1. M.I (Jude Abaga):
Twitter: @mi_abaga
The biggest of them all and richest rapper in Nigeria. MI came into national limelight in 2008. An Indigene of Taraba state and raised in Jos, it was tracks like 'Safe' ft Djinee, 'short black boy', 'anoti', etc that shot him to the top of naija rap game with his debute album 'let's talk about it'. His second album 'M.I.2' released in 2010 was another thriller that gave us something we had never heard such as 'number one ft Flavour, 'my head my belle', etc. He has won many awards was nominated for best international act in the BET awards in 2010. M.I is the founder of Loopy records and is currently the vice president of Chocolate City where he's been signed since 2008. He released his 3rd Studio Album 'The Chairman' in 2014 featuring a lot of Nigerian star artists. M.I is a glo ambassador.

2. ICE PRINCE (Panshak Zamani ):
Twitter: @iceprincezamani
Is an International Superstar. An Indigine of Plateau State and raised in Jos. He came into the limelight in 2009 through M.I and was featured on tracks like 'somebody wants to die' 'blaze' then 'overkilling it remix' by Djinee and 'Nobody Test Me' by Jesse Jags. Also signed to chocolate city, his first hit single was 'oleku' ft Brymo which was a club banger, second hit was 'superstar' another massive hit single was 'aboki' all included in his debut album 'E.L.I' of 2011. His sophomore album 'FOZ' was realeased in 2013 and featured international collaborations with Wale, French Montana, Joel Otis, Sarkodie and AKA. Ice Prince won Best African Act at the 2013 BET awards.

3. JESSE JAGZ (Jesse Abaga):
Twitter: @jessejagz
The kid brother to M.I. Abaga, Jesse Jags got popular before Ice Prince, but its obvious that Ice Prince now has more Hits, Wealth and Fame than Jesse. Signed to Chocolate city thorugh his elder brother, he was featured on M.I's 'blaze' and Djinee's 'over killing it remix' his first hit single was 'greatest' then 'wetin dey' 'pump it up' all included' his first album 'jagz of all trade' in 2010.
He left chocolate city and founded his own label 'Jagz Nation' where he released his sophomore album 'Jagz Nation Vol I: Thy Nation come' in 2013 with hits like 'Only you' ft Wizkid. The Album didn't do well in terms of sales but any one who settles down to listen to it will really appreciate the depth of his lyrics and the versitility of Jesse Jagz. 'Jagz Nation vol II: Royal Niger Company' is his third album and was released in 2014.

4. CLASSIQ ( Buba Barnabas Luka):
Twitter: @ClassiQ
Currently the fastest rising rapper from the North. Classiq is an indigine of Bauchi State, and a graduate of BUK. His unique style of rap has been gaining the attention of Hiphop heads all over the country. He raps fluently in hausa, impecably in English and superbly in pidjin all of which he combines on his verses. His Mixtape 'sarki' is seriously d0pe with hot tracks like 'duniya' ft Ruby, 'duniya remix' ft Jesse Jagz, 'kakaraka' 'sarki' 'magana', 'danburo uba shege' etc. He was featured by Vector on the remix of Kingkong alongside Phyno, Reminisce and Uzi and many agree that his verse was the illest. He's currently signed to Finesse entertainment. Probably the best indigenous rapper in Naija, Olamide and Phyno are good but man, Classiq is better. When Olamide and Phyno switch to English in their verses, they usually sound mediocre, but Classiq is awesome in any language.

Cc: ishilove,lalasticlala,airmark,seun

we only recognize 4 of them the rest are not yet there

Okay ayaf hear you

5. MORELL (Musa Akilla) :
Twitter: @iMORELL
Morell became popular after he released his single 'anti social' ft Olamide. Born in Bauchi state but an Indigine of Borno. 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 backed with performances alongside international stars, Sean Kingston and Kanye West. A graduate of University of Maiduguri, He is currently signed to Bento records. Some of his recent works include: 'ganga da garaya' 'Borno' and 'wazobia' ft Reminisce and Phyno.

6. KHEENGZ aka YFK (King Bawa):
Twitter: @yungkheengz
Here is another very talented rapper from arewa. He hails from Naija state and is a graduate of ABU Zaria. One of the pioneers of d0pe hausa rap with his silky smooth vocal texture, interesting lyrics and technique. Kheengz was known in some quaters of the north before Classiq broke out, He featured M.I on the track jealous' and Erigga on 'high school remix' He also did a cover of Dija's track 'yaro' naming his 'Haba'. Kheengz dropped his 'college kid mixtape' CKMT in 2013 with some of the illest rap tracks around. Some of his hottest tracks include 'balling' 'run arewa' 'wasila' '48' 'Yara' 'I believe' etc. Word on the streets is that he will soon be dropping his EP.


7. THRILLZ (Benjamin Bitrus):
Twitter: @thrillzgangaria
An indigene of Gombe state and raised in Abuja. Thrillz is another fast rising rapstar from northern Nigeria. A graduate of Unijos, His track 'yanga no be swagga' is currently his biggest as it has been aired in various radio stations across the country. He is a very prolific rapper with crazy rhyme skills which he does in English, hausa and pidgin and his tracks range from hardcore raps, commercial rap and dance tracks. His other highly rated joints include: 'gangariya', 'over' ft Killmovez and 'kambala'I' ft Promphizy. He's Currently based in Kano and Lagos and is rumoured to soon be dropping his mixtape 'YNBS'. He's also a member of the Wild Streets Alliance.

vheMa:
Okay ayam hear you

agarawu23:

what is it

8. TERRY THA RAPMAN/T.R (Terry Madaki):
Twitter: @Iamlord_TR
An indigene of Nasarawa state but raised in Kaduna. Terry was one of the pioneers of hiphop in Naija. Came into limelight with 'I am a Nigerian' and went on to make 'na beans' which was a popular hiphop classic. His other popular tracks are 'ojoro' ft Terry G, and 'sample' ft Stereoman and Pherowshuz. Terry raps both in plain english and pidjin with ease and he kills any track he's on no wonder he has worked with many Nigerian star artists on both his tracks and features. He was a co-founder of the Swatroot Crew with Solo Dee, Six Foot Plus, Mode 9, and Eldee. His last track 'your best rapper is a lie' is one where he took a little swipe at the naija music industry. Boys Are Not Smilling!!!

9. PheroWshuz (David Torkuma Joshua):
Twitter: @iampherow
Was born in Sokoto and raised in Kaduna. Since his days in the revolutionary hip hop group "KD World", Pherowshuz has been spitting fire. He's a veteran in the Nigerian music scene and has been an inspiration to many 'a rapper. One of he's biggets hits is 'Korrect' which gained him nationwide recognition. His works range from 'the Return of Phero the Great' [the Album], to 'Blood , Sweat, Tears And Years' [The Mixtape]. He has collaborated with Modenine, Eldee, Terry tha Rapman, Yung6, etc


10. MAGNITO (Mohammed Usman Adamu):
Twitter: @officialmagnito
Hails from Benue state. He is a graduate of Unijos. He is signed to Deklientel Music. His track that first drew attention was 'medecine girl' in 2010. He has done various other tracks and collaborations and featured Phyno on his latest track 'hoha' in 2015

The north is never bereft of Hiphop Talents. Not forgetting guys like Six Foot Plus, Alchadas, Freezlinks, etc.
note: some people argue that benue is not north so you are permitted to take the benue guys off the list in your mind if you hold that view.

The list is incomplete without Skales

dejavski:
The list is incomplete without Skales

Thought Skales was a singer

zainabxel:


Thought Skales was a singer

He raps also

dejavski:


He raps also

He's much more renowned as a singer

d north always rulling

dejavski:
The list is incomplete without Skales

Sorry skales is Half camerounian half Nigerian (Edo)

Fair, balanced and well researched

hatux:
Morell should be on the number 5 spot.... The guy is bomb, better than Terry...*my opinion

Nah I think terry is better

hatux:
Hmm!

Your points bro?

I don't think Terry is in anyway better than Morell. Ama big fan of Morell, he's a talented rapper, that's why he was featured in 'half of a yellow sun' theme song...


So what?

Morell raps and sings, so as an artist he is better, but as a rapper, terry's got more punchlines and hard a$$ verses

hatux:
Hmm!

Your points bro?

I don't think Terry is in anyway better than Morell. Ama big fan of Morell, he's a talented rapper, that's why he was featured in 'half of a yellow sun' theme song...


So what?

Wow and I never knew Morell's song was on 'half of a yellow sun' sountrack, that's really great!

Undilutedfact:


Wow and I never knew Morell's song was on 'half of a yellow sun' sountrack, that's really great!

Now you know bro...

Zainabxel

Good

Yeah

zainabxel:

Obviously you haven't met yns crew

You should include Dj_Ab.
He's upcoming. But he's good

MuhdG:

Obviously you haven't met yns crew

You should include Dj_Ab.
He's upcoming. But he's good

I've heard DJ Abba's tracks, he's not as good as any of this guys

zainabxel:


I've heard DJ Abba's tracks, he's not as good as any of this guys

Yh I know.
But you've to agree... he's trying

MuhdG:


Yh I know.
But you've to agree... he's trying

True

Undilutedfact:


True

Yhu listen to his tunez too?

MuhdG:

Yhu listen to his tunez too?

I've heard like four of his tracks