Top 5 Most Underrated Nigerian Rappers You Need to Hear
Most of today’s so-called rappers just murmur over beats. To me, RAP stands for Rhythmically Applied Poetry, so lyrics should be deep, meaningful, and clever. Yet you hear lines like, “I go blow like hurricane, and I still dey chew sugarcane.” What’s the connection? Here are my five picks for underrated rap legends. First is GINO (Gino Agoi), whose 2006 hit “No Be God?” captures Lagos street life and struggle. MTV Base even featured it in a segment on Jay-Z’s influence. Next is MODE 9 (Babatunde Adewale), a pioneer known for complex wordplay and punchlines that forced others back to the studio. NAETO-C (Naetochukwu Chikwe) broke ground as the first Nigerian rapper with an MSc. Tracks like “Kini Big Deal” and “Ten Over Ten” still bang today. EVA ALORDIAH (Elohor Alordiah) rounds out the list with award-winning bars and a flair that blends music and entrepreneurship. Finally, LORD OF AJASA (Olusegun Osaniyi) brought Yoruba rap to the mainstream in the early 2000s. Shout-outs also go to pioneers like Eedris Abdulkareem, Pherowshuz, Blaise, Sasha P, Seriki, and Ikechukwu for shaping our scene.
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