Top 10 most disappointing Nigerian artistes in 2018 (so far)

The Nigerian music scene is undoubtedly the biggest in the continent in recent times. Our artistes have been flying the Nigerian flag high even in the international scene.

Over the years music in Nigeria has evolved from low digital and financial input to a monster mega multi-million naira industry, thanks to immense input of digital facilities both in the music production and video directing.

Having said this, it is of no doubt, 2017 was one of the most successful years in the history of Nigerian music. So many hits were being released and jammed back to back in the clubs, bars, restaurants, parties, at home, in the streets as the usual household names in the Music Industry took centre stage. Our ears were blessed with captivating tunes such as “if ,fall and fia” by davido, “Manya” by wizkid, “yeba” by kizz Daniel, “rara, go, be and Yawa” by tekno and of course “wo” by olamide.

2017 was indeed a great year for the music industry in Nigeria, a repeat of this feat seems all but not achieved this year, not disputing the fact that some usual big guns still managed to put some good jams across to the fans. Likes of davido, wizkid, phyno, kizz Daniel etc, all managed to replicate their ever grooving sounds. This article however aims to take a critical view at the some artistes in particular whom has not been able so far this year to produce the kind of alluring sounds which they have been known for.

In no particular order, here is a list of the top 10 Nigerian artistes whom have been unable to find their feets since 2018;


REEKADO BANKS :

Reekado banks is the first of three marvins acts in this list. After producing alluring vocals to marvins 2014 hit single “dorobucci”, Reekado banks has gone from grace to grace as he as continued to release chat-topping jams back to back. It will be recalled how Reekado banks beat kizz Daniel and Lil kesh to win the coveted “next rated award” at the headies 2015 even though he was seen as an underdog for the award.

2017 proved to be an incredible year for Reekado banks as he continued in his usual manner of releasing mind blowing tunes. The pop star dished out a couple of captivating singles including “ladies and gentlemen”, “winner” and of course, “easy (jeje)”. This songs gained massive airplay on radio channels, clubs and parties, and fans kept grooving to its rhythm.

This year has however been quite a disappointing one for Reekado banks as he's yet to find his feet in the Music scene as “bio bio” and “pull up” failed to garner enough airplay across the country.


this does not in anyway undermine the potentials and prospects of the Marvin star as he has over the years proved he is indeed a force to be reckoned with in not just the Nigerian and African music ratings, but also in the international scene.


RUNTOWN :

Former Eric Manny signee, Douglas Jack Agu, popularly known as Runtown has been one of the most consistent Nigerian artistes in recent times, and has become a force in the industry since departing from penthauz to pen a lucrative contract with Eric Manny in 2014. We can all remember his 2014 eastern street anthem “Anam achi Versace”.

Runtown kept soaring from then henceforth, releasing club bangers in the spin, we also remember the likes of “the banger, gallardo, baby answer, the latest, Lagos to Kampala”, etc.

Towards the end of 2016, Runtown released what can unarguably be called his most successful single ‘mad over you’, which went ahead to gain massive airplay all around the country and world at large. ‘mad over you’ topped several charts across the country including radio and TV charts. 2017 was indeed a great year for the self proclaimed ‘soundgod’ as he amassed a couple of awards.

Runtown continued blessing the ears of music lovers as he dished out ‘for life’ which also found its way into the ears and hearts of Nigerians. This year has so far been far contrary to the expectations of his fans across the globe as Runtown hasn't been able to replicate his fine form of singles which he became synonymous with in the previous years.

Music critics have however blamed a lot of Runtown's inability to dish out a jam to his fierce legal battles with his former boss Okwudili Umenyiora, CEO of dilly motors.


Lil kesh :

Some may see Lil kesh's inclusion in this list as a bit unfair, but fail to remember the standard Lil kesh has set for himself in recent times. Lil kesh became a force in the Nigerian music scene after signing for olamide's ybnl nation in 2013, kesh then began dishing out hot and spicy jams across the country one after another. We won't forget, ‘lyrically, shoki, efejoku’ and a host of other chat-topping jams.

In 2016 Lil kesh was reported to have left ybnl on a mutual agreement with ybnl executive. He continued to serve it hot to his fans even after his departure from ybnl and still maintained a cordial relationship with his former boss olamide.

For sometime now, Lil kesh has been finding it difficult to serve hit singles to his fans and the continent at large. Several attempts to get back on track has not been able to yield desired outcome for the indigenous rapper.

In interviews granted to the press, Lil kesh has always maintained he's not under any form of pressure to get back to his former position.


FLAVOUR :

Flavour n'abania whose real name is ‘chinedu okoli’ is a native of Anambra state.

He came into limelight with the remix of “Ashawo”. Flavour whom has gained a strong ground in the Nigerian music industry as one of the few indigenous singers who sings mostly in the igbo language.

Flavour's ground in the Music scene is however currently in decline as he as also failed to cook up the kind of mind-blowing hits he's become synonymous with over the years.


MR P:

Peter Okoye, the half of the now defunct popular music duo p-square, which consisted of he and his twin brother Paul Okoye.

The twin duo have been described as one of Nigeria's most successful artistes of all time. However due to reasons personal to the twin brothers, they have since taken solo paths in the Music scene for a couple of years now.

While Rudeboy (Paul Okoye) has been able to sell out a couple of singles, contrary fate has fallen on his twin brother, Mr P. The singer's attempts to launch a successful solo career has not so far been a successful one, with his recent releases not being able to garner enough airplays.

KCEE :

Kingsley okonkwo, popularly called Kcee, has had a hugely disappointing career for a couple of years now. Kcee enjoyed massive airplay from his 2013 single, Limpopo.

Kcee who is currently a front-runner at 5 star Music, which is owned by his brother E-money .

CHIDINMA :

“And the winner is .............”. Yes, that is the story of Chidinma Ekile, winning the 2010 mtn project fame west Africa.

In the aftermath of winning the grand prize in the competition, Chidinma signed for capital hill records co-owned by illbliss. She released her debut single “jankoliko”, which was followed by her chart-topping hit ‘kedike’.

In 2013 she released Emi ni Baller, featuring then label mate, ‘suspect’.

Her career has so far seemed to have hit the rocks as she has so far not been able to replicate her captivating tracks and her usual melodies vocals.


DI'JA :

Di'ja was signed into the Marvin family in 2014 and was quickly featured in the Marvin smash hit ‘dorobucci’,which became a street anthem across the nation. Di'ja then went on to release her first single with Marvins, titled ‘aww’.

The song became an instant hit, radio stations kept rocking the jam consecutively across the nation. Today the story is different for the Marvin act as she has so far been struggling to find her feet and ignite her  vocal prowess.


KOREDE BELLO :

Just like Di'ja, korede bello was also signed in 2014 into the Marvin family and was also featured in their nationwide hit, ‘dorobucci’.

In 2015 korede bello released his monster hit ‘Godwin’ which immediately became an unstoppable jam across the coast, he followed this feet with a collaboration with Marvin first lady, tiwa savage titled, ‘romantic’ which also garnered lots of airplay within and outside the shores of the country.

Korede bello “released like that” in 2017 which gained the acceptance of music lovers in the country. This year korede bello is still yet to pull a muscle in the Music scene, it just as if he now doing music on a part time basis.


IYANYA :

Iyanya came into limelight after winning the maiden edition of mtn project fame west Africa in 2008.

Iyanya released kukere in 2012 after a failed attempt in rnb. Kukere became a massive hit across the nation.

Iyanya has so far been struggling to bring back the good old days of kukere