Mp3bullet.ng presents Nigerian Rap Songs from the 2000s that only millennials might remember.
The early to mid 2000s were a good period for the Hip Hop community in Nigeria as a number of Nigerian rap songs came out and went mainstream.
Over the years, Nigerian hip-hop has gone through multiple periods with various actors and notable scenes.
Rap in Nigeria has advanced considerably. There have been songs that have changed the music industry, expanded its boundaries, and set new guidelines for rappers to follow. T
The music genre is more than just spitting out words after lines; it’s about recognizing the environment, identifying the needs of the audience, and meeting those needs.
The reason many rappers were such big hits back then was because of the energy they put into their songs.
The majority of them were anthems that people repeatedly sang and recited. Regrettably, the values that rap ought to promote have been losing ground in Nigeria.
The Nigerian music scene has been overshadowed by a growing love of Afrobeat and its many children sending rap into the background.
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However, many millennials would remember some of these songs that at one point dominated the airwaves during the 2000s.
Cry – Mode 9 (2007)
Mode 9 is considered as the leading pioneer of hip-hop music in Nigeria after earning the prestigious Lyricist on the Roll award multiple times. Cry was one of the tracks that solidified his position on the A-list.
The song, which was taken from Mode 9‘s 2007 album E’ Pluribus Unum, features beautiful singing by Nnenna and powerful lyrics by Mode 9.
It gained widespread critical praise and topped charts across Africa, winning three Channel O music awards for hip-hop, among others. The hip-hop music culture in Nigeria still finds Mode 9′s Cry to be relevant many years later.
Baraje- Ruggedman
Released in 2005, from Ruggedman’s ‘Thy Album Come‘ project, Baraje was that song that was played in parties and clubs. Ruggedman was able to tell the truth even though the song was composed with upbeat music when he said:
“Get crazy when u hear this instrumental, and most definitely, my voice is fundamental. Na the essential ingredient wey dey make my people dem no want 2 see the end. I’m bad more than that…stay forever like culture. You better make a move cos I dey watch u like vulture.”
This song was a real blend of rap and club music from one of Nigeria’s top rap innovators.
Too Much – DJ Jimmy Jatt ft Blaise, Sasha P, Bouqui, Kemistry (2007)
The fact that there aren’t many female rappers in the music industry motivated the legendary DJ Jimmy Jatt to record a song with some of the established female rappers at that time.
In light of social norms, this song promoted the authority of a woman in a field dominated by men. When it was released in 2007, the song served as a platform for female rap artists to showcase their skills and lyrical prowess.
No be God (2008) – Gino
In this song, Gino discusses his difficulties and his unwavering faith that one day, his Creator will intervene and save him from his plight. Those on the bottom rung of the social ladder might readily relate to the song since it is pure motivation.
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Anoti – M.I (2008)
M.I Abaga, hailed as one of the best lyricists in Nigeria, released Anoti from his first studio album, Talk About It, in 2008.
This song helped pave the way for the rise of other popular songs during a time when rap was popular in Nigeria.
Produced by Jesse Jagz and M.I, the song’s lyrics displayed the rapper’s boastful reputation as a shrewd poet and his aptitude for delivering punchlines through methodical rhymes.