You rappers need to fix up your lives!!!
That was the message M.I Abaga had for Nigerian rappers in 2018.
While a lot are of the opinion that the Nigerian rap scene is as good as dead, there are some who believe otherwise. 2018 turned out to be a pretty decent year for Nigerian hip-hop as there were a lot of great rap projects that got released.
Based on skill, delivery and lyrical depth, here are the top 10 Nigerian rap songs of 2018:
- 10 Ludo (Alpha)
Alpha made a name for himself this year when he dropped his Half Price album. The album turned out to be one of the best rap projects to be released in recent years. One of the standout tracks on that album was Ludo. With bars like "while all these pop star rappers go in one direction, I be popping off like an IG comment section" and "I make shit that is difficult to fuck with like a weak erection", Alpha proves that he's ready to take the rap game by storm.
- 9 Another thing! Do not be a groupie. (M.I Abaga)
M.I Abaga is still the top rap MC in Nigeria. Nobody has taken his spot. The head honcho of Chocolate City records released his fourth studio album titled "Yung Denzl" IN August. On this song, M.I rapped about the fickle nature of people these days and how most people aren't loyal anymore but have become groupies for attention. The hard-hitting track was produced by Major Bangz and it's definitely worth checking out.
- 8 Double Homicide (Ladipoe ft Ghost)
Mavin rapper Ladipoe a.k.a Poe teamed up with Ghost of Show Dem Camp to deliver a lyrical madness. Both rappers came through with solid bars on the Spax produced track. Poe brags about how easy it is to kill the rap game now cause "it's easy being dope when other rappers are borderline". Ghost of Show Dem Camp who is probably one of the best rappers in Africa commands your respect with his bars on this one. The song is on Poe's Talk About Poe album that dropped in October.
- 7 Never Enough (Boogey, CHx)
It's no surprise that Boogey (who happens to be one of Nigeria's most consistent rappers) is on the list. He teamed up with CHx to drop a solid joint project. On Never Enough, Boogey commands our respect as he reminds of how far he has come without a record label.
- 6 Fuwa Sewa (Phyno)
For a while, Phyno has been on a highlife wave with songs like Fada Fada and Augment but the Igbo rapper released Fuwa Sewa to remind everyone that he is still a lyrical monster. The production, the video, the beat. Everything about this song will get your attention. Let's just hope that Phyno raps more often and abandons the highlife vibe for a while.
- 5 Denied (Blaqbonez)
"I'm so ahead of my time, 2018 held me back" has got to be one of the most simple yet insane bars of the year. Blaqbonez happens to be one of the breakout artists of the year. He released his debut album Bad Boy Blaq which was executive produced by M.I Abaga in August to much praise and critical acclaim. Denied is one of the songs on the album and on the song, he raps about how this is his time and he cannot be denied. If you haven't heard this song, you're dulling.
- 4 Win Win (Ladipoe)
Ladipoe makes it to the list again but this is a solo effort on his Win Win track that's also on his Talk About Poe album. On this track,Poe spits realistic bars about the harsh realities of living in Lagos and how in the end, we all have to win by force.
- 3 Stop Me (Show Dem Camp)
Show Dem Camp have been consistent rappers for close to a decade now (if not more). On The Collectiv3 project, Tec and Ghost who make up the Show Dem Camp deliver braggadocious and impressive bars on Stop Me. They use this song to remind everyone that are still top lyricists in the game.
- 2 Gang Gang ( Loose Kaynon, AQ ft Torna)
Chocolate city rappers Loose Kaynon and AQ dropped a joint album titled "Crown" (which is probably the best hip-hop albums to be released this year) and there were a lot of crazy good songs on it but Gang Gang stands out for a lot of reasons. The beat, the dope hook from Torna and the insane bars from both Loose Kaynon and AQ. A video for the song has been shot and will be released soon. Watch out for that.
And the best rap song of the year is...
- 1 Crown (Loose Kaynon, AQ featuting Show Dem Camp)
Loose, AQ and the SDC went totally ballistic on this song that was produced by Reinhard Tega. Ghost of SDC opens up the song with a fiery verse that will leave the best rappers on the planet shook while AQ and Loose Kaynon follow through with solid bars. The track finally closes with Tec of SDC who does justice to the song with his impressive flow and hard-hitting bars.
The song is arguably one of the best rap songs to come out of Africa this year.
Honourable mentions:
- Popping ( M.I ft Odunsi and Ghost)
- 100 Benz (Straffitti ft Blaqbonez and Psycho YP)
- Shut down (IcePrince ft Jethro faded)
- Andale (Psycho YP)
- Yahooboy Muzik (Alpha)
- Lowkey (Blaqbonez ft Alpha, Loose Kaynon & AQ)
- This is Nigeria (Falz)
- Shole (Yung 6ix ft. Dammy Krane, Sauce Kid)
- Nobody (Dremo)