In an age where it is easier to hop on trendy sounds or build a style based on a hit song, some Nigerian artists have chosen to go left and stick to their sound.
Nigerian Artists who have succeeded in establishing their own sound
In years before, Nigerian artists were mostly classified on the trendy pop sound which had saturated the industry from the mid-2000s.
However, in the thick of the crowds and fast food craze, a few Nigerian acts have carved out their own space and upset the trend with their own voice and artistry.
Here is a list of 5 artists who have carved out a niche for themselves in a saturated industry.
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Burna Boy
Burna Boy is a brilliant singer and songwriter whose Reggae-inspired music has seen a deep infusion of his “Africanness,” allowing him to own the sound in his own unique way.
Burna’s style is cut from a distinct cloth, as the combination of his native tongue and Jamaican sound creates the right weave for the knitting of his unique style.
Whether he is talking about love or politics, you can expect him to create a hit. His last album, “Twice as Tall” was so unique in its style that it earned him his first Grammy Award.
Mr Eazi
Mr Eazi first took his steps in the year 2014 after his club promotion career failed but he didn’t become popular until the year 2016 when several of his releases broke the internet and gained massive airplay.
Mr Eazi introduced banku music to the Nigerian market and was able to dominate the industry to the extent that even other artists were copying his style of music.
His style of music was totally different from what Nigerian Music lovers were used to but regardless he was welcomed with open hands
From “Skin Tight”, to “Hol Up“, “Leg Over” Eazi has been massive with his “Lagos to Accra” as one of the biggest highlights of his career.
Adekunle Gold
For an artist who characterises his genre as ‘Urban Highlife,’ he was signed to YBNL, which is owned by indigenous musician Olamide, and he shared a label with another rapper, Lil Kesh.
The singer, on the other hand, was intent on standing out and discovering his voice.
Following the success of ‘Sade,’ which introduced us to the artist, his debut album, ‘Gold,’ was critically and commercially successful.
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Falz
Folarin Falana also known as Falz is a multi-talented entertainer who can sing, rap and act with a Law degree in his bag. He came into the spotlight in 2015.
Although his genre which is rap is not unusual, what makes shim sound different is his method of delivery. Falz who is known for rapping in pidgin and in a hilarious form gained attention with this method.
His style is unique in that no one has been able to successfully shoot to fame the way he did and all his songs have received a huge welcome from his Nigerian audience.
Following his popularity in 2015 with ‘Ello Bae,” the rapper has followed up with other successful hits like “Karishika”, “Clap”, “Marry Me”, ‘Soft Work”, “Something Light” amongst others.
Niniola
Niniola is a Nigerian Singer and Dancer who popularized the Afrohouse genre in Nigeria. She broke into the limelight after finishing as the 3rd runner up in the sixth edition of Project Fame.
After her stint on the talent show, she released her first music titled “Ibadi” in 2014. Her style of music attracted curious fans who were quickly won over with her melodious voice.
Niniola with her songs made music for those who loved to dance and also at the same time pushed House music in the Nigerian Music Scene to the frontline.
With songs like “Maradona”, “Sicker”, “Magun”, “Addicted“, Niniola has earned her self fans, awards and even a place on Beyonce’s The Lion King soundtrack album.