The Nigerian music industry is a very dynamic one that has grown over time into a multi-billion-dollar enterprise. The rise of Afrobeats in the early 2000s in Nigeria, gave roots to the current global wave for Afrobeats as the world is now beginning to recognize the power of this evolving genre of music, and are knocking at our doorsteps and great artists like Wizkid, Burna Boy, Davido, Mr. Eazi, Tiwa Savage, Yemi Alade, Tekno, Falz, Runtown, Olamide, Rema, Joeboy, Fireboy, and the list goes on an endless streak.
Music is a very diverse art form, and albums are the standard that is set to judge the portfolio of artists and help them transcend beyond borders, they help them reach beyond the peak of their careers, and help to impact the industry and society in general.
Face 2 Face is a 2004 album by 2face Idibia. It became a major hit which sold up to 2 million copies, initially in Nigeria, but quickly spread through western and southern Africa, and eventually making an impact in Europe as well. Its success owed much to lead radio track “African Queen”, a guitar ballad with elements of West African folk music and hip-hop. “Nfana Ibaga” also became a local hit, the single also had elements of hip-hop. It should be worthy of note that this album was 2face debut solo project and has now become a timeless Nigerian classic.
Album Details
Genre: R&B
Released: May 15, 2004
Length: 39 minutes 43 seconds
Label: Kennis Music
2. Aṣa (Asha)
Aṣa (Asha) is the debut studio album by Nigerian French singer Aṣa.
She partnered with Cobhams Asuquo, and with the new involvement of Christophe Dupouy and Benjamin Constant, she produced her first platinum-selling self-titled album, Aṣa. The release of the album saw Aṣa charting radios across Europe, Asia, and Africa and went on to win the prestigious French Constantin Award in 2008 when she was voted best fresh talent of 10 singers or groups by a jury of 19 music-industry specialists in Paris.
Album Details
Genre: Rock, World, Folk and Country
Released: January 1, 2007
Label: Naïve Records
3. First Lady
Sasha P gained success at a time when there were very few Nigerian women in Hip Hop music. Subsequently, her success helped pave the way for other female rappers and musicians in Nigerian hip hop. She began musical collaborations with the like of Jazzman Olofin, eLDee, Trybesmen and was then signed on to eLDee’s Trybe records. Sasha P has remained one of the most prominent female artists in Nigeria since 2001, especially after the successful release of her debut album First Lady.
Album Details
Genre: Hip-hop
Released: 2006
Label: S.T.O.R.M Records
4. Mushin To Mo’Hits
Mushin To Mo’Hits (M2M) is the debut album by Nigerian singer Wande Coal. The is over a decade old now, and yet it still resonates with the pop-crazy music audience in Nigeria. It is not about nostalgia because the body of work still sounds fresh. The appreciation of M2M has to do with great genius, the curator of a timeless classic. The album was produced by Don Jazzy and it featured a number of other artists including D’banj, Dr SID, D’Prince, K-Switch.
Wande Coal with this album rescripted the game by innovating a new formula for crafting pop hits in Nigeria.
Album Details
Genre: RnB
Released: April 12, 2009
Label: Mo’ Hits Records
5. U Know My “P”
U Know My “P” is the first studio album by Nigerian rapper Naeto C. It featured guest artists such as Ikechukwu, Wande Coal, and Saro Wiwa. It was one of the most popular albums in Nigeria in 2008 selling over 1 million copies.
Naeto C is credited for bringing the needed pop elements of ‘swag’, and ‘cool’ into the outlook of Nigerian rap that was too hidden away from the mainstream because rappers couldn’t bridge the gap between rap music and pop culture.
Album Details
Genre: Hip-hop
Released: 1 August 2008
Length: 67 minutes 12 seconds
Label: World Famous Akademy, S.T.O.R.M Records
6. C.E.O
C.E.O is late Dagrin’s sophomore album. His unique style of rapping incorporated Yoruba, English, and Pidgin English. In 2010 he was nominated for the Nigerian Entertainment Awards for Best Album (C.E.O.), Hottest Single “Pon Pon Pon”, Best Rap Act, and Best Collaboration with vocals. His album C.E.O. (Chief executive Omota English: Chief Executive Thug) won the Hip hop World Award 2010 for best rap album and from it came the singles “Pon Pon Pon”, and “Kondo”.
Dagrin worked with other Nigerian artists such as Y.Q, 9ice, M.I, Iceberg Slim, Omobaba, Terry G, Ms Chief, Owen G, K01, code, MISTAR DOLLAR, TMD entertainment, Omawumi, Chudy K, Bigiano, and Konga.
A film of his life Ghetto Dreamz, starring Trybson Dudukoko and Doris Simeon-Ademinokan as his girlfriend has been made and was released in April 2011.
Album Details
Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap
Released: 26 January 2009
Label: DMCE
7. Game Over
Game Over is the third studio album by Nigerian the now-defunct music duo P-Square. The album was released on iTunes. The first single from the album was “Do Me”. A video for the single was also released along with videos for “No One Like You”, “Roll It”, “More Than A Friend” and “Ifunanya”. However, the most successful single was “No One Like You” which stayed at number 1 on the charts for almost 4 weeks until it was knocked down to number 2 by Mo Hits All-Stars’ “Pere”.
This album is often regarded as Peter and Paul’s best body of work. Psquare is also credited for making music videos in Nigeria a promotional tool.
Album Details
Genre: R&B, Pop, Afro-pop, Reggae
Released: May 1, 2007
Label: Square Records
8. Super Star
Superstar is the debut studio album by Nigerian singer Wizkid. The album’s production was handled by Samklef, E-Kelly, Jay Sleek, Shizzi, DJ Klem, Masterkraft, Q-Beats, Banky W, and Vebee. It features collaborations with Wande Coal, D’Prince, Banky W and Skales. The album was supported by the singles “Holla at Your Boy”, “Tease Me/Bad Guys”, “Don’t Dull”, “Love My Baby”, “Pakurumo”, and “Oluwa Lo Ni”. It is the second-best selling album on NotJustOk and was the most highly anticipated Nigerian album of 2011.
Many music critics describe this record as the template many debut artists emulate when creating good projects. Wizkid is also acclaimed to be the first teen pop star in Nigeria that made music for the younger generations then.
Album Details
Genre: Afrobeats, Reggae, Dancehall, R&B
Released: June 12, 2011
Label: Empire Mates Entertainment
9. True Story
True Story is the debut album of Nigerian Singer Timaya. His career officially started when he moved back to Lagos to join Eedris Abdulkareem’s hip-hop group as a backup vocalist. After three years of working for Eedris, Timaya departed from the group to focus on his solo career. He began to record collaborations with fellow up-and-coming artists and made his first cameo appearance in an unreleased music video by UDX, a Lagos-based rap group. He subsequently met producer Obaksolo in Mafoluku, Oshodi, who produced his first major hit record “Dem Mama” after hearing him perform the a cappella version.
He worked with Namse Udosen (Menthol X) on the track “Pomporo” on his first album, True Story. After the success of “Dem Mama”, Timaya decided to continue with producer K-Solo. He recorded seven more songs for his first album.
Describing the song in an interview posted in August 2013, Timaya said: “‘Dem Mama’ was an account of the 1999 destruction of Odi, a riverside community in Niger Delta. Soldiers were hunting down militants they alleged killed, eight policemen. The village was burnt down and numerous people were killed. I bravely tackled the issue years later and won instant street credibility for my boldness.”
This album is also credited as one of the albums that defined the pop sound in Nigeria.
Album Details
Genre: Hip-hop
Released: 2007
Label: Dem Mama Records
10. Gongo Aso
Gongo Aso is the sophomore album of Nigerian Singer 9ice. In 2007, he put out his first body of work Certificate, but with the ‘Gongo Aso’ album, new heights were attained by the singer, multiple awards came his way, and he became an instant household name performing on the biggest of stages across the world like Nelson Mandela 90th Birthday Tribute concert in London, United Kingdom in June 2008.
According to 9ice, ”I never knew ‘Gongo Aso’ would be a successful album. In fact, that was not even the title of the album. The initial title of the album was ‘My dictionary, your diary’; but when the song became very popular, ID Cabasa suggested that we make the song the title of the album.
The song, ‘Gongo Aso’ was not supposed to be part of the album. I had finished recording the album when the song came to me and Cabasa said we should destroy all the promo copies we had made and promote the song. We promoted it and the song went viral. It was never planned.” he says.
The album turned out to be an iconic moment in the Nigerian Music scene and is aptly described by many critics as the ‘Album of all Albums’. Many critics praise its impact, musical composition, and suggest it should be hung in the Hip-Hop hall of fame.
Album Details
Genre: Hip-hop, Afrobeats, Fuji music
Released: 15 March 2008
Label: Alapomeji Ancestral Records
11. Ghetto Child
Ghetto Child is the debut project of Blackface after the Plantashun Boiz split up in 2004, Blackface led a solo musical career. He released the hip-hop album Ghetto Child collaborating with several artists. The album contains “Hard Life” featuring Alabai as the first single.
Blackface is credited as one of the artists that popularized “Kondo” music in Nigeria which gave rise to the current street sound we now have in the Nigerian Music Industry.
Album Details
Genre: Hip-hop
Released: 1 May 2005
Label: Blue Pie Records USA
12. Talk About It
Talk About It is the debut album of Nigerian Rapper. MI began his music career when he returned to Nigeria in 2003 after his stint at Calvin College, Michigan, US. Finding his place in an industry dominated by the likes of Modenine, Ruggedman, and Eedris Abdulkareem, he quickly commenced the production of mixtapes with his friend Djinee. This led to the critically acclaimed single “Safe”, (a song which he parodied popular Nigerian songs in its lyrics) which gathered impressive airplay by African radio and music video stations such as MTV Vibe. The track also earned him awards at the Nigerian Music Video Awards, City People, N.E.A and host others.
The hype surrounding the release of Safe led to the critical acclaim given to his first studio album titled Talk About It and was rated 8.5/10 by Oye Akideinde of 360nobs. The album gathered awards such as Musician of the Year (Modemen Awards in 2008), Best Hip Hop Artist (City People Awards).
Album Details
Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap
Released: 15 March 2008
Label: Chocolate City