Mp3bullet.ng presents10 Evergreen Nigerian songs turning 15 in 2022.
Celebrating the Classic Nigerian songs turning 15 years in 2022.
2007 was a pivotal time in the Nigerian Music industry. Its era saw artists like Asa, Timaya, 9ice drop their debut albums to critical and commercial acclaim.
In Nigeria, Mo Hits, the largest label at the time, released a first-of-its-kind label compilation album.
The project produced singles like “Booty call,” “Move your body,” and “Close to you,” with Don Jazzy, the country’s most prolific producer at the time, handling the majority of the production.
Much has changed in the industry in the 15 years since 2007. Nigerian music has progressed in leaps and bounds to the point where it can now be classified as mainstream music on a global scale.
While this is stunning, it would be negligent of anyone to overlook the amount of effort that went into getting the scene to where it is now.
The early and mid-2000s labour put in by artists, labels, and other business stakeholders is unquestionably what the scene is benefiting from now.
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Here are some of the evergreen songs that would clock 15 years in 2022.
Kini Big Deal- Naeto C ft. Ikechukwu
Naeto C had been around for a long before the release of “Kini Big Deal.”
This, however, was the song that revolutionized his life and the course of Nigerian commercial rap music.
Prior to this, rappers of the time were more concerned with the technical aspects of rapping, hence the commercial worth of their music was poor. Naeto proved that you can be a great rapper and write a terrific rap-pop song at the same time.
Yahooze- Olu Maintain
It wasn’t a party if you didn’t play Olu Maintain’s “Yahozee” at your party in 2007.
Yahozee was the description of an anthem; once this song came on, everyone and their mother had to sing along. It was also Olu Maintain’s first real solo triumph after leaving the group, “Maintain.”
Timaya -Timaya
In 2007, Timaya, also known as ‘Egberi Papa 1 of Bayelsa,’ had the entire globe at his feet. Timaya scored gold again in 2007 with this self-titled track produced by K Solo for his iconic debut album, True Story, after releasing the similarly popular “Dem mama” in 2005.
Greenland- TY Bello
In the early 2000s, TY Bello was a member of the gospel group KUSH. The band had a lot of success but eventually split up, as do most bands.
After a couple of years of silence following the band’s breakup, TY resurfaced in 2007 with the mega single “Greenland,” a hopeful song about Nigeria’s prospects.
‘Greenland‘ was a smash hit across the country, especially with schoolchildren, as it was frequently utilized in dance routines and choreographies in schools and churches.
Do Me-P-square
In 2007, Peter and Paul released their third album, Game Over. They were undoubtedly the most popular artists in the country at the time, along with 2face and D’banj.
Everything they touched turned to gold. “Do Me” was the most successful single from an album where every single was considered a hit. The video which was shot in South Africa was a significant step up in the quality of Nigerian music videos.
Fire on the Mountain- Asa
In 2007, Asa was an exception, a bug in the system if you will. When she first came out, there was almost nothing in the mainstream that sounded like her.
She released her seminal self-titled debut album with production help from the renowned Cobhams Asoquo. The album’s lead single was “Fire on the Mountain.”
Julie- Shank
The song “Julie” by Shank is what you’d call a cult favourite. It may not have topped the charts in the same way that some of the other songs on this list did, but it was the best thing in the world at the time for those who knew it!
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‘Booty Call’- Mo Hits feat Dbanj & Wande Coal
What happens when the best pop stars of the time team up with the top producer in the country? Simple, Curriculum Vitae, a compilation album of Mo hits. The album’s most popular single was “Booty Call,” which featured Wande Coal and D’banj.
Lori Le’- X-Project
In 2007, X-Project, a group made up of two Sierra Leoneans and one Nigerian, released “Lori le,” their biggest hit to date. “Lori le,” the song from their third album Sierra-Naija, was popular for its catchy intro and was one of the go-to party music of the period.
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Cry- Modenine
Modenine leapt on the softer track produced by Cobhams Asuquo, abandoning his tried and true approach of punch lines over heavy body beats. Modenine told gripping stories on widows’ rights in Igbo land and cultism in Nigerian universities with the ease of a seasoned storyteller.