This post is to acknowledge some of the hottest rappers in Nigeria
this year who still did their thing despite the fact that the genre took
a nosedive this 2016
10. Mode 9
Mode 9 has been consistent with what seems to be an original template for hip-hop and rap. This year he dropped another album “INSULIN“, and the legacy continues on. Even though he said he’s done with Naija rap, you can’t call Hip-Hop in Nigeria without his name.
9. Zoro
A rapper from the east, who is gaining a lot of buzz with his singles “Ogene” and “Achikolo” as well as a hot feature in Flavour’s Une Soul. Owoh Chimaobi occupies the number 8th position on the list.
8. MI Abaga
The now Chocolate City President arguably is the king of mixtapes right here and this year he gave a third installment of his iLLegal Music mix-tape series.
7. Ill Bliss
Illbliss latest and fourth studio album “iLLyGati 7075” looks like his best body of work so far. He also dropped a freestyle “iLLyChapo” which was badass, and his single, Nku, from earlier in the year is one of the hottest tracks of 2016.
6. Olamide
2016 was not necessarily the best year for the YBNL leader. After releasing over 6 singles this year “Who You Epp” seems to be his biggest personal hit. Albeit it was thrown out as a competition which helped the track gain viral status.
5. Boogey
David Iye Odey may only be well known except by die hard fans of hip-hop in Nigeria, but he’s ending the year well as he bagged Headies Awards nomination in the “Lyricist on the roll” category. Boogey has droppd two taps this year already –The Lost & Found and Incognito.
4. Ycee
The only rapper on the list without an official album or tape to his name. Oludemilade Alejo hit it big with “Jagaban” and “Omo Alhaji” last year. Since then the buzz has only gotten stronger. Dropping hot singles (including Su Mi), hitting hard on features, and wrapping it all up with a nice deal with Sony. The MTV MAMA nod as “Best Hip Hop” is no fluke. An EP coming soon.
3. Phyno
Nelson Chibuzor is easily one of the hottest rappers in 2016. Sadly much of it came from his mega hit “Fada Fada“, assisted by colleague and friend Olamide. However the king of the east dropped his new album “Playmaker” and surprised many by going pretty hardcore.
2. Reminisce
In August, Reminisce blessed us with his fourth studio album “El-Hadj“. This showed the rapper has matured in his craft and also kept the tenets of rap and hip-hop. Reminisce has cleared this year with his heavy tracks Asalamalekun, and his Feego Cypher series.
1. Falz
Folarin Falana, Falz the bahd guy is undoubtedly Nigeria’s hottest rapper at the moment. His works speak for him. Right from his 2015 album “Stories That Touch” to his latest EP with Simi, “Chemistry“, and arguably the video of the year, Soldier. Falz has butted his way to the very top. There’s no doubt that from every angle (commercial and critical), he’s been the hottest in the game. His playful lyrics, and unique stories in his songs has earned him fans from all corners of the country.
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