Hip hop is considered as the most popular music genre across the globe.Same cannot be said of the genre in Nigeria,for many Nigerians,fast paced and danceable music is their main preference.And this is evident in the with the kind of sounds in heavy rotation in radio stations,clubs and parties.Inspite of that,rap music has made inroads in the Nigerian music industry.
While most of the rappers who have made headlines in the industry come from the southern part of the country,some rappers from northern Nigeria have also put their names and music on the Hip Hop map and have continued to keep the flag flying for the North.In this piece LEADERSHIP Sunday puts the spotlight on the top 8 hottest rappers from northern Nigeria.
- MI
When it comes to the most famous rappers from northern Nigeria in particular and Africa in general,one name on the lips of fans will be MI Abaga. Born Jude Lemfani Abaga. He rose to prominence in 2006 when his song “Crowd Mentality” became popular in Jos, Nigeria. His debut studio album Talk About It was released in 2008. The LP was succeeded by MI2: The Movie (2010). Four years later, he released The Chairman as his third studio album. Abaga released the playlist Rendezvous in February 2018. In August of that year, he released his fourth studio album A Study On Self-Worth: YXNG DXZNL.
He is one of the best rappers in Nigeria with a huge fan base. Without a doubt, he is gifted. He also has a way with words, which allows him to compose great raps that have taken the Nigeria’s music industry by storm.
His unique ability to manipulate words is always evident in his compositions as he usually comes up with new slangs, which people pick up on and turn into national anthems.
M.I. has been responsible for bringing out many upcoming artists such as Phyno, Wizkid, Vypa, Jesse Jagz, Ruby, Pype, Tone Ice Prince, Brymo, and Khali Graph Jones. He has been described by many Nigerian hip hop fans as Nigeria’s “Hip Hop Messiah.”
He has also done a lot to bring a Northern presence to the Nigerian music industry, as he depicts the perfect example of bringing Nigeria together. M.I was appointed a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador in 2012. He also supports the Jostified campaign and have achieved worldwide recognition as part of the vanguard of the “Afrobeats” wave.
Abaga has won numerous awards such as the Headies, BET, MTV, and others.
- Ice Prince
Panshak Henry Zamani, popularly called Ice Prince rose to fame after releasing “Oleku”, one of Nigeria’s most remixed songs of all time. He won the 2009 Hennessy Artistry Club Tour.His debut studio album Everybody Loves Ice Prince was released in 2011. It was supported by three singles: “Oleku”, “Superstar” and “Juju”. In 2013, Ice Prince released Fire of Zamani as his second studio album. The album contained the singles “Aboki”, “More”, “Gimme Dat” and “I Swear”. Ice Prince has collaborated with top African rappers like Navio of Uganda, Khaligraph Jones of Kenya, AKA of South Africa, Sarkodie of Ghana among others.
Ice Prince cited Notorious B.I.G., Rakim, Jay-Z, Common, Talib Kweli, Kanye West, Ludacris, Busta Rhymes, Lauryn Hill, M.I and Jesse Jagz as his key musical influences.Without a doubt, Ice Prince is one of the hottest rappers from the north.
- Jesse Jagz
Jesse Garba Abaga, known professionally as Jesse Jagz,came on to the scene in 2010 with the release of his debut studio album “Jag of All Tradez”. He released his second studio album Jagz Nation, Vol.1. Thy Nation Come in 2013; it included singles such as “Redemption”, “Bad Girl”, “Sex & Scotch” and “God on the Mic”. His third studio album, Jagz Nation Vol. 2: Royal Niger Company, was released in 2014.In May 2020, he released a 5-track EP titled Garba.Jesse Jagz is coincidentally the younger brother of MI,and together they have kept the flag flying for northern Nigeria when it comes to rap music.
- Magnito
Mohammed Usman Adamu popularly known as Magnito hails from idoma tribe of Benue state and raised in Abuja.Magnito started rapping at the age of 19 but came through professionally at the age of 24.He burst on to the scene with his first single titled “Medicine Girl” in 2010, and released the hit song“If I get money” in 2016, a song that made him a household name in the music industry.
Magnito ha collaborated with top artists such as Phyno, Jaywon, Durella, Patoranking, Rayce, Duncan Mighty, and many others.
- Classiq
Buba Barnabas Luka, famously known as Classiq,is regarded as one of Northern Nigeria’s top rappers.ClassiQ started his career at the age of 16. He raps in Hausa and English. His music style attracted many music fans, which helped him gain massive recognition in the Nigerian music industry, especially the Hausa music industry.He has featured many prominent Nigerian music artists including Davido, M.I Abaga, Dj Ab, Wande Coal, and many others.
- Morell
Musa Akilla, famously known as Morell is often regarded as one of the early pioneers of northern hip hop and Afro pop. Morell has been in the game for quite some time now and is still very visible within the industry. His early releases include ‘Anti Social’ featuring one of Nigeria’s biggest indigenous Rappers “Olamide”. Since then Morell has had a couple of hit songs like Ganga da Garaya, Aure, Haba and so many other amazing songs. Morell has an album titled “Musa Jikan Musa” In the stores and according to the Singer/Rapper he’s currently working on another project titled ENGHAUSA. He won the City People Music Award for Best R&B Music Act of the Year in 2018.He raps and Sings and has done collaborations with Naeto C, Ruggedman, Jesse Jagz, Ice Prince, Terry The Rap Man, OD, Ain Mosini, Vector, Godwon and Pherowshuz.He is one of the shining lights from nothern Nigeria.
- DJ AB
Haruna Abdullahi known professionally as DJ AB,was born in Kaduna State, Nigeria.In 2020, Dj Ab, collaborated with Deezell, BOC Madaki, Kheengz They released an album titled THE FOUR HORSEMEN ALBUM.In 2021, DJ AB released a new (EP) titled ” Supa” which was described as the most highly anticipated project in the north.He delivered the project via Subabane Records Under Exclusive License To emPawa Africa Limited which has been served on all platforms for the listening delight of the fans. The EP houses 8 tracks featuring Di’ja and emPawa Africa Boss, Mr Eazi who contributed to making the project a successful one.
- KHEENGZ
King Bawa, often times called Yung Khengz and self-proclaimed “Voice of Arewa” (VOA) is one rare Gene from the north side, Talented and Versatile. Khengz went viral for his ‘lam North’ single which brought attention to the rapper, the technical ability, lyrical content and social impact the song had on his people was enough to start a movement “I AM NORTH”. Kheengz released VOA1 “voice Of Arewa volume 1” in 2015, and released Pedestal EP in December 2017. Voice of Arewa volume2 (VOA2) was released in 2020, where he featured artists like Erigga, DJ Ab, DJ Steve, and ijaya.His most recent release features Nigerian heavy weight rappers Falz and MI Abaga on a track titled ‘Who Be This Guy’.
