In no particular order, below are the top 10 contemporary naija rap albums;
1. M I - TALK ABOUT IT/2008/CHOCOLATE CITY
Talk about is the debut studio album of top rapper M I. The album launched M I into the nigeria music scene. Talk About It is one of the finest rap albums nigeria has ever heard, M I dished out killer hits and rhymes continuously throughout the entire album.
Released in december 2008, Talk About It was indeed one of the most talked about album of 2009. It started with a ridiculously hilarious intro by M I, he then got into business with ANOTI, an alluring rap hit. Talk About It received numerous positive remarks from music critics and remains one the top contemporary rap albums in nigeria.
2. DAGRIN - C.E.O/2009/MISOFUYIN ENTERTAINMENT
Dagrin's C.E.O is arguably nigeria's most creative indigenous rap album. The album played host to one of africa's best indigenous rap single "pon pon pon" and a couple of other hit jams.
C.E.O was indeed a street anthem, sealing the street's love for the late rapper. everyone loved the way Dagrin blended his native yoruba language, english language and pidgin english. the sensational rapper often drew comparison with late american rapper, 2pac shakur, as one could easily discern similarities in their style of rap.
It was one of the most promising album released by a nigerian rapper, seen to be a stepping stone for the late rapper. notwithstanding, C.E.O remains one of the finest contemporary rap album.
3. ICE PRINCE - EVERYBODY LOVES ICE PRINCE/2011/CHOCOLATE CITY
Ice Prince shot into limelight upon the release of his highly anticipated studio album, "Everybody Loves Ice Prince". the album produced hits such as "Oleku" and "Superstar" .
In October 2011, chocolate city dropped the much awaited debut studio album of Ice Prince, becoming an instant fan favourite. the album became one of the most downloaded albums of 2011/2012. Fans couldn't get enough of Ice Prince's punchlines and wordplays through the entire album, The album helped Ice Prince launch his style of rap into the nigerian music scene.
4. OLAMIDE - YAHOO BOY NO LAPTOP (YBNL)/2012/YBNL NATION
After much popularity and massive airplay gained by his debut studio album, Olamide decided to consolidate these achievements by releasing his sophomore studio album under his new label imprint, YBNL NATION. YBNL became an instant fan favourite with hits like "stupid love, first of all, voice of the street" and a host of others, Olamide was able to establish himself as one of nigeria's finest rapper.
YBNL was recorded mainly in yoruba and pidgin english, and as such receiving praises from fans and music critics for his versatility and creativeness in synergizing the both languages.
Prior to its release, Olamide had announced his dissociation with CODED TUNES. He consequently founded his own label imprint, YBNL NATION under which he records his albums till date.
5. PHYNO - NO GUTS NO GLORY/2014/PENTHAUZE/SPUTNET RECORDS
No Guts No Glory is the debut studio album of indigenous rap sensation, Phyno. the album was released through Sputnet records and Penthauze.
The album produced jams like "Alobam, Ghost mode, Parcel, O set, Authe" amongst others. It was primarily recorded in Igbo language and pidgin english.
The album saw Phyno dropping fine tunes from a combination of the igbo language and pidgin english, amassing loads of applauds for his astuteness in blending the both languages. No Guts No Glory set phyno up to become the frontliner of the south-eastern part of nigeria in the rap business.
6. VECTOR - THE SECOND COMING/2012/YSG ENTERTAINMENT
Freshly off the success of his debut album "STATE OF SURPRISE" in 2010, Vector continued recording and landed a sophomore album entitled "The Second Coming" . The second coming was of course a much more successful album, commercially and otherwise. the album played host to "Follow Me Dey Go, Born Leader and Angeli" .
Vector gained lots of grounds in the rap game upon the release of The Second Coming, as it was critically acclaimed by top music critics.
7. M I - MI 2 THE MOVIE/2010/CHOCOLATE CITY
Freshly off the success of his debut album "STATE OF SURPRISE" in 2010, Vector continued recording and landed a sophomore album entitled "The Second Coming" . The second coming was of course a much more successful album, commercially and otherwise. the album played host to "Follow Me Dey Go, Born Leader and Angeli" .
Vector gained lots of grounds in the rap game upon the release of The Second Coming, as it was critically acclaimed by top music critics.
7. M I - MI 2 THE MOVIE/2010/CHOCOLATE CITY
MI 2 The Movie is M I's second album, released in november 2010, the album produced a couple of chart toppers such as, One Naira, Number 1, Action film, Undisputed, My Belle My Head etc.
The album was gained massive airplay across radio stations nationwide and was one of the most downloaded album of 2011. M I clearly consolidated the initial success of his debut album, Talk About It, fusing rap with other genres, dishing out much better and appealing sounds to music lovers across the continent and beyond.
8. OLAMIDE - STREET OT/2014/YBNL NATION
Street Ot is Olamide's fourth studio album and the third released under his own label imprint YBNL NATION. Olamide continued his trademark style of rap, mixing his native yoruba language with pidgin english. The album was a commercial success, as it saw Olamide headline concerts both international and local.
Street Ot was accompanied by jams like "Goons Mi, Story For The Gods, Skelemba, Falila Ketan, Oga nla" and a host of others. Olamide was praised by music critics for staying true to his style of music.
9. PHYNO - THE PLAYMAKER/2016/PENTHAUZE
Phyno released The Playmaker in 2016 after a much blissful recording year with chart topping jams like, Fada Fada, Financial Woman, So Far So Good, Pino Pino, Ino Mma etc.
The album was arguably the most anticipated album of 2016. As usual, the album was primarily recorded in his native Igbo language and pidgin english, also achieving a blend of both languages.
10. REMINISCE - BABA HAFUSA/2015/EDGE RECORDS
Reminisce is one of nigeria's top rappers, he records mainly in his native yoruba language and english language. In 2015 he released Baba Hafusa, a chart topping album that played host to his hit collabo, Local Rappers. Baba Hafusa is unarguably Reminisce's most commercially successful album till date, having topped iTunes' album sale for over a week less than 24 hours after its release.
The album was gained massive airplay across radio stations nationwide and was one of the most downloaded album of 2011. M I clearly consolidated the initial success of his debut album, Talk About It, fusing rap with other genres, dishing out much better and appealing sounds to music lovers across the continent and beyond.
8. OLAMIDE - STREET OT/2014/YBNL NATION
Street Ot is Olamide's fourth studio album and the third released under his own label imprint YBNL NATION. Olamide continued his trademark style of rap, mixing his native yoruba language with pidgin english. The album was a commercial success, as it saw Olamide headline concerts both international and local.
Street Ot was accompanied by jams like "Goons Mi, Story For The Gods, Skelemba, Falila Ketan, Oga nla" and a host of others. Olamide was praised by music critics for staying true to his style of music.
9. PHYNO - THE PLAYMAKER/2016/PENTHAUZE
Phyno released The Playmaker in 2016 after a much blissful recording year with chart topping jams like, Fada Fada, Financial Woman, So Far So Good, Pino Pino, Ino Mma etc.
The album was arguably the most anticipated album of 2016. As usual, the album was primarily recorded in his native Igbo language and pidgin english, also achieving a blend of both languages.
10. REMINISCE - BABA HAFUSA/2015/EDGE RECORDS
Reminisce is one of nigeria's top rappers, he records mainly in his native yoruba language and english language. In 2015 he released Baba Hafusa, a chart topping album that played host to his hit collabo, Local Rappers. Baba Hafusa is unarguably Reminisce's most commercially successful album till date, having topped iTunes' album sale for over a week less than 24 hours after its release.
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