The hip hop scene in Nigeria began in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The song “Rapper’s Delight” was a huge hit in Nigeria and a lot of people wanted to imitate the Sugar Hill Gang. However, hip hop was not always accepted in Nigeria. Rappers had to overcome the feeling by older Nigerians that “hip hop is not music” and that “it didn’t make sense for people to be talking all through a record”.

There was also the feeling that the early rappers were trying to copy Americans and yet they were not Americans.

Ron Ekundayo was a presenter on Radio Nigeria 2 in Lagos and he launched the hip hop scene with this effort.

Ronnie – The Way I Feel (1981)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekqyMBCPkG4



Dizzy K was better known as a pop star and he had a hit with “Baby Kilode”, but did you know that he also rapped? This was his rap song.

Dizzy K – Saturday Night Raps (1982)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JA8fNfM2Xak

---

This was probably the first rap song by a Nigerian that was accepted by Nigerians. It might be because the Nigerian members of the group were based abroad and it might also be because the group comprised of both Nigerians and Americans.

The group was made up of Nigerians Mr. Kool, Ebony Laoye and Monica Omorodion, and Americans Jedi and Scratch. Scratch had previously worked with the Sugarhill Gang.

Unlike previous Nigerian rap songs, this song had heavy airplay on NTA2 Channel 5 and Radio Nigeria 2.

Sound On Sound – I’m African (1988)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcW9S88aplU

---

Then came the 1990s and 3 songs that permanently changed the face of Nigerian hip hop.

This particular song was the first Nigerian rap song to become an international hit. It got to number 1 in Austria, number 2 in Germany, Greece and Portugal, number 3 in Switzerland, number 7 in Spain and Sweden and a massive hit right across Africa, Europe and in fact, around the world. It was on heavy rotation on MTV Europe throughout the early 1990s. It was covered by the South African group Dr Victor and the Rasta Rebels and by many other groups.

Dr Alban moved to Sweden to study dentistry. He became a DJ in order to finance his studies and he used the income from his work as a DJ to set up his dentistry practice when he graduated. However, he had become quite a popular DJ and he used that popularity to break into the music scene. Dr Alban had several worldwide hits in the 1990s and this was the first of them.

(This video was shot in Lagos and Sweden)


Dr Alban – Hello Afrika (1990).


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3I8BISQfWc


Bonus track.


This song got to number 2 on the UK charts, it was number 1 in Austria, Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Sweden. It got to number 3 on the Billboard Hot Dance Music chart in the US and it was a hit all over the world. The song was used in tampon adverts in the UK, stout advert in Nigeria and in several Bollywood movies.

Dr Alban – It’s My Life (1992)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zHm_6AQ7CY


This song was probably the first rap song by Nigerians in Nigeria that was accepted by Nigerians. It is also my favourite on this list. I think that one of the reasons that it was accepted was that it was in Pidgin English, so nobody could accuse them of trying to sound like Americans. It was also accepted because the storyline was very funny and my God it was a great song! It would be a hit if it was released today.


Emphasis – Which One You Dey (1991)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ulv4yaA8UDg





This song was the first rap song by Nigerians in Nigeria to become a mainstream hit. The song would have been in the top 5 of the Nigerian charts if there were Nigerian charts at that time. I remember that it won an award at the Nigerian Music Awards (NMA). The song was in Pidgin English, so you can’t accuse them of trying to sound American and everybody, both young and old, loved the song because of the funny story line. In fact, it was a form of musicomedy.

Junior and Pretty made it acceptable to be a Nigerian rapper and the idea no longer seemed strange to Nigerians. Lots of rappers and rap groups sprang up after the success of Junior and Pretty.

Unfortunately I can’t find a video of the song, but you can hear the audio if you click on this link.

Junior & Pretty – Monika (1991)

https://www.360nobs.com/2010/09/41-50-360-listening-ear-independence-day-special-nigerias-top-50-songs1960-2010/junior-pretty-monika/



Bonus track

Junior & Pretty – Bolanle (1994)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z87kHA5sD44

Come to think of it. I actually love the rap performed in OritS Wiliki's song Heart of Gold. That dude killed that song.

J3281, you stole FTC from me

Ron Ekundayo and Dizzy K Falola's efforts were pretty...boring. Ron sounds British, by the way.

I'm African lulled me to sleep

I think I'm judging based on 21st century standards

Ishilove:
J3. 281, you stole FTC from me

actually I booked space.

J2381:
actually I booked space.

Guy, e pain me

Ishilove:

Guy, e pain me

Pele.

Naptu2, I had no idea It's My Life was such a huge hit. I only knew that I liked the song, young as I was back then.

J2381:
Pele.

Mscheeeeeeeew

All these songs are bringing back memories of lying down on the made-in-Benin couch in my father's sitting room and listening to Blakky, Junior and Pretty and these Emphasis people on radio. How time flies

Ishilove:
Naptu2, I had no idea It's My Life was such a huge hit. I only knew that I liked the song, young as I was back then.

It was a hit worldwide. It was even popular in Chile.

Ishilove:
J3281, you stole FTC from me

Ron Ekundayo and Dizzy K Falola's efforts were pretty...boring. Ron sounds British, by the way.

I'm African lulled me to sleep

I think I'm judging based on 21st century standards

Lol.... Indomie kid spotted....

naptu2:

It was a hit worldwide. It was even popular in Chile.

It was and I think it was because it featured a white lady........

naptu2:


It was a hit worldwide. It was even popular in Chile.

but how did Dr Alban metamorphose from a rap artiste to reggae artiste?

J2381:
but how did Dr Alban metamorphose from a rap artiste to reggae artiste?

There was a little bit of reggae in his earlier hits. He was a rapper, then he switched to toasting and finally to singing.

Nostalgic memories.

Good old days of our black and white tv with a knob tuner for changing stations.

I recall there was a music video programme on NTA 2 Channel 5 at night in those days that always showed Dr Alban's "Hello Africa" video.

"Which one you dey" by Emphasis was cool too. For me, it was the first indigenous rap song by Nigerians.

Junior & Pretty came much later. I didn't particularly like them.

Don't recall Ronnie, Sound on Sound and Dizzy k. Hearing of them for the first time.

J2381:
Come to think of it. I actually love the rap performed in OritS Wiliki's song Heart of Gold. That dude killed that song.

Bro, it's heart of stone. The featured rapper on the song was Manny Eke and truly dude killed the song.

Still remember the chorus - this is the song we've been waiting for so come change the heart of stone.

The video was dope too for that era.

Ishilove:
Naptu2, I had no idea It's My Life was such a huge hit. I only knew that I liked the song, young as I was back then.

That song was played multiple times everyday on MTV.

He was the only Nigerian then that i used to see regularly on mtv.

The song was a huge hit.

I think dizzy k also sang ambush you.

I cant find the video but that song was the jam.back then

armadeo:


That song was played multiple times everyday on MTV.

He was the only Nigerian then that i used to see regularly on mtv.

The song was a huge hit.

I feel so young

semid4lyfe:
Nostalgic memories.

Good old days of our black and white tv with a knob tuner for changing stations.

I recall there was a music video programme on NTA 2 Channel 5 at night in those days that always showed Dr Alban's "Hello Africa" video.

"Which one you dey" by Emphasis was cool too. For me, it was the first indigenous rap song by Nigerians.

Junior & Pretty came much later. I didn't particularly like them.

Don't recall Ronnie, Sound on Sound and Dizzy k. Hearing of them for the first time.



Bro, it's heart of stone. The featured rapper on the song was Manny Eke and truly dude killed the song.

Still remember the chorus - this is the song we've been waiting for so come change the heart of stone.

The video was dope too for that era.

Manny is into voice overs these days.

armadeo:
I think dizzy k also sang ambush you.

I cant find the video but that song was the jam.back then

Yeah, Ambush You was his second hit after Baby Kilode. I'm still searching for the video. Baby Kilode was his biggest hit.



Dizzy K - Baby Kilode (1983).



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hr730JxuXYg

naptu2:


Yeah, Ambush You was his second hit after Baby Kilode. I'm still searching for the video. Baby Kilode was his biggest hit.



Dizzy K - Baby Kilode (1983)/



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hr730JxuXYg

I don't know why all these 80s Nigerian songs don't resonate with me. I'm already feeling sleepy one minute into the song.

My parents always liked this song though.

I didn't include Heart of Stone because I wanted to include only songs that were primarily hip hop songs. That's also the reason that I didn't include the song below. Do you know that Shina Peters sang what was probably the first Yoruba rap song? It was a very short song at the end of his Shinamania album. It's at the 31:49 minute mark in this video.


Shina Peters - Omoge Loke Loke (1990).



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuPsS9fcBzw

Ishilove:

I don't know why all these 80s Nigerian songs don't resonate with me. I'm already feeling sleepy one minute into the song.

My parents always liked this song though.

Don't feel bad. We also made fun of the song back then.

Ishilove:

I feel so young

Na you sabi. Lol.

You're definitely not indomie.

Most likely omo omo super blue omo washes brighter than it shows.

Didn't you watch tales by moonlight and magana jariche. The parrot who told those tales.

naptu2:


Yeah, Ambush You was his second hit after Baby Kilode. I'm still searching for the video. Baby Kilode was his biggest hit.



Dizzy K - Baby Kilode (1983).



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hr730JxuXYg

With his funny afro Jerry curl.

P.s that voice is almost soprano


Guy you are a legend.


Respect mon

armadeo:



Na you sabi. Lol.

You're definitely not indomie.

Most likely omo omo super blue omo washes brighter than it shows.

Didn't you watch tales by moonlight and magana jariche. The parrot who told those tales.

You hit the nail on the head

naptu2:
The hip hop scene in Nigeria began in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The song “Rapper’s Delight” was a huge hit in Nigeria and a lot of people wanted to imitate the Sugar Hill Gang. However, hip hop was not always accepted in Nigeria. Rappers had to overcome the feeling by older Nigerians that “hip hop is not music” and that “it didn’t make sense for people to be talking all through a record”.

There was also the feeling that the early rappers were trying to copy Americans and yet they were not Americans.

Ron Ekundayo was a presenter on Radio Nigeria 2 in Lagos and he launched the hip hop scene with this effort.

Ronnie – The Way I Feel (1981)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekqyMBCPkG4



Dizzy K was better known as a pop star and he had a hit with “Baby Kilode”, but did you know that he also rapped? This was his rap song.

Dizzy K – Saturday Night Raps (1982)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JA8fNfM2Xak

---

This was probably the first rap song by a Nigerian that was accepted by Nigerians. It might be because the Nigerian members of the group were based abroad and it might also be because the group comprised of both Nigerians and Americans.

The group was made up of Nigerians Mr. Kool, Ebony Laoye and Monica Omorodion, and Americans Jedi and Scratch. Scratch had previously worked with the Sugarhill Gang.

Unlike previous Nigerian rap songs, this song had heavy airplay on NTA2 Channel 5 and Radio Nigeria 2.

Sound On Sound – I’m African (1988)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcW9S88aplU

---

Then came the 1990s and 3 songs that permanently changed the face of Nigerian hip hop.

This particular song was the first Nigerian rap song to become an international hit. It got to number 1 in Austria, number 2 in Germany, Greece and Portugal, number 3 in Switzerland, number 7 in Spain and Sweden and a massive hit right across Africa, Europe and in fact, around the world. It was on heavy rotation on MTV Europe throughout the early 1990s. It was covered by the South African group Dr Victor and the Rasta Rebels and by many other groups.

Dr Alban moved to Sweden to study dentistry. He became a DJ in order to finance his studies and he used the income from his work as a DJ to set up his dentistry practice when he graduated. However, he had become quite a popular DJ and he used that popularity to break into the music scene. Dr Alban had several worldwide hits in the 1990s and this was the first of them.

(This video was shot in Lagos and Sweden)


Dr Alban – Hello Afrika (1990).


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3I8BISQfWc


Bonus track.


This song got to number 2 on the UK charts, it was number 1 in Austria, Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Sweden. It got to number 3 on the Billboard Hot Dance Music chart in the US and it was a hit all over the world. The song was used in tampon adverts in the UK, stout advert in Nigeria and in several Bollywood movies.

Dr Alban – It’s My Life (1992)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zHm_6AQ7CY


This song was probably the first rap song by Nigerians in Nigeria that was accepted by Nigerians. It is also my favourite on this list. I think that one of the reasons that it was accepted was that it was in Pidgin English, so nobody could accuse them of trying to sound like Americans. It was also accepted because the storyline was very funny and my God it was a great song! It would be a hit if it was released today.


Emphasis – Which One You Dey (1991)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ulv4yaA8UDg





This song was the first rap song by Nigerians in Nigeria to become a mainstream hit. The song would have been in the top 5 of the Nigerian charts if there were Nigerian charts at that time. I remember that it won an award at the Nigerian Music Awards (NMA). The song was in Pidgin English, so you can’t accuse them of trying to sound American and everybody, both young and old, loved the song because of the funny story line. In fact, it was a form of musicomedy.

Junior and Pretty made it acceptable to be a Nigerian rapper and the idea no longer seemed strange to Nigerians. Lots of rappers and rap groups sprang up after the success of Junior and Pretty.

Unfortunately I can’t find a video of the song, but you can hear the audio if you click on this link.

Junior & Pretty – Monika (1991)

https://www.360nobs.com/2010/09/41-50-360-listening-ear-independence-day-special-nigerias-top-50-songs1960-2010/junior-pretty-monika/



Bonus track

Junior & Pretty – Bolanle (1994)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z87kHA5sD44

Chai naptu2, you really brought back old memories. Nostalgia feelings. Junior and preety was a standard music then at parties.
The gold old days...

J2381 (Agbaya ) and ishilove (omode alarifin) fighting for FTC

Abeg who should have it??

I only know Shina Peters here and as a musician and not the music you posted here

Indomie generation stay off this post

Lovely moments back then.