In the late 80s, most African youths were in love with the western style of music, especially Hip-hop and R&B music. The urban way of dress, the life style, and the aggressive nature of the Hip-hop and R&B world were very appealing. The youths loved what they were getting from it, although it all looked too imaginary for them to perform.
During the early 90’s in Nigeria, Hip-hop was growing underground. People like Blacky, Daniel Wilson, and Oritz Wiliki tried to make an impact, but the indigenous style of music was too over powering and they couldn’t stand a chance. During this time the few radio stations established in Africa played mostly indigenous songs (90% indigenous/10% Hip-hop).
It was going on like this until Ray Power, the first private radio station in the country came into existence. Ray Power was based in Lagos, plays at least 30% Hip-hop. At this time it was no longer imaginary for the youths to perform and most of them were doing some underground free styling and their fellow youths were feeling it.
It took a hell of a time for Hip-hop and R&B to get into the mainstream of the African music industry, simply because the few labels around were scared of signing anything new. It went on for a while before the duo of Kenny and D1, two reputable presenters on ray power, came up with the perfect solution “KENNIS MUSIC”.
KENNIS MUSIC as a label signed their 1st Hip-hop group REMEDIES. REMEDIES as a group came out with their 1st single, No Possin (sakomo). The joint was slamming, not because it was the 1st hyped Hip-hop song around, but because of the instrumentals (M.JS LIBERIAN GIRL) and the tongue twisting ability of the only rapper in the group Eedris.
While KENNIS were doing their thing, DOVE, a new Hip-hop label came out with P BOIZ. P BOIZ an R&B group dropped their 1st single, KNOCK MII OFF, and it was aight.
In late 97/98, radio stations like Rhythm 93.7 and Cool 96.9 were representing with tight Hip-hop joints. Lagos was really slamming but most of the Hip-hop music was coming out from Festac mainly.
F TOWN, as it’s mainly called, has produced lots of Hip-hop heads like P BOIZ, TONY from REMEDIES, AZADUS, DEF O CLAN, PHLAMES, DONNISH and a host of others. In Surulere, another slamming area in Lagos, artist like Trybesmen, Triple B, Dr Fresh, Paul Play, and Alariwo also played a prominent role of bringing Hip-hop TO STAY in Africa.
Major cities in the country NOW play the Hip-hop and R&B music. Right now, Lagos has labels like KENNIS, STORM RECORDS, SILVER POINT, TRYBES RECORD, DUDU, and EVEN EZRA, while places like Abuja and Ibadan has PAYBACK TIME and XL HOUSE respectively.
Hip-hop is growing fast in the country and people are feeling it. Hip-hop artist now receive awards in every category in Africa. Every year in Nigeria, a Hip-hop song receives an award for THE SONG OF THE YEAR. Hip-hop artist in the country believe they could do better compared to their United States counterparts if only they can have the chance.
Right now the country has labels like LIL FISH and LIVING PRUF ENTERTAINMENT who represent hard and tight Hip-hop music. There are clubs like 11-45, CLUB T, DEALS, LORDS, AQUATARIA, NITE SHIFT, KOKO DOME, PLATNUM, AND MOTHERLAND that represent the Hip-hop and R&B style of music. Even DJs are now also tight in the industry like JIMMY JATT, WAXY, YODY, MIDAS and SHINA are rated very high in Africa. The major mainstream Hip-hop artists are RUGGEDMAN, EEDRIS, TRYBESMEN, P-BOIZ, Azadus, Maintain and MODE 9.
Here in Nigeria we say in short, “HIP-HOP HAS ARRIVED”.
FEBRUARY 2004; PHLAMES
