The Nigerian music industry has produced so many talented acts who have managed to keep music lovers spellbound. These acts have also contributed in pushing the Afrobeat genre global.
https://mp3bullet.ng/top-11-nigerian-artists-who-have-their-own-record-label/
The Music Industry is an ever-competitive one with new talents arising every second, new music flooding the market.
However, there are some who have managed to stay ahead of their fellow artists and successfully mark a decade in the Nigerian music industry. From Sound, brand, to a strong fanbase, they are the gatekeepers of the new era of the Nigerian Music Industry.
Here are the top 5 Nigerian artists of the decade.
Davido
David Adedeji Adeleke known professionally as Davido came into the music scene with Dami Duro and Back When featuring Naeto C. While people expected him to be a one-hit-wonder, he released his debut album, “Omo baba Lowo” in 2012, the album was a critical success.
The singer was notably one of the few artists that contributed to the Dance Industry with his successful hit single, “Skelewu” which birthed the Skeluwu dance.
Davido has done some impressive collaboration with Mafikholo, Uhuru and several international artists like Meek Mill, Rae Sremmund, Tinashe, Young Thug, Chris Brown, Popcaan
In 2016, he signed a deal with Sony Music and went on to establish his own record label, DMW Records which has produced successful artists like Mayorkun, Peruzzi, Dremo, Ichaba, DJ Ecool.
His 2018 hit songs “Fall” and “If’ are considered to be one of Nigeria’s successful crossover songs since Sinach’s “Waymaker”.
His second album, “A Good Time” successfully crossed the benchmark of one billion streams across streaming platforms.
Wizkid
Wizkid rose to prominence with the release of his debut song, “Holla At Your Boy”. The song was the lead single off his debut album, “Superstar” which was a successful album.
Wizkid after leaving EME Label, established his own label, Starboy Entertainment in 2013 and also signed a deal with Sony music in 2017.
In 2015, Wizkid released Ojuelegba a song that chronicles the struggles he endured in the early years of his recording career. The song was so successful, Canadian rapper, Drake and English rapper, Skepta was featured on the remix. The song is considered to be Wizkid’s most successful song.
While Ojuelegba opened new doors, this also brought in a different phase of Wizkid as the singer received an ASCAP plaque for his songwriting contributions to Drake’s “One Dance”.
He also is the only Nigerian to have a song with Drake, “Come Closer”. Wizkid also did a song with Beyonce titled “Brown Skin Girl” for The Lion King: The Gift”.
Yemi Alade
Yemi Alade has been in the music industry for a while now. She was first introduced to the entertainment scene when she won the Peak Talent Show in 2009. But it was in 2014 she had her big break with her hit single, “Johnny”.
She also released her debut album, “King of Queens” in 2014 which boasts of hits like “Kissing”, “Tangerine”, “Taking Over Me”, “Temperature”.
Her song “Johnny” currently holds the YouTube record for the most-watched African Female music video of all time.
Yemi Alade is also a polyglot who has songs sang in French and Swahili. She was featured on a track for the Lion King: The Gift album.
She also did a remake of Angelique Kidjo’s “Wombo Lombo” called “Shekere” in which she featured the Beninese singer.
https://mp3bullet.ng/top-10-nigerian-artists-who-have-gotten-recognition-globally/
Tiwa Savage
Tiwa Savage came into the music scene with the release of her breakout hit song “Kele Kele” in 2010. Before coming to Nigeria to pursue a music career, Tiwa had done background vocals for George Michael and Mary J. Blige.
Tiwa got signed to Mavin Records in 2012 and while with the label, released hit songs like Eminado, “All Over”, “Lova Lova”, “Malo”, ” Without My Heart”, “Love Me” amongst others.
In May 2019, she announced her record deal with Universal Music Group and exit from Mavin Records.
On 24 August 2018, Savage headlined a concert at The O2’s Indigo venue. General admission tickets sold out hours before the event.
In November 2018, Savage won Best African Act at the 2018 MTV Europe Music Awards, becoming the first woman to win the category.
Olamide
Olamide came into the music scene with his hit single, “Emi Duro”. He filled a void Late Dagrin left after his death.
In 2011, he released his debut studio album Rapsodi while signed to Coded Tunes. YBNL, his follow-up album, was released under his label imprint YBNL Nation. The album was supported by the singles “First of All”, “Voice of the Street”, “Stupid Love”, and “Ilefo Illuminati”.
He established his own label, YBNL in 2012 and the label produced artists like Adekunle Gold, Viktoh, Lil Kesh, Lyta, Chinko Ekun, Davolee amongst others.
The Lable currently houses fast rising artist, Fireboy DML.
Olamide revealed to the public on the 18th of February, 2020 that his record label, YBNL Nation has signed a Joint Venture deal with the international distribution company, Empire.