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Olamide, Odumodublvck. others emerges most streamed Hip hop artists on Spotify.
Spotify, the renowned global online streaming platform, has unveiled the most streamed Hip hop artists on its platform. This revelation comes as Hip Hop enjoys worldwide recognition, including in Nigeria, where it has significantly impacted the development of afrobeat.
According to Spotify’s data, the top-streamed Nigerian Hip hop artists on their platform include Olamide, Odumodublvck, Blaqbonez, Zlatan, and Ice Prince.
Spotify’s Artiste and Label Partnerships Manager for West Africa, Victor Okpala, announced this in a statement on Friday.
According to Okpala, Hip Hop has attained global notoriety, and this success has spread to Nigeria, where it has had a significant impact on the evolution of afrobeats.
He remarked that it came as no surprise that Nigeria holds a substantial position in Africa’s Hip hop listenership, securing the second rank just after South Africa.
This ranking, he emphasized, highlights the genre’s immense popularity in the country and underscores the far-reaching influence of Nigerian Hip hop on the broader African music landscape.
“The spotlight falls on Olamide, Odumodublvck, Blaqbonez, Zlatan and Ice Prince as the most streamed within the realm of Nigerian Hip hop.
“Nigeria’s patriotism in music is evident as most streamed Hip hop artistes are Nigerians, unlike regions such as Kenya and South Africa where international hit-man, Drake, leads.
“Hip hop is one of the most popular music genres in the world and it continues to have an input in newer genres and music movements springing up in Nigeria and around the world.
“Its ability to evolve and stay relevant is a testament to its power as a form of artistic expression that resonates with listeners worldwide,” he said.
According to Okpala, Spotify’s data reveals that the Nigerian Gen Z demographic, aged between 18 and 24, constitutes a significant portion of Hip hop listeners, representing 55% of the total streams. Following closely behind are listeners aged 25 to 29, contributing 19% of the streams.
In terms of age distribution, the brackets of 0 to 17 and 30 to 34 each hold a 9% share.
From a gender perspective, Nigerian Hip hop music predominantly resonates with males, commanding a substantial 75% of the recorded streams, while females account for 24%.
“Nigerian Hip hop gained popularity in the 1990s with artistes such as Modenine, Naeto C, Bouqui, Ruggedman, Gino, Eedris Abdulkareem, eLDee, Sasha P, Ikechukwu and a whole lot more.
“These artistes pioneered the sounds and culture of Hip hop that have influenced Nigerian tracks and has grown to gain substantial traction within the continent.
“It is interesting to see how Nigerian listeners who are Hip hop enthusiasts are contributing to the elevation of the Hip hop genre and the sounds that tapped influences from it.
“The Gen Z demographic is playing a significant role in this trend,” he said.
According to Okpala, Hip hop has continued to thrive in the streaming era as a new crop of rappers are creating rap music that appeals to Gen Z consumers.
He said the accessibility of streaming platforms like Spotify had enabled Gen Z to explore and embrace music from around the world, with Nigerian Hip hop resonating strongly due to its energetic, relatable lyrics, and cultural authenticity.