2015 was obviously one of the most productive years for Nigerian musicians. However, 2016 can only get better with more songs due for release, events and happenstances on the offing. OLAITAN GANIU sets an agenda on musicians likely to grab the headlines in the New Year.
Olamide
2015 was nothing short of a great year for the artiste fondly called ‘Olamide Badoo’ by his fans. At the later part of the year, he dropped his smoking album, Eyan Mayweather. Among Nigerian artistes, the Album had one of the highest downloads on the internet in 2015.
Metamorphosing from being an underground rapper into a prominent hip hop act, Olamide made his fans proud with the second edition of Olamide Live In Concert (OLIC2). The event which held at the Eko Hotel and Suites was a total success with sold out tickets. The line-up of performance was also top topnotch except for the absence of Davido and Wizkid who had been billed to perform at the concert. Davido came just after the show had ended.
He made his debut with a single, Eni Duro, in 2011. Since then, Olamide, who won his first major award as Rap Artiste of the Year at City People Awards in 2015, has five studio album to his credit. In November 2015, Olamide won the Best Male Artiste in Africa at the All Africa Music Awards for hiss song Bobo.
Olamide’s YBNL label also signed two upcoming artistes, Lil kesh and Viktoh, who are carving a niche for themselves with one getting nominated as the Next Rated artist in Headies award.
Aside being the first Nigerian celebrity to have an endorsement deal with Ciroc, Olamide’s status has also endeared him to brands.
Olamide’s baby mama gave birth to Maximilliano Batifeori Adedeji
Adekunle Gold
HE took the industry by storm in 2014 with his smashing hit single, Sade, which received massive airplay on various Nigerian radio stations. The Urban Highlife act followed up with another single, Orente, which also received positive reviews from music critics, before rounding off the year with another single, Pick Up.
Currently signed unto YBNL Nation, the fast-rising artiste, got nominated in the Most Promising Act of the Year category at the 2015 City People Entertainment Awards. He was also nominated in the “Best Alternative Song” category at The Headies 2015 for Sade.
Wizkid
AYODEJI Ibrahim Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, has tactically positioned himself to remain relevant on the scene by starving his fans of his third studio album.
The multi-talent act as our ever reel-out some hit singles including Ojuelegba, a song that highlights the struggles he endured in the early years of his recording career. The official remix to the song features Drake and Skepta; Expensive Shit. America RnB singer, R. Kelly featured Wizkid on his song, title, I Just Want To Thank You. Before the superstar released a club banger song, titled, Baba Nla.
The starboi recently showed his fans an appreciation during his performance at the special Industry Nite by giving out N250,000 each to four of his fans who could sing his songs without missing a line.
During the past year, Wizkid also collaborated with International artistes like Chris Brown on a song titled African Bad Girl which the duo performed at the latter’s concert in Durban, South Africa.
Davido
DAVID Adedeji Adeleke popularly known as Davido is the son of business mogul, Dej Adeleke. He got instant recognition in 2011 when he dropped his infectious single Back When featuring Naeto C, became a favorite among Radio and Club Disc Jockeys.
Davido, kicked off 2015 with a single titled Fans Mi featuring Mayback Music Artist Meek Mill with a love titled, Dodo.
Davido’s fans cannot wait for the release of his sophomore album, Baddest, which the Skelewu crooner has postponed twice. The album was earlier scheduled to be released on June 8, 2015 but it was postponed till August 10, 2015 and once again it’s been moved. With hit tracks such as Gobe, Skelewu, Aye and Tchelete in his kitty, Davido has featured artistes like Meek Mill, Don Jazzy, Runtown, Timaya, Trey Songz, Wale, P-Square and Akon on his impending album.
Critics already predict that Omo Baba Olowo (O.B.O) purposely delayed his album due to the rivalry between him and Wizkid. And it is an interesting coincidence that Davido has confirmed he will release his album in the same month as rival, Wizkid.
Korede Bello
SIGNED to Mavin Record, Korede Bello has turned his page around. He is best known for his hit single Godwin, a semi-gospel and pop song which topped many music charts in Nigeria.
In 2015, Korede got his hands on an endorsement deal with Glo and has been announced as the first Youth Ambassador for the Nigerian Police.
The young talented star, released a single titled, Romantic feature Tiwa Savage.
Also for the first time in the history of The Headies Award, duo artistes from the same record label – Korede Bello and Reekado Banks – both of Mavin Records, were nominated in the Next Rated category, alongside Cynthia Morgan, Lil Kesh, and Kiss Daniel.
Cynthia Morgan
CYNTHIA Ikponmwenosa Morgan, popularly known by her stage name Cynthia Morgan, has continued with an incredible string of success since her inception into the industry.
The German Juice crooner came into limelight following the release of her singles Don’t Break My Heart and Lead Me On, both of which received significant airplay. As a Nigerian born songwriter and singer, her music is a fusion of pop, hip hop, dancehall and rap.
She was nominated in Headies Award as Next Rated Act.
Reekado Banks
GETTING signed under a record label wasn’t part of his plan but his deal with Mavin Records came as a result of his brother submitting some of his songs to the label in an online talent search. And Reekado Banks got signed to Mavin Records after his entries were selected from over 5000 entries.
Since he got signed to Mavin Record, the artiste has been a force to reckon with in the music industry.
Integrated into the Mavin family, Reekado Banks featured alongside label mates – Don Jazzy, Korede Bello, Tiwa Savage, Di’Ja, Dr SID and D’Prince – on the critically acclaimed songs Dorobucci, Adaobi, Arise and Looku Looku.
Reekado, who is also a Glo Ambassador, in 2015 released Katapot, a song alleged to be a diss track towards D’banj and Wande Coal. He is definitely one of the artistes to watch out for in 2016.
Kiss Daniel
HE burst into the scene with his hit single Woju which spent 11 weeks on the MTV Base Official Naija Top Ten. Its remix with Davido and Tiwa Savage stayed at the number one spot for six weeks.
Since then, the G-Worldwide Entertainment artiste has not looked back. In May 2015, Daniel released a third follow-up single Laye on his birthday, along with a video. And the promising star, also featured his record label mate, Stoneboi in a song titled, Molue and rounded the year with mid-tempo single, Good Times.
As reward for his hard work, Kiss Daniel won the Nigeria Entertainment Awards (USA) / Best New Act of the Year, Africa Youth Choice Awards / Next Rated (2015), Peace Achievers Awards / Best New Act, AFRIMA Awards Most Promising Act in Africa, MTN4SYTE TV Music Video Awards (Ghana) /Best African Act Video (Woju Remix).
The promising act is still expecting to win some award in the upcoming events including Headies Awards for Song of the Year (Woju); Pop Single of the year (Woju) ; Nigerian Music Video Awards /Best Highlife Video (Laye); Nigerian Music Video Awards /Best Video By A New Artiste (Laye).
Daniel lost his father on May 9, 2015.
Tiwa Savage
MAVIN Music first lady Tiwa Savage gained her sexiness back after months of nursing her new baby boy. She hit the dance floor back in what most people considered as the most powerful comebacks.
Not resting on her oars, the Kele Kele Love crooner released her sophomore studio album titled RED. The album has 16 tracks and feature production credits from Don Jazzy and Baby Fresh with collaborations from 2face Idibia, Wizkid, and others. No doubt, Tiwa Savage remains relevant on the scene.
Falz
THOUGH at a snail’s pace, talented rapper, Femi Falana a.k.a Falz the Bahd guy, has courageously grazed his way into mainstream of rap music effectively. He has shot to fame since the release of his catchy song high class.
According to some rumour, Falz is dating Wizkid’s baby mama. However, when asked in an interview about the special woman in his life, he answered saying “I cannot announce one name now because my oga at the top might announce something different.”
The unique rapper surely is carving a niche for himself as he is currently cooking his second album and also working on a collaborative project with an affiliated rapper named Chyn.
Small Doctor
HIS style and lingo belongs to the streets and while he is not yet A-list on the Nigerian music scene, his appeal, especially by DJs is not questionable. With a nomination at the 2015 Headies, it means more recognition is on the way for Small Doctor, who prides himself on being the Mosquito Killer. However, he is to be watched for further exploits in 2016.
