The man who created the template for classic hip-hop album and mixtapes, back in ’08. The man who put Wizkid on when nobody knew him; who gave us Ice Prince and Brymo, the man who delivered classics back to back. The CEO that made things happen at Chocolate City, and the man who woke rappers up in 2017. Now, he’s also the man giving Hennessy a run for their money.

Before anything else, this isn’t even about Hennessy, as you probably already figured. Hennessy just happens to be in the unedited, uncropped picture. For years, many at that, the Hennessy powered VS Class and Hennessy Cypher has been one of the most respected platforms for rap music and lyrical hip-hop, in Nigeria. The fact that it also keeps the battle rap (…ish) culture alive was a big factor, too.

Every year, new guys, as well as ‘Legends’, are brought in. Well, what goes down isn’t actually clear, but what the public sees, is the Cypher, groups teaming up bursting bars upon bars, doing some real hip-hop music. And every year, all these guys come, make their mark and go on to do other things.

Dremo was once on the Cypher, Blaqbonez, too. Vino, Payper, Holyfield and many of the guys that are rocking the underground rap scene in Naija. Also, there’s been editions where big guys like Falz and Yung6ix have come in. The “Femme Fatale” happened too, when all the boss ladies came in to spit bars. Vector is always doing something there, too. Amazing stuff.

Point is, wanna know how things happen in the rap music scene and also have a feel of some real-life bars, Hennessy is the go-to platform for that. Or, Hennessy used to be.

Then M.I came with Martell Cypher.

After his little ‘LAMB’ stunt, he wanted to take it even deeper. And he did just that. He once again assembled his guys, Blaq, Loose Kaynon and A-Q, for a session to teach Hennessy how to spend their budget! (He actually said a line like that on the track.)

His shots at Hennessy was real, but that’s not all it was about. Nah. M.I could keep telling you how he has done stuff and has aligned with the greats, how when you call 2Pac, Biggie, Jay Z, Nas, you gotta call his name next. You would never get bored because he actually got some truth to say. You might have heard the phrase “real-life bars”? Oh yeah, he got that.

And A-Q, their classic albums, on a row, and all the big stuff he’s done, he does like to tell critics to shove their criticism up their asses. Blaqbonez thinks he’s the best rapper in Africa, well, why not just prove it on a verse? And he does that, every time. Loose Kaynon is that Choc City prodigal son, probably just on the Cypher for sentimental reasons. His metaphors make sense sometimes, though.

Martell Cypher II, is like the second coming of Bad Meets Evil, they all got a lot to say. Blaq is fresh off his beef with guys who don’t think he’s good enough to be best in Africa. A-Q is keeping a low profile, but does he have bars? Hell yeah! M.I got ’em covered, digging up some really deep shit. He actually numbered the rappers in SA, Ghana, and Kenya.

Well, they probably still need 96 and half more crowns to be a hundred, and if that means expansion or inclusiveness, that’s good news for the fans. It also means other indigenous platforms can rise and start doing their own stuff, making headlines locally, keeping the rap game alive.

For now, though, it’s a war on Hennessy’s credibility. And what makes hip-hop interesting, if not the competition?

This post appeared first on Mp3bullet.ng... Read Original post on How M.I Abaga is changing the rap game with Martell Cypher..

Back in 2008, if you think M.I isn’t the best rapper, you have to keep those “abominatous” thoughts to yourself. You dare not say it out, you may End up getting lynched. OK, that’s an hyperbole. But, then, M.I wasn’t only the best rapper because that’s what he was called, he actually did what a “best rapper” should do. He dropped an album that will later become the Template for hip-hop and rap albums, in Nigeria. That was “Talk About It”.

In the early 2000s, Rugged Man breathe fresh air to rap with his single “Ehen”. SauceKid came also, as one of the underground’s that rocked. There was Mode9, Elajoe, Terry Tha Rapman, provingthat the rap game is actually alive, in Nigeria. But, all of ’em lacked one thing.. Of course, they did successful albums, but none could give the original “template,” the format, the way rap albums should be. What a rap album should look like. M.I helped them. Once, he stepped into the game, Everyone had to adjust. Rappers ran away from the game, going on long hiatus. M.I wasn’t Even officially part of a rap group or collective. He just came out of JTown, with his Loopy Music gang. That is, his brother, Jesse Jagz and Icey Prince. The rest is history!

“Talk About It” stands as the only reason we doubt M.I’s prowess, these days. You hear stuffs like, “M.I in those days was better than this.” While that’s not true, and contrary to what people think, the OG has really improved on his game, the album (Talk About It) was definitely M.I living ahead of his time.

From “Crowd Mentality” which stands as a “fun” type of song, to the braggadocious “Safe” with Djinee, to socio-political “Talk About It” and “Short Black Boy,” M.I Abaga exudes an element of supernatural endowment. Whether the album sold 30,000 copies in 5 minutes or in 5 hours, or 5 years, didn’t even matter, anymore. What holds water here is the fact that, even if the man continues dropping music, to name him the G.O.A.T, you’ll still have to refer to “Talk About It.”

In 2018, you can say he doesn’t deserve to be called best rapper or to be giving any Award, but ten years ago, when he got the “Next Rated” Award, everyone nodded. Even the haters couldn’t hum a word. Many years later, we’ll just have to “talk about it” more!!!

This post appeared first on Mp3bullet.ng... Read Original post on Mp3Bullet TBT!!! Talk About It: How M.I Abaga Changed The Rap Game.

Since the release of “Ajigijaga,” one of Reminisce’s dopest records ever, a lot of hip hop fans have given their comments. And, it’s been positive, all the way. Nobody is questioning this man’s rap prowess after this record! Nobody! It’s glaring! Even Reminisce is a G.O.A.T element. Rap flows in his blood. You can almost feel it in his voice, as he raps.

Ji masun, ma sun, ma ma je k’on ka’na candle si e lese.. Don’t ever sleep on this bad-ass called Reminisce, again. Don’t ever. It’s too dangerous to think he’s not one of the hottest to ever grab a microphone. It might mean mental disorder. In other words, o ti ni problem.

Reminisce kick started 2018 with a shaku shaku jam, called “PROBLEM.” One of the most banging street jams, that have been dropped in this shaku shaku era.

Then, he went a bit silent. He did a guest verse on Rudeboy‘s Is Allowed jam, by the way. Until, few days ago, when he re-surfaced again with a real hip hop jam, that Explains so many things about him. One, it explains why so many people think he’s better than Olamide. Two, it explains why people pitch him for indigenous hip-hop G.O.A.T. Three, it also tells us the reason why he signed a dope cat like Oladips. And, the list goes on and on.

On the song, he pushes the braggadocios button, and Eulogies himself. He tried balancing, by speaking a few English line. Letting us into the depth of his lyricism, using strong metaphors and pun, and proving to us that he’s not only an intelligent rapper, but also an intelligent “hip hop artist.” Don’t ask what the difference is.

And, that’s why so many people seem to be talking about his English rap. He’s very dope. Someone even said he’s a crisp of Olamide and M.I. While this may not be critically true, come to think of it, how many rappers can flow consistently on two languages, switching effortlessly, even internally as Reminisce does? Not so many. All these tactics were what Alaga Ibile put on his new rap song Ajigijaga.

Reminisce can now drop another album! The thing goes skrrr!

This post appeared first on Mp3bullet.ng... Read Original post on Is Reminisce the Ajigijaga of The Rap Game?.