₦airaland Forum

Debut albums are supposed to be statement makers, introducing an artiste properly to the fans. Even with artistes who achieve fame before their debut album, there is no overstating the power of that full album which tells fans whether or not the released single(s) was a flash in the pan. Some artistes, however, have made more than just introductory statements with their debut album. They kicked down the damn doors, torched our hearts and have remained relevant since then. Here are some of those fire first albums.

I will only be considering secular debut albums that had al or most of Naija strongly hooked on at least three major hits off of it and released by artistes still very relevant to this day. Much as I love and still enjoy listening to Faze Alone, Expression and Greenland by Faze, TY Bello and Styl-Plus respectively, they don't make this list either based on the criteria of number of hits or artiste relevance to date. Also, the list will focus on albums with songs that at least have good chords and fair melodies rather than insanely hilarious songs with off-key singing. So Sky-B, for instance, might make a different kind of list; not this one. Ok, enough preamble. Here goes:

Number 8. P-Square's Last Nite (2003):

Whether you thought of them as those Usher look-alikes or those masters of the art of copying American artistes' melodies and choreography, the fact remains that you thought of the dancing duo of Peter and Paul in 2003 if you were in Nigeria. Their videos contributed greatly to their fame. They put in some effort in trying to bring a piece of American R&B/Pop music video culture home in Senorita and Igbedu. Thankfully, they wondered whether rap na by force like we did and decided against torturing us with rap attempts in the future. Anyway, ever since that grand introduction, which included the Marvin Gaye-meets-R.Kelly inspired title track, they have grown progressively bigger and a lot more original too. Love it or hate it, this album has a significant spot in the history of Naija music.

Number 7. Timaya's True Story (2007):

This is one of those albums that the streets promoted. South-South couldn't monopolise this son of theirs. Every street wanted a piece, even if they couldn't really relate to the plight of the South-South creek residents his album advocated for, or was it wailed on behalf of? Anyway, in far away North-East of Nigeria, Dem Mama was getting killed too. Churches were brandishing their Ogologo Mma Agha. Kids were crooning to the title track. All the bad-chelors, Timaya/ All the good-chelors, Timaya - (I honestly used to sing that). Anyway, 10 tracks - that's all it took to learn his name and never forget.

Number 6. D'Banj's No Long Thing (2005):
This Mo Hits' records artiste's debut album was a 12-track redefinition of Afro pop culture. This album spawned the monster hit, Tongolo, which introduced the koko slang to Nigerian pidgin vocabulary. At first a metaphor for penis, koko expanded its meaning to include the crux of any matter. Other vocabs popularised by this album include "no long tin", and the signature "file!" - /fi:lə/. Other significant tracks on the album are Socor and Mobolowowon. I probably speak for a lot of Nigerians when I say that we miss this version of D'Banj today.

Number 5. Wande Coal's Mushin 2 Mo Hits (2008):
After his introduction to us in the Mo Hits All-star album, Curriculum Vitae, some of us knew to watch out for this high pitched voice and boy were we glad we did! Wande Coal utilised Don Jazzy's creative beats in an unprecedented way, harmonising beautifully in a manner parallel, perhaps, only to genuine R&B influenced talents such as the Plantashun Boiz. The result was a résumé of hits - Bumper 2 Bumper, You bad, Kiss Your Hand and the unforgettable mid tempo Ololufe. You really didn't want to skip a track. This black diamond made a remarkable journey from the streets of Mushin through Mo Hits to where he is now. Our parties and playlists have the track records of that journey.

Number 4. Lagbaja's We (2000):

While Sisqo was unleashing the dragon on the US, we were meeting Lagbaja down down down - Konko Below. That album played a huge part in redefining the quality of sound expected of songs in the Nigerian music industry. It made proper use of the vocoder effect on Gra Gra and it wasn't annoying like many other attempts by artistes at the time. Talk about a proper fusion of pop influence and good old gangan, this album was a street party that crushed South-Western borders. I doubt there was a tribe in the country that didn't groove to this album. No matter your tribe, the beat found you and you couldn't say Lagbaja had Nothing For You. No, not that year.

Number 3. Asa's Asa (2008):

There is a bit of controversy about this one as regards whether or not it is her actual first album. Asa's social media maintains this is the case even though there are relatively less known songs that predate this album which point to the contrary. However, since this is officially referred to as her first album by her promoters, we will treat it that way. This eponymous album was explosive without the acquisitiveness of regular commercial successes in the Naija music industry. Jailer didn't inspire dance, nor did Bibanke, Subway and Eye Adaba. Nope. No One Knows, which was used as soundtrack in an episode of the American TV series, Privileged, may have stirred the break dance spirit in you a little bit but there was more to the track than the scratch effect. There was just so much more about this album. And three studio albums later, we're still admiring the big picture she began creating with this album.

Number 2. M.I.'s Talk About It (2008):

This rap album shut down that year in December. Rap albums had never caused as much rave as M.I.'s Talk About It did in 2008. The fact that the lyrics were mostly in English and Pidgin made it easier to relate to whatever your ethnic tribe or even social class. This album is the inspiration for a lot of things - some people's decision to pursue a career in music, maybe - including this entire article. The album was probably the first to be a status symbol amongst Nigerian undergrads with discerning auditory senses. It was that album that you proudly included on your playlist alongside Lil Wayne's Tha Carter III, Rick Ross's Trilla, TI's Paper Trail or Kanye West's 808's and Hearbreak because it could hold its own. MTV African Music Awards of 2009 seemed to think so too. This Short Black Boy changed the game from his first single, Safe. And if you ever wondered "who do this beat" whilst listening, be sure his hands were in it as well. He said Talk About It and, frankly, we still do.

Number 1. 2Face's Face 2 Face (2004):

This is the one album I didn't have to Google anything to confirm the release date. Even though I lost my beloved grandma in that same year, I remember the year more for this album from the Plantashun Boiz lead singer, 2Face Idibia aka. 2Baba. If other African countries knew only two musicians from Nigeria around this period, they were probably Fela and 2Face. If we had durable charts of good repute, this album would have probably topped them all. And if we didn't have to contend with piracy, this album would probably have one of those record setting sale figures comparable to the greats of the American pop music history. With a population well over a hundred million as at then, this album would most likely have sold at least 5 million copies in Nigeria alone. African Queen, the most successful single of the album, changed the perception of Nigerian music forever, appearing in the movie, Phat Girlz, and earning him a MOBO amongst other awards. This album was an earthquake. Trying to list the hits would be akin to reproducing the album tracklist. Anyway, most worthy of mention are Nfana Ibaga(No Problem), Ole (Thief), Right Here and Keep On Rockin'.

Can you think of any other debut albums that made as much impact with more songs than 2? Feel free to share. Cheers.

***Nuel*

@ Frank-C, do you honestly think some states "cannot" pay the minimun wage? If this law is struck off the Executive list as the OP suggested, trust me when I say that some state governments will do like NLC predicts - pay as loww as 1K. Why? I know some people used to earn as low as 3K before the minimum wage issue came to the rescue.

If they go on ahead to decentralize and leave the bargain at the state level, there should still be a standard minimum it would be unlawful for any state - coz rili, no state is that poor - to go below.

And to the person who groaned about N1m salary amounts. State the level of the recipient of such amounts if you have such info so you may be filled in on the qualifications for filling that position. Then will you know whetha or not to groan.

1. He wrote "your exact weight". That was the agreement.

@Mr. Aboki, if u read my post after the one u quoted, u'd have found I already answered ur worry.

I doubt you understood the post you quoted at all..
The poster wasn't saying build hospitals and houses with groundnut sacks, he was simply saying those sacks cold have been sold and the profit used to build structures and fund projects such as hospitals etc. one pyramid could have fetched enough money to build a hospital or a market or something. I believe that's what the op was driving at. I don't think his post was literal in its translation.

That right there put the last nail on ur coffin. Requiscant in pace.

@ tpia@, u don't get the point. Even if a Nigerian owns the packaging company, the fact remains that the address on the peanut is Ghanaian.

Now the main point u're missing is this: with all our peanut, we can't brag about products made of peanut and MADE IN NIGERIA. U said it urself that u think Ghana has locally made cocoa butter. If we have peanut like statistics suggest, then Ghana & several otha places should be our markets & NOT the other way round.

I don't see the situation changing much anytime soon though. For starters, the said Ghana (still) has better power situation than Nigeria. Someone please remind me how Ghana generates her power?

@Rossikk, it must be excruciatingly exasperating to join issues with these a**wipes on here that can't understand sense in wateva languague it's conveyed.

@topic, has anyone bothered to check the manufacturers' addy on the common peanut that sells (for N50 currently) like satchet water in most neighbourhoods? Aboki kiosks no dey miss get am.
That stuff bears a Ghanaian addy. Shame coz we're 4th behind 3 countries & Ghana is not even 1 of them; but, apparentli, they know wat 2 do with peanuts & we don't. Pathetic.

If u eva appreciated:
Nas
Lauryn Hill
Common
Busta Rhymes (not his hit tracks, rili, bt his philosophical craze)
Raykwon (Don't knw if I spelt it right)
Talib Kweli

Then u probabli know wat Jesse's skillz r about. But if u don't know rap enough 2 grasp those artistes I jst listed (& their likes), then u r NOT qualitied to rate Jesse Jagz.

Onli sht is that, jst like those names I listed, Jesse may neva b mainstream enuff 2 M.I u up, or Olamide u down. Wat matters @ the end of the day is whetha or not he's kool with the (small) number of fans who can actually comprehend his style enuff 2 like him.

Those of us with an eclectic taste in music r down 4 wateva tho. Just let it come out gud @ the end of the day, Jesse.

As a kid, there were so many thingz we couldn't rili understand about so many big people's emotions and circumstances. Now we understand beta in retrospect - like ok, that person pr'abli did so so & so bak then coz he was poor & embarrassed, or coz she was Hot(conji tins) & a paedophile.

I get a similar feeling about eternity. I get the feel I will understand it all better when I get there. So I wonder, why understand it and rue the decisions I made in preparation 4 it?

Remember also, we made a lot of stupid speculations about what growing up would be like. Some of us talked about university days, sex and money like we already understood the feeling just because we knew people who were already there and we thought we could feel it vicariously. And now that we're finally there or past it, we find some (if not all) of our speculations were dead stupid. I also get the feeling eternity may make our current speculations look not-so-wise.

I follow my heart. We all probably should coz most hearts already know right from wrong and bother to remind us, no matter how subtly, when we err.

BB devices were originally designed 4 office use & mainly organizations patronized them back in the day. Kinda like hummer jeeps were originally military ish b4 individuals started buying em 4 kicks.

@tomakint, wat is African abeg? Do u know that showing off assets was always our thing b4 eva we crossed paths with the West?

It's not rocket science. We're in the tropics; they're in the temperate region. So, go figure.

I haven't watched the video. But I can't help reacting to Bassette's sentiments about Gowon... Care to tell me how Gowon's intentions were "good"? Because from all I've gathered about his regime, he could have averted the war, but he didn't. He knew a pogrom of some sort was going on in the north. Military officers had gone down too. Yet he did nothing. Maybe he felt the rage against the Igbos was justified.

About the tribal differences, we weren't supposed to be together in the first place. Nigeria is some white man's selfish handiwork. BUT, since we're stuck together, and especially considering it's been a commercial success, I personally think we should might as well make it work WELL. I don't stand up for secession anymore. I stand up for progress. We should refuse to be seen as just tribes. After all, we're first humans, then Nigerians.

I wonder how the said plant runs considering our power issues here. What we need from government is not their verbal support, but LIGHT.

Without light, Nigeria will NEVER do well in production or manufacturing of any sort. Several companies that tried before are like ancient tombstones now. People import coz it's easier to trade here than it is to produce anything.

So I'm guessing heaven will be full of amputated folks, & empty eye sockets since Jesus clearly said 2 get rid of anything that causes us 2 sin.

Jst so u know, the golden calf didn't make the Isrealites sin. They sinned & the calf was forged. Do u guyz in ur church use money? Coz I don't think gold or diamond are as common as money, the infamous means of exchange. If these ornamentals will lead one to hell, then money would pr'abli fire the furnace of hell after it's led one in.

Yea the Godwin guy really is something. I'm routing 4 him and that Chuka rapper dude. Chuka strikes similar chords 2 M.I.

This is disheartening. Nigeria is not so poor that there cannot be surveillance cameras in streets. And until we do as well as build and maintain a database of citizenry, we'll only keep guessing criminals and gossiping about crimes.

@ jiggawatts, make una try hold on some more abeg. I pray God's hands never let go of y'all

@ Nagoma, u're right. We're, in the 1st place, an un-wise people, then a people choking in oceans of atavistic hate. I've had arguments with my brother on similar issues. Even if we all believe in reincarnation, I'm pretty sure none of us had the luxury of choosing what part of the world they'd be born in. So as much as u think u're an average humane being pissed off by the atrocities of Boko Haram, u need 2 be enlightened on the fact that there are other (probably more) humane beings born by Northern parents who have nowhere to run to in the wake of BH BS. Their home front is the war front - they are as much victims as the bombed.

I stayed in Aba back when kidnapping was rife there. I know how entire villages turned victims because of crimes committed by only a (small) sect of their people. Those who had options deserted their villages. Those who didn't,...well, they lived from day to day; not all of them survived. That is what Amnesty International points out. If u don't see the sense in that, then ur problem is not limited to this situation coz u rili can't "see sense".

O & b4 I 4get, Lagos is an entire state o. Aba is a town. & even in the Lagos state, there are parts that are nearly as much an eyesore...maybe exactly as terrible...maybe worse

Bittyend, Aba is but a commercial town in an Igbo state. There are other towns. Yea, if & wen there is a Biafra, no doubt it would be submerged in corruption just like any otha part of Nigeria that may decide 2 break away. Don't 4get in a hurry that it's not been long Lagos tushed up.

Jim plz don't keep quiet & take the high road. U've got 2 respond 2 this. Say something. We NEED to be entertained! Ur Nollywood movies r not doing it this well. Pleazzzzzz

White007, u're soooooo on point. Lwkmd4h

@ WAM, he said that? That's a pity. He's almost as flagrant in his carefree remarks as Nigerian politicians.

To the people wondering how much the actors were paid coz of how poor the N20m the movie grossed sounds, please there is a difference between 'gross' and 'BUDGET'.

Sisi_Kill, is that really you? I've been looking allova 4 u. Can u add me up on fb - kool_like_water@yahoo.com

This is me returniñg here yrs afta startiñg this thread 2 lite a candle 4 my dad whose body slept on April 24, 2010. It's bn a yr alreadi. I miss u evriday, dad.

I lite mo candles 4 Obinna Okpokiri; my youñga couzin, Emeka Ajuonu (urs is a heartbreak); Dr. Emmanuel Ejionye; Mr. Fred Agomuo; Mr. Mbogu & all othaz whose exit have made this yr gloomy. May God rest u all & bless us 2 live right here, we who have yet 2 sojourn 2 the beta side

Y'all just believe in the Adebayo guy & otha pastors like that. Don't u thiñk these Modern Men of God are a little too vain? Jesus was fly once - triumphant entry & all. Bt he didnt make it a lifestyle, else Peter and co wuda probabli learnt 2 steal colts. I personally dont buy NONE of these prosperity preachaz.

@ Mactao, b eazi man. If he is the man of God, it'll show. Meanwhile, I've been lukiñg 4 u all ova! U & Sisikill. Add me up on fb na - kool_like_water@yahoo.com