their dreams to persevere and prepare for the right moment. If Lil Kesh and “Y.A.G.I” could happen, they too and everyone can happen.

Lil Kesh’s first effort is a win for him, and for the street life. Here is one of ghetto’s most loved exports, making it big with all the lessons learned from the hood. “Y.A.G.I” stands tall as one of the most relatable works from rappers. Unlike Olamide’s already-earned king status, Lil Kesh is on the rise, embodying the spirit and effort of many of his fans who are still hoping for a better tomorrow. He hustles, he fights, he loves, and he celebrates. In a nutshell, that’s what we are all about. We all hope to be young, old and still getting it.

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Yemi Alade

Album – “Mama Africa”

In truth, Yemi Alade became king like no other lady can, such was her dominance in the country that once upon a time on the Third mainland bridge of Lagos, and she beamed from above the traffic from two ubiquitous brands billboard. On the continent she began a campaign to penetrate cultures, releasing key singles in French and Swahili, speaking directly to the hearts of listeners in their mother tongue and supplying them with a localized version of her music, the brand, and more of that king spice. It was only a matter of time before the new album was announced.

“Mama Africa,” a name which was chosen because her incessant continental travels, is another statement. While “King of Queens” claimed a position no one knew existed in Nigeria, “Mama Africa” seeks to consolidate on the gains of her current position on the continent. Last year the MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMA) named her the Best Female Act In Africa. Has that changed? No.

Working with Selebobo, DJ Coublon, Masterkraft, GospelondeBeatz, and a number skilled pop music makers, points in the direction the album went.

J Martins – “Authentic”

J. Martins is what you call an OG. A singer and producer, the man from Ohafia, Abia state has traversed the country making music from every corner, thrilling every audience and producing for some of the greatest acts to come out of the continent.

These days, that corner has been stretched, with the singer technically abandoning Nigeria, to make his travels and efforts more Pan-African. J Martins within the last two years has featured more acts outside the shores of Nigeria than any other local act. Prior to the arrival of “Authentic”, he had three albums in his corner. And on the fourth one, he presents his current state of mind and creative influences.

J Martins have never laid claims to being the best of the lot, with his production skill far outweighing the vocal part. But he locks on to a mission, plans the steps, and gets work done. Pan-Africanism is present bread and butter, and he tackles it with vigor and panache.

Jaywon – “Oba Orin”

Jaywon returns to the mainstream, a man completely purged of his association with the minimalist Kennis Music. With a number of releases under his belt, the singer seeks to find new life in an industry where truth is scarce, and graces are a rare find.

That industry now has Jaywon’s sweat and blood packaged as music for fans to feel, listen, appreciate, and most primarily accept him. With singles failing to truly fly, the singer who traverses the Western indigenous sounds to find pop relevance is currently chasing the industry, and showing love with his content.

Would the industry reciprocate that feeling? Would he be received with arms wide open? Will happiness reside in his corner and bring in the commercial profits that is fundamentally a sole objective of the Nigerian showbiz terrain.

Everyone watches on, only time will tell.