How Nigerian Rappers Can Bounce Back In 2023:

Written By Amechi Okoli

We all know that Nigerian rappers are no longer running the show.

Gone are the days when the likes of Ruggedman, 2 Shotz, MI, and Freestyle had the biggest songs on air. Because as we can all see, Afrobeats music has completely taken over the Nigerian music industry.

This is quite strange, because according to Billboard, hip hop is the most popular music genre in the world. So why isn’t it popping anymore in Nigeria?

Whatever the reasons for its decline, here’s how Nigerian rap can bounce back in 2023!

1. Ride The Afrobeats Wave

Once Nigerian rappers can put their pride aside and accept that we are in the Afrobeats era, then they will be more open to exploring the sound.

This is not to say that our rappers should switch to singing. Rather, they should explore some groove-friendly Afrobeats instrumentals and rap over them.

This strategy worked for American rappers when they rode the dancehall and reggaeton wave in the mid-2000s, so why not?

Busta Rhyme’s “Make It Clap” remix with Sean Paul still bangs in clubs today!

2. Feature Afrobeats Singers

Rapping over Afrobeats instrumentals is great, but taking it one step further by featuring Afrobeats singers will produce better sing-along melodies, and of course, greater chances of success among the Nigerian audience.

3. Repackage For The Ladies And The Ballers

American rappers made some money in the 70s and 80s, but it wasn’t until the 90s that they started to rake in millions of Dollars.

Why? Because the ones who were serious about the business side of rap started dressing fly, popping champagne, driving Benzes, and using half-naked models in their videos.

Simply put, a Mase music video was more interesting to watch than a KRS-One music video.

The world is filled with vanity, so who do you think will attract more attention?

4. Improve The Flow

With Nigerian hip hop, the way our rappers deliver is sometimes the problem. They focus too much on bars and they completely forget about the flow, which leaves their songs so bland and unentertaining.

One Nigerian rapper that understands the importance of the flow is Ladipoe. Just listen to his verse on the Mavins all-star track (Overdose). Even the Afrobeats Singers couldn’t outshine him on the song, all thanks to his flow!

5. Target The International Audience

For Nigerian rappers who are not interested in switching their style or sound, then the best thing to do in 2023 is to target the international market.

Underground boom bap rap might not be the biggest thing in America right now, but at least the market still has fans who are willing to pay for that kind of music.

You don’t need a big budget to target them either. Just pay for social media ads and choose your ideal audience.

Well, I hope this helps, and I hope Nigerian hip hop puts a strong foot forward in 2023.

Kindly share this article so that other hip hoppers can read it too.

Follow me on IG @amechi_okoli, and be rest assured that I’ll keep writing for the culture. Peace!

Written By Amechi Okoli

No matter how you want to connect it.....Rap music is not an African stuff....

But AfroBeats....


You will never see white artists trying to produce and claim legendary to afro musics...rather they will feature and maintain their heritage....


But Africans, we deh always want to copy and want to do more than the original...

JASONjnr:
No matter how you want to connect it.....Rap music is not an African stuff....

But AfroBeats....


You will never see white artists trying to produce and claim legendary to afro musics...rather they will feature and maintain their heritage....


But Africans, we deh always want to copy and want to do more than the original...

Very true bro, rap isn't a Nigerian thing. But musical cultures can be practiced by others too. Just as American singers are now using Afrobeats instrumentals.

amechispeaks:


Very true bro, rap isn't a Nigerian thing. But musical cultures can be practiced by others too. Just as American singers are now using Afrobeats instrumentals.

They're using AfroBeats instrumentals but will use their normal white culture sound.....

The vibing to afro is because, afro gives you a reason to dance ..And the same reason the white vibes to rocknroll because you just have to dance to the strings....

But they will not learn pidgin to sing with the AfroBeats...

The rap music in Nigeria should have limit or convert it to afro and let's vibes to it ..

JASONjnr:


They're using AfroBeats instrumentals but will use their normal white culture sound.....

The vibing to afro is because, afro gives you a reason to dance ..And the same reason the white vibes to rocknroll because you just have to dance to the strings....

But they will not learn pidgin to sing with the AfroBeats...

The rap music in Nigeria should have limit or convert it to afro and let's vibes to it ..

Very true as well bro.

....

I'll take Nigerian rappers serious when they start to shoot themselves like their western counterparts they're copying.

Zonefree:
I'll take Nigerian rappers serious when they start to shoot themselves like their western counterparts they're copying.

I seriously hope they don't do that!

Planning an EP or SINGLE?
U have ur own beat, but tight on budget.
Holla at me! BMDMIX
Lagos egbeda
090. 75. 25. 28. 28

Music business

They really need it, especially that useless Dbull or what does he call himself

My concern is how Nigeria will bounce back in 2023 by voting for Peter Obi

Mr incredible fall my hand shaa

That guy no get mate for 9ja rap
I be dey think say by now,he suppose son feature
Ti
Lil baby,
Mims
Even suppose to challenge bone thugs and harmony
,
But the guy no get mate
The only rapper to drop him album without speaking pigin English yet e break Lagos market,only mi and timaya don break record like that
Wizkid don give rappers assignment

You need an enlightened populace to love/appreciate rap. Even if rappers do all those you mentioned very few Nigerians would appreciate rap, why? You need to be enlightened, exposed, mentally sound to really appreciate rap. There are very few rappers in Nigeria. Some of what we hear aren't rap.

I remember the days of Mode9, 2Fat, 2Shotz, Ruff, Rugged and Raw, Magnum, etc. These days, na just noise these indomie children dey make.

Beautiful

JASONjnr:
No matter how you want to connect it.....Rap music is not an African stuff....

But AfroBeats....


You will never see white artists trying to produce and claim legendary to afro musics...rather they will feature and maintain their heritage....


But Africans, we deh always want to copy and want to do more than the original...

Nonsense

Rap is not for any race or continent

Nigerian rap is not doing badly at all... U jst need intelligent people to decode it..

If Makossa can stop trending so will afrobeat one day
Nothing last forever

In your opinion they fell but na lie..

Wizkid must have said something but his songs are wack..

If you like come mention your papa and mama..

Again I must say, rap never dies

Cool

Zonefree:
I'll take Nigerian rappers serious when they start to shoot themselves like their western counterparts they're copying.

Yeye dey smell.

Let's continue to explore the opportunities Afro beat has opened to us. We can't be good in all fields.
Afro beat is putting Nigeria �� on the world map...

There's nothing wrong with Nigerian rap. The current generation are intellectually inferior so they lack the mental capacity to decipher complex metaphors and rhymes.

90s kids enjoy rap because they had a solid educational background.

Nigerian Afrobeat is empty. All these small small boys and girls just dey make noise on top beats.

OK

Rap is not dead in Nigeria...

We still have top notch rappers like; Blaqbonez, AQ, Erigga, Falz, Kabex, Otega, and lots of others delivering shitts... ....

Nigeria gets rapper Abeg who be that

Naija no get rappers,

Coincidentally,

Wiz Kid ft Drake (Rapper)
Davido ft Dababy (Rapper)
Davido ft Young Thug (Rapper)
Davido ft Rae Sremmurd (Rapper)
Davido ft Lil Baby (Rapper)
Davido ft Nicki Minaj (Rapper)
Davido ft Nas (Rapper)
Davido ft Hit-Boy (Rapper)
Burna boy ft Naughty By Nature
Burna boy ft YG (Rapper)
Burna boy ft Future (Rapper)
Burna boy ft Polo G (Rapper)


And the list goes on and on...