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    Throwback: Nigerian artists who once dominated the Music Industry

    KrystalBy No Comments4 Mins Read

    On Today’s throwback edition, Mp3bullet.ng goes down memory lane to highlights some Nigerian artists who once dominated the Music Industry.

    Throwback: Nigerian artists who once dominated the Music Industry
    Throwback: Nigerian artists who once dominated the Music Industry

    The Nigerian Industry is blessed and continues to be so. Once upon a time before the rise of Wizkid, Davido, Burna Boy, Olamide and the likes, there were Nigerian artists who had control of the music industry.

    Their songs were either an evolution of the other genres or a creation of their own genres. They might not be Fela with the International appeal but they were certainly Kings in the Industry at some point.

    While they no longer rule the Industry, their impact and influence on the development of the Industry cannot be underrated.

    Here are the Nigerian artists who once dominated the Music Industry

    Daddy Showkey

    Nigerian artists who once dominated the Music Industry
    Daddy Showkey

    Words are not enough to explain the importance of this man, his music, or the impact he had on the late-90s entertainment scene.

    Daddy Showkey was one of the leading frontline acts for street music. His Ajegunle bred nature fused with his Galala dance was a huge deal in the slums those days. With hits such as Diana, Fire, and others, one can safely state that Daddy Showkey is a living legend.

    Olu Maintain

    Nigerian artists who once dominated the Music Industry
    Olu Maintain

    Mr Maintain does not require an introduction; after all, who hasn’t danced to this song? With both hands forming the peace sign and rolling beside your head, Yahooze was a mad jam that year.

    Olu Maintain started his music career as one half of the Maintain group with his cousin, Tolu Ogunniyi as the second half.

    The two had a successful music run, releasing six albums between 1998 and 2004 with the hit songs “I Catch Cold”, “Domitila” and “Alo” before they separated in 2004.

    Olu’s solo career rose to prominence in May 2007 with the release of the hit song “Yahooze” which literarily hail internet fraud and lavish spending from his debut studio album, Yahooze (2007), and a second album, Maintain Reloaded (2008).

    Who could forget his legendary performance at the Royal Albert Hall, London where brought Colin Powell, who was the then United States Secretary of State on stage to dance to the song.

    Mr Nawti returned in 2012 with another huge single, Nawti, although none of his songs can equal his 2008 breakthrough. None.

    Styl-Plus

    Nigerian artists who once dominated the Music Industry
    Styl Plus

    Made up of Tunde Akinsanmi, Shifi Emoefe, Zeal Onyecheme, Styl-Plus had Nigerians in a chokehold with their love songs in the early 2000s.

    From Olufunmi to Call My Name, Ima, Iya Basira, the song that romanticized mom put joints to Runaway, Stay Alive, Four Years, Styl Plus has a string of hits. They were the greatest, the kings of R&B and Afro Pop.

    While much hasn’t been heard from them, Shifi and Zeal who are the only remaining members of the group were featured on Johnny Drille’s album, ‘Before We Fall Asleep”

    Eedris Abdulkareem

    Nigerian artists who once dominated the Music Industry
    Eedris Abdulkareem

    The song that first comes to mind when you hear this name is none other than “Nigeria Jaga Jaga,” with its sad lyrics that accurately represented the Nigerian scenario at the time, and which is still very much the same condition today.

    The song’s ban by then-President Olusegun Obasanjo elevated Eedris even higher. Then there was that brawl he had with 50 Cent.

    Eedris absolutely commanded the airwaves, with songs like Mr Lecturer, Marry Me, and others, until Ruggedman called him out for being a wack rapper.

     

    Lagbaja

    Nigerian artists who once dominated the Music Industry
    Lagbaja

    Who hasn’t heard of Lagbaja, the masked music maestro? Either you’ve been living under a rock for the past few years or you’re still a crying crawling infant.

    Lagbaja’s versatility can be observed in the fact that he can compose popular songs like Gra Gra and Nothing for You while also singing a timeless love song in Never Far Away with the lovely and talented Ego.

    I tell you, Lagbaja is one of Nigerian music’s true legends.