Renowned American entertainment media giant Billboard has officially kicked off its countdown of the 50 Greatest Afrobeats Songs of All Time, spotlighting the genre’s meteoric rise on the global stage.

In a publication released on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, Billboard announced that the selection, which reflects its editorial team’s staff picks, will be revealed gradually in sets of 10 until the number one song is revealed.

According to Billboard, the curated list is a celebration of Afrobeats’ cultural dominance and global influence, showcasing iconic records that have defined and shaped the sound over the years.

Below are the songs occupying positions 50 to 31 on the prestigious list:

50. “Ijoya” – Weird MC
49. “Tonight” – Nonso Amadi
48. “Dem Mama” – Timaya
47. “Raise Da Roof” – Jazzman Olofin & Adewale Ayuba
46. “Soweto” – Victony & Tempoe
45. “Yahooze” – Olu Maintain
44. “Oleku” – Ice Prince ft. Brymo
43. “Buga” – Kizz Daniel & Tekno
42. “People” – Libianca
41. “Peace Be Unto You (PBUY)” – Asake
40. “UNAVAILABLE” – Davido ft. Musa Keys
39. “Shake Body” – Skales
38. “Monalisa” – Lojay & Sarz
37. “KU LO SA” – Oxlade
36. “Kontrol” – Maleek Berry
35. “Pana” – Tekno
34. “Personally” – P-Square
33. “Mad Over You” – Runtown
32. “Dorobucci” – Mavins
31. “Rush” – Ayra Starr

As anticipation builds, fans worldwide are eager to see which tracks will land in the top 30 and ultimately claim the top spot on the list. The next batch of songs is expected to be released in the coming week.

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These Nigerian songs had us dancing but their lyrics were controversial.

Back in the days when the music industry was booming, lyrics were an important factor as much as their beat and melody.

While there were censorship guiding the entertainment industry, it didn’t stop artists who just wanted to express their thoughts on particular issues.

Some of these songs were a popular staples in parties, clubs and radios but their lyrics had parents cringing whenever it came on near their children.

The list does not contain songs that were contentious due to ownership disputes (stolen music controversy) or diss songs, but rather entirely on the lyrical content or lack thereof.

RELATED:

• Top 10 Naija songs that caused Controversy.
• Nigerian songs that have been banned by the government

Kerewa – Zule zoo

Kerewa was a highly divisive song when it first came out. The Song was prohibited from most radio stations due to its obscene lyrics and innuendos.

This is one of those songs where everyone has a personal experience of singing along to the explicit and colourful lyrics and then being punished by an African parent for doing so.

The theme, ironically, wasn’t about sex, but about the now-popular topic of rape. Many of us were too ignorant back in 2005, when it was a hit, to realize this.

The song’s plot revolves around a young child who witnesses their mum cheating on their dad with another man and proceeds to sing about it in graphic detail.

Yahooze- Olu Maintain

“Yahooze” is a song by Nigerian recording artist Olu Maintain. It was produced by Puffy Tee and officially released on October 27, 2007, as the lead single from his debut album of the same name.

“Yahooze” was not only a commercial hit but also popularize the Yahooze dance which involves throwing fingers in the air.

Although many of us were too naïve to grasp the source of the money Olu Maintain sang about in his 2007 hit, Yahooze, we all recognized the song was a hit.

Maga Don Pay- Kelly Hansome

This song was popular for many reasons. The beat and most of all, its melody. However, the lyrics are somewhat controversial.

The name of the song borrows its language from the textbook of 419s or Yahoo Yahoo boys as they are popularly known. It a slang used when a victim has successfully been scammed.

It was a popular hit song when it was released in 2008 but unfortunately also encouraged the celebration of criminals who are defrauding people to make a quick buck.

The song was released a year after the release of Olu Maintain’s Yahooze. These two songs are the bedrock upon which other songs which promote fraud activities are being made.

Ashawo- Flavour

The name of the song alone tells you it is about to be controversial galore. Flavour’s Ashewo song was laced with a lot of sexual undertones and lines. The song was highly controversial as the video didn’t even help matters.

Iya Basira- Styl-Plus

Styl Plus gave fans a lot of hits to remember and “Iya Basira” is one of them. The song at first listen might confuse as just another funny story but beneath the surface lies a very confusing and puzzling story.

On “Iya Basira‘, Tunde, Shiffy and Zeal sing about a food vendor who is the titular character whose food customers can’t seem to get enough of.

The food causes them to spend their money on Iya Basira’s restaurant, and fight with their loved ones and even the Police can’t help them break out of her chokehold.

The song’s theme is Nollywood-like with the suspicion that Iya Basira might actually be using juju to hold her customers.

RELATED:

• Nigerian artists who are constantly involved in Controversial issues
• Top 5 Nigerian musicians that make use of explicit Lyrics

If I die- Dagrin

How many artists can predict their death and how its likely going to happen? Dagrin, an indigenous rapper, released the song shortly before his death. After his death, the song became immensely controversial, sparking several rumours and legends about his premature death.

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If there’s one thing we 90s if babies have heard aplenty is the fact that we’re gradually becoming old, and here are the 10 throwback Nigerian songs that remind about childhood.

Our responsibilities tell us but so do our memories. These memories might not all be pleasant but we can all agree that times were better then, as we lived in a world where knowledge of the latest lyric lines and not shiny jewelry or ice was all that was required to be considered cool and in vogue.

In honour of children’s day and to continue to keep our inner child bright-eyed and alive, here are 15 Nigerian throwback songs from the noughties, 2000 to 2009, that remind us of times of our childhood.

Throwback: 10 Nigerian songs that remind about childhood

Why Me – D’banj

If you don’t have active memories of screaming “File ah, she no gree!” And the entire lines of the song with possibly even more vim than the singer, D’banj, then this list would be more of a fun educational trip and not a nostalgic one.

For 90s babies, this 2006 released song was the signal of a good party time at a friend’s birthday or in the classroom.

Close to You – Mo’Hits

Anytime this Mo’Hits crew song dropped, girls everywhere dedicated their waists to whining off  the hook, in appreciation of the frenetic beats. And boys whipped out their coolest party-scatter moves.

Released in 2009, Close to You was everybody’s jam even if most of us were yet to feel such longing for another.

Kiss Your Hand rmx – R2Bees feat. Wande Coal

Wande Coal’s debut project Mushin to Mo’Hits is regarded a classic by every 90s kid. This is a status it earned due to the quality of songs on the album.

Quiet a number became hits but none was as seismic as the remix to Kiss Your Hand with Ghanaian group, R2Bees.

Like jollof rice, this song brought Ghana and Nigeria together in a refreshing way and had us chanting every word of the record.

Yahooze – Olu Maintain 

A good number of us may have been too naive to understand the source of the wealth Olu Maintain sang about it in his 2007 hit, Yahooze, but we definitely knew the song was a jam.

And so we’d perfected our two-fingers-in-the-air move, adding as much ‘effizi’ as we could in a bid to be crowned best dancer.

L’ori Le – X Project

This song has never failed to re-ignite excitement and energy into the bodies of dancers and party going 90s babies since it dropped in 2008.

Whenever the heavy synth-infused trumpet instrumentals come on, even till date, it officially becomes the time to show up and show out your Alanta skills while sprinkling in some upper body action as well.

Olufunmi – Styl Plus

A pop rager filled with a lovers’ angst we didn’t know anything about. But we definitely didn’t let this stop us from singing wholeheartedly to the song and even feeling the feels while in the process.

It’s safe to say Stylplus with this 2003 banger, gave many of us a soft introduction into the rollercoaster emotion that is love.

Nfana Ibaga – 2Baba

2Baba, who was then known as 2Face, started this song’s hook with the lines

“Wake up in the morning and I stretch up my feet, say a thank you prayer and I brush up my teeth” and that was all we needed to make the song into the soundtrack of our every waking moment as well as the spark to our dreams and ambitions.

This was also everyone’s introduction to 2Face as he broke out in 2014 with this song before going on to give us even greater hits.

Mr President – African China

Well before the advent of legwork movements like shaku shaku and zanku, a galala wave had swept the nation and had made people put in rhythmic legwork to tracks of reggae and dancehall.

One of such tracks we’d done the galala to then is African China’s thought-evoking, socially-conscious, Mr President.

Sadly despite the song being 15 years old, it still captures the poor state of the country.

So while we 90s babies might now have rusty galala, we make sure to sing our hearts out as energetically as any galala move, to this record.

Kerewa – Zule Zoo

This is one of the songs where everyone has a personal memory of singing along to the explicit and colourful lyrics and afterward suffering some African-parent given punishment for daring to sing such.

Ironically, the theme wasn’t about sex but the now amplified topic of rape.

A realisation many of us were then too naive to make back in 2005 when it was a hit.

Fire on the Mountain – Asa

Indeed Asa’s breakout song is one we enjoyed but now serves to remind us of the poor state things have continued to be in since 2007 when it was released and even before.

But beyond the obvious message of the song that is yet to be heeded, lies for the 90s baby, tonnes of happy memories that reminds us of our introduction to the ethereal melodies of Asa.

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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.

• RELATED: Classic Nigerian Songs that turned 15 years in 2021
• RELATED: Top 10 Nigerian songs turning 15 in 2020

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!

• RELATED: Top 5 Naija Albums Released 10 Years Ago
• RELATED: Top 10 Biggest Moments in the African music space

‘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.

• RELATED: Nigerian mainstream artists that have spent 10 years and more on stage
• RELATED: Top 10 Nigerian artistes that can’t go a year without releasing a hit song

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.

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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.

• RELATED: Top 10 throwback of Nigerian albums released in 2010s
• RELATED: 5 Nigerian throwback Songs From The 90s to re-visit

Here are the 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

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

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

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.

• RELATED: Top 10 Naija Throwback songs you should listen to again
• RELATED: Top 10 Naija Throwback songs turning 10 in 2021

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.

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If there’s one thing we 90s babies have heard plenty is the fact that we’re gradually becoming old and here are the top 10 Nigerian songs that will remind you of your childhood.

Our responsibilities tell us but so do our memories, these memories might not all be pleasant but we can all agree that times were better then, as we lived in a world where knowledge of the latest lyric lines and not shiny jewelry or ice was all that was required to be considered cool and in vogue.

In honor of children’s day and to continue to keep our inner child bright-eyed and alive, here are 10 Nigerian throwback songs from the noughties, 2000 to 2009, that remind us of times of our childhood.

Top 10 Nigerian songs that will remind you of your childhood

 Why Me – D’banj

If you don’t have active memories of screaming “File ah, she no gree!” And the entire lines of the song with possibly even more vim than the singer, D’banj, then this list would be more of a fun educational trip and not a nostalgic one.

For 90s babies, this 2006 released song was the signal of a good party time at a friend’s birthday or in the classroom.

Close To You – Mohits

Anytime this Mo’Hits crew song dropped, girls everywhere dedicated their waists to whining off the hook, in appreciation of the369. frenetic beats. And boys whipped out their coolest party-scatter moves.

Released in 2009, Close to You was everybody’s jam even if most of us were yet to feel such longing for another.

 Kiss Your Hand rmx – R2Bees ft. Wande Coal

Wande Coal’s debut project Mushin to Mo’Hits is regarded as a classic by every 90s kid. This is a status it earned due to the quality of songs on the album.

Quiet a number became hits but none was as seismic as the remix to Kiss Your Hand with Ghanaian group, R2Bees.

Like jollof rice, this song brought Ghana and Nigeria together in a refreshing way and had us chanting every word of the record.

Yahooze – Olu Maintain 

A good number of us may have been too naive to understand the source of the wealth Olu Maintain sang about it in his 2007 hit, Yahooze, but we definitely knew the song was a jam.

And so we’d perfected our two-fingers-in-the-air move, adding as much ‘effizi’ as we could in a bid to be crowned best dancer.

 L’ori Le – X Project

This song has never failed to re-ignite excitement and energy into the bodies of dancers and party-going 90s babies since it dropped in 2008.

Whenever the heavy synth-infused trumpet instrumentals come on, even to date, it officially becomes the time to show up and show out your Alanta skills while sprinkling in some upper body action as well.

Olufunmi – Styl Plus

A pop rager filled with a lovers’ angst we didn’t know anything about. But we definitely didn’t let this stop us from singing wholeheartedly to the song and even feeling the feels while in the process.

It’s safe to say Stylplus with this 2003 banger, gave many of us a soft introduction into the rollercoaster emotion that is love.

Nfana Ibaga – 2Baba

2Baba, who was then known as 2Face, started this song’s hook with the lines

“Wake up in the morning and I stretch up my feet, say a thank you prayer and I brush up my teeth”

and that was all we needed to make the song into the soundtrack of our every waking moment as well as the spark to our dreams and ambitions.

This was also everyone’s introduction to 2Face as he broke out in 2014 with this song before going on to give us even greater hits.

 Mr President – African China

Well before the advent of legwork movements like shaku shaku and zanku, a galala wave had swept the nation and had made people put in rhythmic legwork to tracks of reggae and dancehall.

One of such tracks we’d done the galala to then is African China’s thought-evoking, socially-conscious, Mr President.

Sadly despite the song being 15 years old, it still captures the poor state of the country.

So while we 90s babies might now have rusty galala, we make sure to sing our hearts out as energetically as any galala move, to this record.

Kerewa – Zule Zoo

This is one of the songs where everyone has a personal memory of singing along to the explicit and colorful lyrics and afterward suffering some African parents given punishment for daring to sing such.

Ironically, the theme wasn’t about sex but the now amplified topic of rape.

A realization many of us were then too naive to make back in 2005 when it was a hit.

Fire on the Mountain – Asa

Indeed Asa’s breakout song is one we enjoyed but now serves to remind us of the poor state things have continued to be in since 2007 when it was released and even before.

But beyond the obvious message of the song that is yet to be heeded, lies for the 90s baby, tonnes of happy memories that remind us of our introduction to the ethereal melodies of Asa.

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You know what they say about first impressions lasting longer, well, that can also be said about artists with a debut body of work, from the most notable era, these are the top 10 Afropop debut albums that made an impact in Nigerian music.

There’s hardly anything that makes an artist relevant more than a debut album. Not in this industry anyway. And, not that I know of, album registers an artist’s credibility.

The debut album is very important, and that’s why not so many artists in the history of Nigerian music have been able to pull off an impressive debut.

Here’s a handpicked list of the best ten debut Afro albums from this era.

Top 10 Afropop debut albums that made an impact on the Nigerian music

2Face – Face 2 Face

It’s just impossible to do it like 2Face and Kennis Music did it. “Face 2 Face” is 2Face Idibia’s debut solo album and it houses the single most popular African song of all time, “African Queen.”

Nobody could ever remake that. Not in 2004, not in 2014, and definitely not right now.

Wande Coal – Mushin 2 Mohits

Wandecoal’s “Mushin 2 Mohits” was what ushered in the new afro-pop sound.

Wande Coal created a blend of fine R&B and Afro and made a correct album.

Without the release of M2M in 2009, there might never have been a “Superstar.”

This album is also part of what stamped Don Baba J’s legacy in the industry.

Wizkid – Superstar

Some say it’s the best debut of all time. With the impact on the culture this album has had and its current relevance, I really can’t argue with anyone who says it is.

“Superstar” is simply what it is; a classic. Wizkid may have surpassed Superstar’s commercial success with his other albums, but there’s no doubt that it’ll be impossible to create a masterpiece like that again.

Timaya – True Story

Maybe before Timaya, the boys from the South were not really getting the national press. But he changed that for good with this classic album, “True Story” that he released 14 years ago.

The LP which had the hit single, “Dem Mama” is one of the most commercially successful albums from the 2000s.

The sound, which is predominantly dancehall, does have some elements of Afro. It is what inspired the Patorankings and Burna Boys of today.

Olamide – Rhapsodi

Rapsodi is the debut studio album by Nigerian rapper Olamide, released by Coded Tunes.

The album features guest appearances from Pheelz, Wizkid, 9ice, Reminisce, I.D Cabasa, 2Phat, Adol, Ab1, Jumoke, Lord of Ajasa, B-Rank, Soul Joe, and Terry Da Rapman.

It was nominated for Best Rap Album at The Headies 2012

Sean Tizzle – The Journey

The Journey is the first studio album by Nigerian Afro-Pop artist Sean Tizzle. It was released on April 17, 2014, on Difference Entertainment. which was released in 2014.

The album features guest appearances from Olamide, Reminisce, 9ice, Ice Prince, Naeto C, Kcee, and Tiwa Savage.

The album was supported by four official singles— “Mama Eh”, “Komole”, “Kilogbe” and “Kilogbe (Remix)” along with the promotional singles “Mama Eh”.

 Olu Maintain – Yahooze

Before his debut, Olu Maintain had previously released music as part of the group Maintain that he formed in the 90’s.

In 2004, they broke up and he continued his career as a solo artist.

He made one of the biggest contemporary hits in Nigerian music history in “Yahooze,” a track from his debut album, also named “Yahooze.” The album was literally everywhere in 2008.

Fireboy – Laughter, Tears, and Goosebumps

Fireboy released his eclectic debut album in 2019 and since then, not so many people have been able to put out projects considered better than LTG.

It’ll take a couple more years before we get an album that’s as fine as this.

The album which has been compared to Wizkid’s “Superstar” is already being hailed as a modern classic.

 Kizz Daniel – New Era

Around the time Kizz Daniel dropped his afro-pop debut album, “New Era,” so many artists dropped a lot of things, EP, albums, singles, etc.

It didn’t matter. Kizz Daniel just doesn’t miss.

“New Era” is actually the best album released from the mid to late 2010s. It wasn’t deficient of hits either.

 Brymo – The Son of a Kapenta

Brymo is an all-around musician. He might be the most powerful alternative artist in the country right now, but back in 2013, his Chocolate City debut was the Album of the Year.

“The Son of a Kapenta” is a mad project. Imagine packing songs like “Ara.” “Good Morning,” and “Omoge Campus” in one album!

Top 10 Afropop debut albums that made an impact on the Nigerian music

• 2Baba – Face2Face
• Wande Coal – Mushin 2 Mohits
• Wizkid – Superstar
• Timaya – True Story
• Olamide – Rhapodi
• Sean Tizzle – The Journey
• Olu Maintain – Yahooze
• Fireboy DML – LTG
• Kizz Daniel – New Era
• Brymo – The son of a kapenta

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These are the top 10 states in Nigeria that produce the best musician according to the number of mainstream artists they produce in the space of popular music.

Nigeria is officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa, and here are the top 10 states in Nigeria that produce the best musician.

It is the most populous country in Africa and in Sub-Saharan Africa before South Africa, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Ethiopia; geographically situated between the Sahel to the north, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south in the Atlantic Ocean; covering an area of 923,769 kilometers (574,003 mi), with a population of over 211 million.

Opinion 

First and foremost, to be able to analyze the top 10 states in Nigeria that produce the best music, it has to be regionalized and refined by the number of mainstream artists in the Nigerian music industry produced by the state.

Shout out to another genre of traditional music and instrumentation, but then, this post revolves around mainstream contemporaries.

So! which region in Nigeria produces the best musicians?  I’m from the Southeast, and as much as I love our beloved Chief Osita Osadebe, I have to say those Yoruba artists have been giving everyone else a run for their money for way too long

If we’re talking of contemporary Naija music in genres like hip-hop, rap, and R&B, it is an understatement to say the Southwest part of Naija top the chart of quality musical artists but, to be more precise, the Middle-belt region with states like Benue, Plateau, Nassarawa and the FCT, in particular, are also inclusive, Southeast holds very tight too.

In summary, Nigerians are great talented people!

Top 10 states in Nigeria that produce the best musician

Ogun State

Ogun State is a state in southwestern Nigeria, Created in February 1976 from the former Western State.

Ogun State has numerous mainstream artists in the Nigerian music industry, which includes Fela Kuti Olamide, Wizkid, D’banj,  Reminisce, Kizz Daniel, Zlatan ibile, Laycon, Vector, etc. 

Ondo State

Ondo State is a state in southwestern Nigeria. Created in February 1976 from the former Western State.

Ondo State borders Ekiti State (formally part of the state) to the north, Kogi State to the northeast, Edo State to the east, Delta State to the southwest, Osun State to the northwest, and the Atlantic Ocean to the south.

Ondo State has numerous mainstream artists in the Nigerian music industry, which includes King Sunny Ade, Niniola, Teni, Olu Maintain, Yinka Ayefele, Small Doctor, etc.

Osun State

Osun is an inland state in southwestern Nigeria. Its capital is Osogbo.

It is bounded in the north by Kwara State, in the east partly by Ekiti State and partly by Ondo State, in the south by Ogun State, and in the west by Oyo State.

Osun State has numerous mainstream artists in the Nigerian music industry, which includes Davido, Mayorkun, Mode 9, Adekunle Gold, etc.

Lagos State

Lagos sometimes referred to as Lagos State to distinguish it from Lagos Metropolitan Area, is a state located in the southwestern geopolitical zone of Nigeria.

The smallest in area of Nigeria’s 36 states, with a population of over 15 million, Lagos State is arguably the most economically important state of the country, containing Lagos, the nation’s largest urban area.

Lagos State has numerous mainstream artists in the Nigerian music industry, which includes Tiwa Savage, Wande Coal, Lil Kesh, DJ Tunez, Mr Real, Slimcase, etc.

Anambra State

Anambra State is a Nigerian state, located in the southeastern region of the country. It has over 11 million residents Formed in 1976 from the former East Central State, the state is named after the Anam, one of its clans.

Anambra is the abbreviation of the Anam branch, a name the earliest British colonialists described the Omambala area with.

The state capital is Awka, a rapidly growing city that increased in population from approximately 300,000 to 2.5 million between 2006 and 2018.

The city of Onitsha, a historic port city from the pre-colonial era, remains an important center of commerce within the state.

Enugu State has numerous mainstream artists in the Nigeria music industry, which includes Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe, Psquare, Phyno, Flavour, Kcee, Umu Obiligbo, etc

Benue State

Benue State is one of the North Central states in Nigeria with a population of about 4,253,641 in the 2006 census.

The state derives its name from the Benue River which is the second largest river in Nigeria.

The state borders Nasarawa State to the North; Taraba State to the East; Kogi State to the West; Enugu State to the South-West; Ebonyi and the Cross-Rivers States to the South; and has an international border with Cameroon to the South-East.

Benue State has numerous mainstream artists in the Nigeria music industry, which includes 2Baba, Terry G, Joe EL, Black face, etc

Kwara State

Kwara (Yoruba: Ìpínlẹ̀ Kwárà) is a state in Western Nigeria. Its capital is Ilorin. Kwara is located within the North Central geopolitical zone.

The primary ethnic group is Yoruba, with significant Fulani, Nupe, and Bariba minorities, Kwara comprises 16 local government areas.

Kwara State has numerous mainstream artists in the Nigeria music industry, which includes Tony Tetuila, Naira Marley, IK Dairo, CDQ, Ayra Starr, Lyta, 

Oyo State

Oyo usually referred to as Oyo State to distinguish it from the city of Oyo, is an inland state in southwestern Nigeria.

Its capital is Ibadan, the third most populous city in the country and formerly the second most populous city in Africa.

Oyo State is bordered to the north by Kwara State, to the east by Osun State, and to the southwest by Ogun State and the Republic of Benin.

With a projected population of 7,840,864 in 2016, Oyo State is the fifth most populous in Nigeria.

Oyo State has numerous mainstream artists in the Nigeria music industry, which includes 9ice, Skuki, Jamopyper, Sade, etc

Rivers State

Rivers State also known as Rivers, Rivers State is situated in the south-south region of Nigeria in which the inland area of the state comprises of tropical rainforest towards the coast.

The state is formed out of the Eastern region in 1967 with its capital in Port Harcourt.

Rivers State is split into twenty-three local government areas, grouped under three senatorial districts Zones.

It has borders with (south) the Atlantic Ocean, (north) Anambra, Imo and Abia States, (East) Akwa Ibom State, (West) Bayelsa, and the Delta States

Rivers State has numerous mainstream artists in the Nigeria music industry, which includes Burna Boy, Duncan Mighty, Waconzy, Muma gee, Omah lay, etc

Plateau State

Plateau is the twelfth-largest state in Nigeria, Approximately in the center of the country, it is geographically unique in Nigeria due to its boundaries of elevated hills surrounding the Jos Plateau its capital, and the entire plateau itself.

Plateau State is celebrated as “The Home of Peace and Tourism”. With natural formations of rocks, hills, and waterfalls, it derives its name from the Jos Plateau and has a population of around 3.5 million people.

Plateau State has numerous mainstream artists in the Nigeria music industry, which includes M.i, Ice Prince, Jesse Jags

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Worthy Mention

Enugu State and Ebonyi State

Enugu usually referred to as Enugu State to distinguish it from the city of Enugu, is a state in southeastern Nigeria, created in 1991 from part of the old Anambra State.

Its capital and largest city are Enugu, from which the state derives its name.

Enugu State has numerous mainstream artists in the Nigerian music industry, which includes.

Both States have some mainstream artists in the Nigerian music industry, which includes Runtown, Tekno, Patoranking, Zoro, etc.

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Nigerians love to dance and it’s in our DNA, so many Nigerian artists are aware.

Therefore they’re constantly writing songs for the latest dance moves or for the more creative ones, artists inventing new dance moves for Nigerians to rock to and extend the life of their songs.

Various artists have introduced several dance techniques over the years, but only a few have gone viral and shook the dance floors.

Some of these dance moves were not originated by Nigerian artists, but as soon as they hit our radios, we adopted them and made mad jamz out of them.

Mp3bullet has checked, and these are the top 10 Nigerian dances of all time.

Enjoy, share, and do not forget to dance.

Galala – Daddy Showkey

This dance step is associated with “the ghetto” or Ajegunle, Lagos, it originated from the pseudo-reggae sound made popular by artists like Ras Kimono, Blacky, Fada U-Turn, etc.

However, Daddy Showkey will be most remembered as the instigator of the dance; it is as much a part of his identity as his long dreadlocks.

Alanta – Artquake

This was a very unique but crazy dance movement originated by a group called “Artquake“.

It involved a crazy movement of the arms and legs in an alternate manner and crazy facial expressions that were slightly debasing, beating an imaginary drum on the stomach.

Alanta could genuinely put you in a state of shock and dismay, Terry G also promoted this dance movement with his free madness series.

Yahooze – Olu Maintain

Olu Maintain is to be thanked for this. The Kennis Music star released “Yahooze” in 2008 and created madness across the country.

It involved popping two figures in the air in the like manner of spraying imaginary money.

As usual, it started all simple, until Nigerians got crazier with it and developed its steps to various styles.

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Yahooze was a force that launched an artiste’s solo career and dominated the country for a year and some.

Azonto – Fuse ODG

Azonto became popular in Nigeria thanks to Ghanaian singer Fuse ODG whose monster hit song ‘Azonto’ featuring Tiffany was released on the 27th of Oct 2011.

It gained more popularity when Wizkid did a freestyle on it and when the video above went viral, gaining more views than even the official video by Fuse.

It has gone on to become one of the greatest dance movements in the last decade, spreading from Ghana to other African countries and Europe.

Etighi/Kukere – Iyanya

Etighi originated from the Calabar/Akwa Ibom region of Nigeria, It became mainstream popular when Iyanya; who is from this region released the video for his hit single, Kukere in 2012.

Etighi had a brief but intense lifespan because it was the simplest of dances but if you take a closer look, it is there in many dance routines.

Skelewu – Davido

The Nigerian Afro-pop singer, Davido wowed everyone with his hit single released on Aug 18, 2013, Skelewu, and followed it up with a beautiful dance step to promote the song.

The song gave the Nigerian artist recognition home and abroad; the most memorable was when it was played during the halftime of a Spanish La Liga match.

Shoki –  Lil Kesh

Shoki will be remembered as one of Nigeria’s most controversial dance steps because about three acts claimed to be its originator.

They are Dre San, Lil Kesh, and Orezi, it had bubbled underground in Lagos for a year before Lil Kesh gave himself and the style a massive push with the release of his hit single “Shoki” in 2014.

Leaving the originator issue behind, Shoki was a hit, considering how easy it is.

Shakiti Bobo – Olamide

This dance begins and ends with the self-styled King of the Streets, Olamide. In 2015, Olamide released another one of his sneak attacks on radio and the clubs titled “Bobo”.

In what looked like a mere freestyle when it was first released, Olamide’s Bobo became a monster hit when its visuals were released with a trending dance step that many embraced with both arms.

Bobo became so famous that it sneaked into churches across the federation.

Shaku Shaku – Slimcase

This is another controversial dance step that blew up at the end of 2016 but those who are more familiar with its origins claim it has been a rave in Agege for two years and counting.

Songs like “Shepeteri” and “Legbegbe” became massive sleeper hits while riding the shaku wave, and their successes elevated the careers of two underground acts that you would do well to pay attention to, “Mr Real” and “Slimcase”.

Zanku – Zlatan Ibile

Zanku is currently the freshest dance step of them all, It was introduced by Zlatan Ibile in late 2018, and it involves plenty of ten-ten-like foot marches and karate-like jump kicks locally called gbeing body.

Some of the biggest Zanku songs include Chinko Ekun’s Able God featuring Zlatan and Lil Kesh, and Zlatan’s Killin Dem, etc.

Some other worthy mentions are

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Alingo – P square

“Alingo” became popular due to its controversial dance moves. The duo first announced the Alingo dance during the Love Afrobeats Festival Press Conference.

Furthermore, they said the pace of the dance makes it complicated for a lot of people.

After uploading the music video for “Alingo” onto YouTube, the duo received numerous criticism from people who felt the song’s dance moves bear a close resemblance to the Azonto dance.

Sekem – Mc Galaxy

Sekem dancers are lovely to watch, the jolly sideways, back and forth moves are the beauty of the dance step created by MC Galaxy on his hit track Sekem.

It had a brief life span as it was Simple but cost us our footwear.

Suo – Marvellous Benji

The most popular vehicle for the dance was Marvellous Benjy’s “Suo” which was a massive hit at the time.

The duo of Mad Melon and Mountain Black, known as the Danfo Drivers, also carried the dance style on their backs

Top 10 Nigerian dances of all time and the artists that created them

• Galala Daddy – Showkey
• Alanta – Artquake
• Yahooze – Olu Maintain
• Azonto – Fuse ODG
• Etighi/Kukere – Iyanya
• Skelewu – Davido
• Shoki –  Lil Kesh
• Shakiti Bobo – Olamide
• Shaku Shaku – Slimcase
• Zanku – Zlatan Ibile

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Curated most influential Nigerian record producers of all time.

Nigerian record producers and artists have always received all the plaudits for creating hit songs, but record producers also deserve to share that fame.

However, Over the years many talented producers have walked these streets, mesmerizing us with their melodious beats and brilliant musical ingenuity.

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These producers have not only given us great songs, but they have also carried the music industries on their shoulders and brought Nigerian music into the limelight.

 Don Jazzy

Don Jazzy is arguably the greatest Nigerian producer ever, collaborating with virtually every A-list artist in the industry since he and D’Banj burst onto the scene in 2004.

His catalog of production credits is filled with endless smash hits such as Tongolo, Surulere, Dorobucci, Oliver Twist, Mr. Endowed, to mention a few, as well as numerous classic albums.

Don Jazzy has also had international collaborations, most notably his work with Jay-Z and Kanye West on the production of Lift Off, featuring Beyoncé on the album Watch The Throne which was released on 8 August 2011.

 OJB Jezreel

The late OJB Jezreel single-handedly produced ‘Face 2 Face’ which contained arguably the biggest record by any Nigerian artist in the 21st century,  ‘African Queen’.

He also produced for Jazzman Olofin, Weird MC, Paul Ik Dairo, Daddy Showkey, Sir Shina Peters, Olu Maintain.

OJB also produced albums and songs for Faze, Iyanya, D’banj, Durella, Wizkid, Yemi Alade among others.

ID Cabasa

ID Cabasa is another veteran producer who took the Nigerian music industry by storm producing hit songs for 9ice and Lord of Ajasa.

9ice’s 2008 album, which was majorly produced by ID Cabasa is regarded as one of the greatest albums ever with back-to-back hits that defined both his career and 9ices.

After a while away from the limelight, he made a comeback with Totori which featured Wizkid and Olamide in 2019.

 Sarz

Sarz has one of the most impressive production CVs in Nigeria, with countless hit collaborations.

In 2010, Sarz produced the hit single “Jor Oh” and the Remix for Jahbless which featured Durella, RuggedMan, Reminisce, Ice Prince, and eLDee.

Sarz has produced tracks for an array of artists which include Wizkid, Naeto C, Banky W, Skales, Shank, Reminisce, Goldie Harvey, eLDee, Wande Coal, YQ, and Niniola.

 Samklef

Samklef is mostly known for producing a large portion of Wizkid’s widely acclaimed album Superstar, thereby significantly contributing to the huge success of the album.

The producer has also worked with names like Sunny Neji, Ruggedman, Durella, Skales, D’Prince (Mo’ Hits), Simisola, J Bryte, Emmsong, O’cube, Jahdiel, Vector, Mudina.

Some of his hits include Enemies by Durella, Noni by Wizkid, Kilode by Vector, Jonzing World by D’Prince among others.

Shizzi

Shizzi achieved recognition for his work on Davido’s 2011 single “Dami Duro”, and produced six songs on the singer’s 2012 debut album Omo Baba Olowo.

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Prior to that, the producer had worked with Wizkid, producing “Love My Baby” off his 2011 album, Superstar.

He also produced more hits such as “Skelewu” and “Gobe” and has worked with the likes of Sasha, Harrysong, OD Woods, Naeto C, Sauce Kid, Wande Coal, Wizkid, D’Prince, May D, Danagog, Emmy Gee, Shank, and Skuki, among others.

Pheelz

Pheelz burst onto the scene in 2012 as the main producer in Olamide’s Baddest Guy Ever Liveth album which contained hit singles such as “Durosoke” “First of All” and “Fucking With The Devil” to mention a few.

He further established himself as a top producer in the country with more collaborations with Olamide in several acclaimed albums like Street OT, Eyan Mayweather, 2 Kings among others.

Pheelz went on to produce and be credited in popular songs and albums including The Chairman by M.I, Ghetto University by Runtown, and Seyi or Shay by Seyi Shay.

 MasterKraft

Masterkraft is regarded as one of the most versatile music producers in Nigeria especially because of his ability to play multiple instruments.

He began his professional music career with Kennis Music and has worked with artists such as Flavour, Bracket, Banky W., Sound Sultan, Timaya, Lynxxx, M.I, and J. Martins, among others.

This post appeared first on Mp3bullet.ng... Read Original post on Most influential Nigerian record producers of all time.

Let’s take you on a trip down memory lane to the early 2000s, a golden age of Nigerian music, where artists contended for dominance on the charts, and when lyrics and edifying songs were valued over sound and club appeal.

Here are Nigerian Songs from the 2000s that are still bops to date;

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9ice- Little Money

Years before 9ice has reached stardom with his iconic “Gongo Aso” album, the singer had gained prominence with “Little Money” which is off his first album, “Certificate“. It might not have gained immortal stardom like Gongo Aso but it’s no doubt a bop even now.

Sunny Neji-Oruka

In the early 2000s, “Oruka” was among the top five wedding anthems. No matter the tribe, the song was a must-have on any wedding DJ’s playlist or the party is incomplete.

P-Square- Bizzy Body

P-square were the IT group when it came to dropping hit songs that dominated everyone’s playlist. One of the first songs that shot them to prominence was “Bizzy Body“. This song had every lady trying to whine their waist stiff or not.

The remix featuring Weird MC was bigger as it became a club anthem at the time of its release. Whether original or remix, both songs are still bopping even with the fact that both of them are seperated.

Olu Maintain-Yahooze

Should one want to do a history on the intertwining relationship between cybercrime and the Nigerian Music Industry, only “Yahooze” can provide a thesis.

This song had a catchy hook, and an infectious beat that blinded people from dwelling too much on its underlying message- the glorification of fraud.

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Danfo Drivers- Danfo Driver

Consisting of Mad Melon and Mountain Black, Danfo Drivers were a duo who were popular for their Ajegunle Ghetto style music and also one of the instruments in the popularization of the Galala dance.

One of their songs, the Socio-political “Danfo Drivers” sees them discuss the difficulties of being poor in a supposedly rich country.  They also question God on their predicament.

African China- Mr President

“Mr President” is a socio-political song that calls out corrupt African leaders and their style of leadership which is ruining the countries they serve. African China employs the use of Ghetto language to pass his message across. Though the song is a socially conscious song, you can’t help but sing along when it comes on.

Tony Tetuila- My Car

After leaving the Remedies, Tony Tetuila went on to establish himself as a successful solo artist in the early 2000s. One of the big hits he would always be remembered for is ‘MY Car”. Said to be a diss song to his former bandmate, Eedris Abdulkareem, “My Car” is a string of narration of funny incidents with his car as the focal point.

D’banj- Tongolo

This was D’banj‘s first song and the foundation of his success story. The song which is produced by Don Jazzy made the catchphrase, “The Koko” popular and would go on to be D’banj significant catchphrase.

Timaya-Dem Mama

Timaya is one of the underrated icons in the music industry. He has made enough impact like 2Baba, D’banj, P-square and the rest on the music industry.

“Dem Mama” is a combination of an infectious beat and a strong message of the military brutality and criminal killings in Bayelsa. The song is inspired by the tragic story of Udi, the Oil-rich Niger Delta region of Nigeria in 1999.

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2Baba-African Queen

Truly one of the first Nigerian songs to get international recognition, and arguably the most acclaimed song created by a Nigerian, African Queen was a song far ahead of its time.

This post appeared first on Mp3bullet.ng... Read Original post on Nigerian Songs from the 2000s that are still bops to date.

Some groups in the Nigerian music industry have witnessed breakups leading to serious competition among its members. While some of such breakups were necessary, others left their fans heartbroken.

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Mp3bullet.ng take a look at the groups that have broken up;

P-square

The history of the Nigerian music industry or Music Groups cannot be complete without the P-Square chapter, which started in 2001. The duo of twins Peter and Paul Okoye is practically a reference point in Nigerian urban music and pop culture, and its huge influence extends into many African countries.

Although the group has suffered an off and on rancour before their final separation, until about three years ago, the duo has been up and doing in the music scene both locally and internationally dropping massive hits and shutting down stadiums of about 23,000 capacity in Africa.

Things fell apart when Peter allegedly confronted his twin Paul, and their elder brother and manager Jude for sidelining him in choosing the songs to put out, and that they only selected every song composed by Paul alone.

Both Peter and Paul now have their solo careers with various songs to their credit. Peter now goes by the stage name Mr. P and Paul goes by Rudeboy.

P-Square released six albums in their music career, including Get Squared (2005), Game Over (2007), Danger (2009) and Invasion (2011), Double Trouble(2014).

The Remedies

One of the biggest Nigerian Music Groups that rocked the late 90s and early 2000s were The Remedies, made up of Eddy Remedy, Tony Tetuila and Eedris Abdulkareem.

The group was a force to reckon with, they were one of the groups that defined the style now known as “Naija Hip Hop”.

The Remedies was formed in 1997 and hit songs like “Shakamo” and “Omoge” endeared them to millions of people all over West Africa. The group split up in 1999 when the henchman of the crew, Eedris Abdulkareem decided to launch a solo career.

Eedris Abdulkareem’s solo career started off to a glistening start with the release of 3 successful albums with the Kennis Music label imprint between 2002 and 2004.

His fortunes however took a downturn in 2004 after a fracas with the American rapper 50 cent. His subsequent album “King is Back” was released on his La Crème record label and he is still has a visible presence on the Naija music scene.

Tony Tetuila also did very well on his own with smash hit songs like “Omode meta”, “I’m in love with 2 women” and “My car” which became a street sensation. He has 5 albums to date.

The third member of the group Eddy Remedy was unfortunately not able to kick-start a successful solo career. He has an album “Leave Eddy Alone” to his credit.

Plantashun Boiz

Between the late 90s to early 2000s, Plantashun Boiz housed the trio of Innocent Idibia, aka 2Baba, Chibuzor Orji, aka Faze and as well as Ahmedu Augustine Obiabo better known as Black Face were a household name in the music scene.

During their days as a group, they had several hits but things came to a head when some members of the group decided to pursue individual careers in 2003.

According to how the story goes, 2Baba signed under Kennis Music where he dropped his hit song African Queen which catapulted him to stardom and made him a force to reckon with in Africa and beyond.

Faze on the other hand also made his solo debut with Faze Alone as his first single as a solo artist. Black Face as well dropped a couple of singles.

Within a space of about two years, the three of them had songs and albums doing well out in the industry and radio stations.

2Baba has since gone on to release 7 multiple award-winning albums Face 2 Face (2004), Grass 2 Grace (2006), The Unstoppable (2008), The Unstoppable International Edition in 2010, Away and Beyond(2012), The Ascension(2014), Warriors(2020).

He has also bagged numerous prestigious awards and nominations and become an Icon of Nigerian and African Music all over the world.

Faze has released four albums since- Faze Alone (2004), “Independent” which spawned several hit singles in 2006 and Originality (2008), Refazed(2012).

Since then, 2Baba has grown to become a legend and Faze isn’t doing bad as well. He only drops singles once in a while.

Black face on the other hand has been silent for years now until recently when he called out former label mate 2Baba, for allegedly stealing his song “Let Somebody Love You” which he (2Baba) recorded with international songstress Kelly Bridget.

The Plantashun Boyz collaborated on a reunion album titled “Plan B” in 2007.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wM35Au_IYRM

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Style Plus

Styl-Plus (originally STYL) was a gospel and pop music group that formed in 1997 in Abuja. The four founding members were Shifi Emoefe, Tunde Akinsanmi, Yemi Akinwonmi and Lanre Faneyi. In 1998 Lanre Faneyi died, and Zeal Onyecheme joined the group to replace him.

In 2002 Yemi Akinwonmi left the group and the musical band became a trio without adding a new member. Starting 2003, the group had its own record label, STYL-PLUS.

Style Plus gained stardom with their hit single Olufunmi in 2007 and they were known for their crooning love songs.

The trio was even described in some quarters as the Nigerian version of the American RnB group, Boys 2 Men due to their genre of songs.

In February 2006, they released their highly anticipated 11-track debut album Expressions in star-studded launches at Abuja and Lagos that were rumoured to have cost over N10 million (about USD75 000 then), making it possibly the most expensive album launch in Nigerian history.

However, Tunde left style plus few years after to pursue a solo career and since then, not much has been heard from him. The reason for his departure is still unknown.

According to Informationng.com, repeated attempts to get the group to relocate to Lagos was responsible for the breakup of Styl-Plus – some members wanted to move, but others refused.

Shifi and Zeal also haven’t dropped many songs since, leaving their fans to assume that they are done with music and facing other endeavours.

Kush

KUSH was an all-girl music group made up of gospel artist, Lara George, Emem Ema and celebrity photographer, TY Bello, who shot to prominence with their hit song, ‘Let’s Live Together’. The trio met at the University of Lagos where they formed the group but it only lasted a few years.

While the reason behind their split is still unknown, Lara George was quoted to have said; “Music at the time when KUSH started was a very difficult thing to do particularly for three young professionals with so many career options.

It was tough keeping things together at that time because the pressure the financial uncertainty brought took its toll on us as a group and everyone started to drift apart until we were no longer able to keep things going.”

Lara George has since built her career as a gospel musician, Emem on the other hand is now an artiste manager. Incidentally, she now manages Peter Okoye, a member of the defunct Psquare group who now goes by Mr. P. Ty Bello is a celebrity photographer who is doing well in her chosen field. Bello still releases Gospel Songs from time to time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWWXCgZKmg0

Kcee Presh

Kcee Presh made up of Kcee (Kingsley Okonkwo) and Presh (Precious John), came to the spotlight when they won the much-coveted Star Quest prize in 2002.

They were rewarded with the Most Promising Act award that same year. They also won the Best Collaboration, Best Music Comedy Video, Best Akwa Cross Artist (2006), Best South-South Artist (2006) and a host of others during their short stay together.

Although of different backgrounds (Kcee hails from Anambara state while Presh is from Akwa-Ibom and Cross River), Kcee made songs that rocked the Nigerian music scene during their time as a group. They went on to release 5 albums before going their separate ways in 2011.

Kcee however got signed to Five Star Music, a record label owned by his younger brother, E-Money. Kcee hit the music waves with his debut single Limpopo in 2013 which gained him massive followership. He has since helped put his record label at the forefront of the music industry in Nigeria.

Presh on the other hand hasn’t offered much as a solo artist since their split.

Like Kcee, he also got signed to a new record label Eric Many record and released a song “I No Dey Lie” which features Tiwa Savage in 2016. The song didn’t fly as expected and since then, nothing has been heard from him.

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Maintain

The trio of Olu, Tolu and Bamo came to national prominence on the back of hit songs like “I catch cold” and “Nibo la wa gbe lo”. After six albums between 1998 and 2004, the group split up after the exit of Olu in 2005.

Olu Maintain went on to release two albums- “Yahooze/Maintain Reloaded” a successful effort that spawned the mega-hit single, “Yahooze” and Kentro World(2009).

Big Bamo released a well-received album “popotiti” but since seems to have taken a leave from recording music.

Except for occasionally featuring in a few songs Tolu has not had a significant solo career since the breakup of Maintain. The trio has since faded from mainstream music as not much have been heard from them.

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