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Hip Hop in Nigeria
Africa's most populated country welcomed the hip hop culture a long time ago. In the eighties breakdancing was the thing (also see our b-boying section for a vintage Nigerian breakdance album from that time).
Until recently we only sporadically read about local hiphop acts winning awards. Now there's Biodun Caston-Dada, editor of the Nigeria based 'African Beatz' magazine. He is doing regular updates live from Lagos in our Nigerian updates section. Also stay tuned for the African Beatz website which is coming soon.
> Nigeria Hip Hop Updates at Africanhiphop.com
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Culturegate
Taken from P.M. News (Lagos) May 21, 1999
"The Culturegate talent hunt team last week released the result of the two-month-long star search with Zunna leading the pack of rappers who contested. Zunna, a 23-year-old ex-student of Nnewi High School and the former lead singer/rapper of a Boys Brigade Church band, rapped his way into the hearts of Culturegate officials with his soul, rhythm and blues rap and Keith Sweat vocal style.
The search attracted a total of 56 young men and teenagers. 39 sang different shades-hard cove, ragga flavoured, R&B. Already, O.J. Babatunde who is Culturegate's new discovery producer has commenced the first phase of Zunna's recording. The second and final recording will be done as soon as a marketing deal is secured for the budding act which is part of Culturegate's agenda for catching them young"
AMEN
"A.M.E.N." (Awards for Musical Excellence in Nigeria) was held at the end of november 1998. They actually have a Bobby Benson Award for Best POP/HIP-HOP Artist. The Nominees for this award were:
Remedies - Sakomo
Maintain - Another Level
Cashman Davies - album
The Remedies (see picture above) were the winners in this category and they also got another award for Best New Artist! In addition they were also nominated for Favourite Song and Musician of the year, 1998.
46 Towners
Members: T-Style, Angel, Jazz
Demo track: Let's make it groovey (listen here!)
46 Towners is a hip-hop group from the eastern part of Nigeria. All three members (T-Style the lead rapper, Angel - rapper/backup singer and Jazz - backup singer) live in different parts of the country but they all attend the same university in Abia State. They came up with the group name by combining their room numbers. One lived in room 4, the other in room 6 and the remaining member lived in town.
46 Towners have been writing songs and doing shows for more than three years. They have won a rap competition all the way up north in Jos and they have been in the studio in Owerri where they cut a three song demo. One of the songs, "Lets Make it Groovey", will be available for listening at our sounds section very soon. This demo was done a while ago and their delivery and technique has been taken to the next level since then. Although they have some r&b sounding songs on the demo, the lead rapper, T-Style, whose older brother belongs to two different hip-hop groups, makes it clear that they still represent the real essence of hip-hop through the bragging rhymes he exhibits on the above mentioned track. The 6 feet 4 ,T-Style also possesses the ability to freestyle at the drop of a dime and engaged me in an impressive cipher session when I last visited Naija.
The group's main handicap is production. Although they collaborate with very gifted producers, their sound which constitutes of casio keyboard melodies and no samplers and does not do their talent justice. Despite this, this group has infinite potential. They would also like feedback from hip-hop heads worldwide on their skills so tag the guestbook and let them know how you feel about their ish. Check back periodically for updates on their progress and more information on the vibrant Naija hip-hop scence.
This 46 Towners update was written by I+I from Naija/Canada, October 1998
Cashino
Diplomatik Issue
Members: Kabir, Felony, Jam-Ill
Albums: Mixtape (1997), When the sun rises (1998)
Never heard of African Hip Hop in the Far East? Enter the Diplomatik Issue crew. Their parents work as diplomats as the name says (don't confuse them with the De-Plow-Matz from Tanzania). They have some tracks ready and are now looking to get their first album on the streets. Kabir has done some solo joints and a mix tape. Most recent one is the album demo 'When the sun rises'.
We received the tape where yours truly Jumanne represents with an intro. Then MC Kabir assisted by Jam-Ill and Seyed Ali hit off with 'West Afrika rise', 'Sun Rise', 'Thats whats up', 'Money & Keys' and a remix of 'Sun Rise'. The 13 track album will be available on the Nigerian market, since Kabir has moved to Abuja (Nigerian capital city). He will continue in music business with his own label Galadima Records.
Crispy
Solo
Tracks: The Only One, Ready 4 whatever, No half steppin', Level of a fool and 14 more on his demo tape...
For the moment we know little more than the fact that Crispin (or 'Crispy') is a Nigerian rapper living in Abuja... And he has a website which will help you contact him or read his lyrics and ORDER THE TAPE!!! Some RealAudio sounds can be taken from the Hip Hop Simplenet site:
The Only One Ready 4 Whatever Level of a Fool
I plus I
Solo
Tracks: Cash Money (97)
I plus I are, or rather is living in Canada where he's been creating a buzz locally with performances on mixtapes and some live stuff with his brother. Even building beats is part of the plan, J-Live style (or Lewis Parker, for the London readers) and we can say that his beats are as dope as his vocal delivery. The coming time he's doing things from the campus that he's on and we pre-heard a new butter track that he did with his cousin, so...
Styles Amazin'
Albums: Apocalypse
Members: Olatubosun Akinrolabu (Mr. Raw), Fatai Ajakaiye (Baby 5), Fola Akinyode (Fama Dead), Lanr Ajakaiye
What they play: A mix of rap, reggae, R&B and Yoruba rhythms from Nigeria. Band members are of Nigerian descent, although they were born in the United States. Lanr Ajakaiye cited The Fugees as an influence, along with A Tribe Called Quest, dancehall reggae star Buju Banton, Bob Marley, Maxwell and Marvin Gaye. Fola Akinyode provides the deep, gruff cadences that bring dancehall into the mix.
History: The band is a family affair. The Ajakaiyes are brothers; Akinrolabu and Akinyode are cousins. Styles Amazin' has been together since 1995, when Lanr Ajakaiye and Akinrolabu began working together after Fatai Ajakaiye introduced them. At the time Lanr Ajakaiye was a DJ on WRIU, the University of Rhode Island radio station. The original name of the band was Mass Hysteria, until they discovered a New York City outfit was already using the name. Lanr Ajakaiye said members of Styles Amazin' are also part of a larger band, now called M.O.S. Hysteria, that incorporates more singing and Latin elements into its music.
Recording: Larn Ajakaiye, now a law student at Roger Williams University, has his own record label, Adisa, which has released a cassette from Styles Amazin'. In the future, look for the group to release a series of singles; M.O.S. Hysteria plans to have a CD out next year.
By the way this Styles Amazin update was found on the internet - but we lost the URL to the site where this comes from.
:: NIGERIAN HIP HOP ::
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The Remedies.