Nigerian rappers once dominated the continent, with rap music produced all over the country, and they continue to have a massive impact on the growth of the Nigerian music scene.
Despite the rise of Afrobeat, the biggest and best Nigerian rappers continue to break boundaries and receive recognition from across the continent and even beyond. Some of the most influential artists in the continent are Nigerian rappers, and rap music has a rich history in Nigeria. Here are 10 of the best Nigerian rappers you should know:
- OLAMIDE
Talk about Hip-hop Naija, and you’ll agree that Olamide Badoo is an indigenous rapper, i.e. he raps in his mother tongue; in this case which is Yoruba.
He started his musical career in 2011 and has since then stayed on top of his game. He released his debut album in 2011 while being signed to coded tunes.
- PHYNO
Chibuzor Nelson, better known by his stage name Phyno, is one of the best Nigerian rappers.
He is known for rapping in the Igbo language. He started his singing career as a rapper in 2010, and his debut studio album was released in 2014; he has produced for artists such as Timaya, Flavour, and Bracket.
- M.I ABAGA
M.I Abaga is one of the most important Nigerian rappers who’s made a lot of impact in the industry since the mid-2000s.
He is currently regarded as one of Nigeria’s most respected rappers. The name ‘Chairman’ was given to M.I. after releasing a new album titled Chairman in 2015. This album was a smash hit, and it is still making waves in Nigeria and beyond.
- ICE PRINCE
Here we have a hip-hop artist who is one of the best Nigerian rappers; he is a recording artist and an actor. Ice Prince, as he is often called, was born on 30 October 1986 in Jos Plateau state.
He started his career in 2004 and has since then worked his way up; he has featured a lot of top Nigerian artists such as M.I, Jesse jags, Brymo, Wizkid, and 2face Idibia.
Ice Prince has been nominated for multiple awards, and he has won a great deal also; I am talking BET awards, Ghana music awards, the Headies, Nigerian entertainment awards, Channel O music video awards and lots more.
- REMINISCE
Reminisce is a Nigerian rapper and songwriter from Ogun state. He raps both in English and his native language Yoruba.
He is one of the best Nigerian rappers who started his musical career in 2008; he is signed to EDGE records. He is also the creative director and founder of LRR records. Reminisce has released three albums since the start of his career.
- FALZ
Falz, as he is well known, is also one of the best rappers in Nigeria. He was born on 27 October 1990 in Lagos, Nigeria.
He began his career while in secondary school after forming a group called the school boys, and his professional music career started in 2009.
He owns a record label known as Bhad guys record. Falz has worked with artists like Simi, Davido, Reekado banks, Olamide, etc.
He has been nominated for a lot of awards and has won awards like BET awards, City people awards, and Nigerian music awards.
- VECTOR
Vector holds respect as one of Nigeria’s most visible and skilled rappers. Within three studio albums and two mixtapes, Vector has traversed just about all the iterations of Nigerian rap.
Born and raised in Lagos, Vector worked his way out of the hood on Lagos Island and started his musical career in 2008. Since then, he has worked with a lot of artists, such as 2face idibia, Movado, 9ice, Iyanya, and Sarkodie.
- YCEE
This Nigerian rapper was born on 29 January 1993 in Lagos, Nigeria; he is popularly known by his stage name YCEE. He is a Nigerian rapper and songwriter currently signed to Tinny Entertainment.
He has since then worked with artists like Olamide, Reekado banks, Falz and maleek berry. He has been nominated for a few awards, which are the Nigerian entertainment awards, MTV Africa music awards and the Headies awards. He has won a few of those nominations too.
- LADIPOE
Nigerian rapper LADIPOE is shifting the boundaries of what rap music rising from the continent can look like, using what he refers to as ‘lifelines’ to deliver potent messages with an experimental Afro-fusion backdrop.
LADIPOE continues to ascend as a rapper with an abundance of stories to tell, with great collaborations with new hot artists like Buju. He’s definitely one of the top Nigerian rappers at the moment.
- BLAQBONEZ
Blaqbonez, born Akumefule Chukwu-Emeka, and the self-proclaimed Best Rapper in Africa (BRIA), is one of Nigeria’s most promising artists. The Nigerian rapper is signed to 100 Crowns, an imprint of Chocolate City.
There’s no doubt that Nigeria has so many talented people in the entertainment industry, hip-hop included.
There are many Nigerian rappers who are very successful in their genre. Despite the numerous obstacles, these individuals are able to make an impact and create sensational, awe-inspiring, and highly entertaining hip-hop songs.
Listen, steam and download all rap music by Nigerian rappers on the Boomplay music app.