2013 was an exciting year for Nigerian music, from great songs to new faces to new endorsements, to the exhilarating shows, not forgetting the numerous songs NBC banned.

A lot of albums were released, some highly anticipated(Tiwa Savage’s album), some overdue (like Waje’s debut album), some due to popular demand (Olamide’s BGEL), some worth entries/debut albums(Burna Boy), some were just to register in the ears of people or hearts as the case might have been.

HipHopWorld Online has compiled a list of 10 albums we thought were strong as regards production, delivery,features and the overall quality of music.

BANKY W – R&BW

PRODUCTION – Banky W, Cobhams Asuquo, Masterkraft, M.I., Sarz, Samklef, Spellz

GUEST ARTISTES – Camp Mulla, eLDEe, L-Tido, Lynxxx, M.I., Niyola, Rotimi, Sammy, Shaydee, Skales, Sarkodie, 2Face Idibia, Vector

Banky W went in on this album showing his versatility as a rapper on different tracks. Bulk of the songs was produced by Spellz who has also had an impressive year.



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OLAMIDE – BADDEST GUY EVER LIVETH

Guest Appearances – Pheelz, Buckwyla, Ketchup, Ice Prince, Pepenazi, Endia, Viktoh, B.banks, Phyno, Pele Pele, and Bez.

Producer – Pheelz

Rapper Olamide has entered the history books as one of two Nigerian rappers to release two full albums in one year (the other being Eedris Abdulkareem). His second album YBNL was released in November 2012. His follow up Baddest Guy Ever Liveth comes one year after his highly successful sophomore. As an indigenous rapper Olamide has managed to make himself the hottest rapper in a country with so many ethnic groups.

BURNA BOY – L.I.F.E

Features – Tuface, Timaya, M.I, Olamide, Reminisce & Wizkid

Producer – Leriq

Fast forward three years later, a mixtape and three successful singles that stated the quality of the Nigerian sound was evolving, Damini Ogulu popularly called Burna boy has finally blessed us with an album. The 19 track deluxe edition titled L.I.F.E [Leaving an Impact for Eternity] takes us on a journey through his thought processes; where he’s coming from, where he is now and a glimpse of where he’s headed.

BRYMO – M.D & S (Merchant, Dealers and Slaves)

Guest Appearances- David
Producer- Mikky Me

Just eleven tracks long, BrymO has created a piece of work that will amaze, astound and more than impress even his most fervent critics. His voice sounds richer and rejuvenated. The production on the album is layered with enough soul to last three generations. And it probably will because BrymO is essentially saying that all that glitters is not gold, a well-known saying. Is it a classic? It’s too early for that. Is it a masterpiece? It is a soulful masterpiece that is emotionally charged with amazing production.Merchant, Dealers and Slaves is the best sounding album of the year – at least so far.

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JESSE JAGZ – THY NATION COME

Guest Appearances- Lindsey, Brymo, Wizkid, 9ice,

Producers- Jesse Jagz, Kid Konnect, Samklef, Shady, Phaze Hop and Guilty Beatz

On Jagz Nation Vol. 1, Thy Nation Come, Jesse Jagz now presents himself as an anti-pop hero and mainstream music rebel. Listening to his sophomore set, you wouldn’t know Jesse Abaga was the genius behind crowd pleasers such as ‘Wetin Dey’ and ‘Jago’. He has shed his populist skin and is now wearing a new toga that is a tapestry of ‘Loopy bars’* and reggae music. There were fears that Jesse Jagz might go all Snoop Lion and get lost in the hazy firmaments of Zion. The instantaneous positive reaction his ‘Redemption’ single attracted online tempered these early fears. Jesse is using Rastafarianism to push his art and not his brand.

TIWA SAVAGE – ONCE UPON A TIME

Guest Appearances- Don Jazzy, Iceberg Slim, Sarkodie, Don Jazzy, Leo Wonder, General Pype, Flavour

Producers- Marcus Macauley, Warren ‘Oak’ Felder, Gospel on the beat, Raydar Ellis, Sauce Wilson, Don Jazzy, Altims, Baby Fresh, Harmony Samuels, Spellz ‘Magik Boi’, Sossick and Del B.

After 2 years of dropping singles that have shaped pop music by female artistes in Nigerian music, Tiwa Savage finally drops her highly anticipated album‘Once Upon A Time’. Spanning over an hour, Tiwa Savage takes us on a fairy tale of mostly about love and other things.

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D’BANJ, KAY SWITCH, JSOL – D’KINGS MEN

Artist- D’Banj, Kay Switch and J. Sol

Guest Appearances- Falli Ipupa, Snoop Lion, Big Sean, Olamide, Durella, Ikechukwu, Olamide, Naeto C

On D’ Kings Men there are no huge pop anthems like the ones crafted by Don Jazzy in the Mo’ Hits period. What we have on this compilation are strong pop songs hinged on D’Banj’s infectious personality and amazing instrumentals. The doomsday prophecies concerning D’Banj’s demise do not come through on this compilation, on the contrary he is flourishing. D’ Kings Men exposes us to D’Banj’s new kingdom. He is still very much a king with a smaller but promising empire.

OMAWUNMI – LASSO OF TRUTH

Guest features – Timaya, Wizkid, Flavour, 2Face Idibia and Afay
Producers – Cobhams Asuquo, Don Jazzy, Sizzle-Pro, Oscar Herman Acker, Young D, Sarz and Soso Soberekon

So what truth does Omawumi show us with The Lasso of Truth? The wonder woman lets us know that life is not a bed of roses, never give up on love, have fun, fight for what is right and if you’ve got it flaunt it. Oh yeah she also lets us know that she is a bloody good singer. The Lasso of Truth is a well thought out album derive of the gimmickry and half-assed effort by many singers in the country. This makes Omawumi a hero in my book, a wonder woman and that is the truth.

REMINISCE – ALAGA IBILE

Guest Artistes- Sossick, Endia, Olamide, Obadice, Naeto C, Wizkid, Davido, Burna Boy

Producers- Sossick, Shizzi, Chopstix, Sarz, Dee Vee, Jospo

On this project majority of the production is handled by Sossick who is best known for his work on Da Grin’s classic sophomore rap album C.E.O which is also regarded as the greatest Yoruba rap album ever. With additional production from wonder boy Sarz, Alaga Ibile is Reminisce’s most impressive work so far.

Sossick who is no stranger to producing solid albums has helped Reminisce orchestrate a solid piece of work that is part Hip Hop and part pop. Reminisce should no longer be regarded as the chief of indigenous rap (alaga ibile) but the high chief.

WAJE – W.A.J.E

Producers- Del B, Spelz, Ekely,Sizzle Pro, Cobhams Asuquo, Leriq , M.I
Guest Appearances- Tiwa Savage, Burna Boy, M.I, Phyno, Eva

Waje has made us wait a while (a pretty long time actually) for her debut album W.A.J.E - Words Aren’t Just Enough. Before her debut LP Waje had steadily risen to be one of the best vocalists in the country. After pushing the release date of her album endlessly and tweaking it numerous times, Waje finally drops her first body of work.

Words aren’t just enough to express what Waje has packed in her debut. It is a musical tour de force boasting of a strong voice and amazing songs.

http://hiphopworldmagazine.com/2013/12/23/the-10-best-nigerian-albums-of-2013/