You have heard about them before. You will hear about them again.
This time, a lot more loudly because they are on the verge of
greatness. Entertainment Cafe profiles the next big things on the music
circuit
Olamide: With the release of YBNL
(Yahoo Boy No Laptop) last November, the rapper is on the cusp of
something big. The album, already tipped as the rap album of the year
2013, has spawned a number of hits, including Voice of the Streets and
First of All.
The
ex-Coded Tunes artist was introduced to the hip-hop mainstream via a
management deal with Toni Payne, ex-wife of 9ice.
The relationship with
Toni Payne may have gone cold, but Olamide remains hot. While with Coded
Tunes, he released RapSodi, his debut album containing the smash hit,
Eni Duro. After parting ways with Coded Tunes, Olamide immediately
established his own label, YBNL Nation, on which he released the current
effort.
Phyno: A string of hits in 2012 is
gradually establishing Phyno as a force on the rap scene. Notable among
these are Multiply Remix and Shut Down. Phyno, who uses Igbo, English
and pidgin, followed these up on Amanchi Kwanu, a collaboration with
rapper Illbliss. His My Cool also blew minds just as Ghost Mode, his
duet with Olamide, is currently doing. Ghost Mode bagged three
nominations at the 2012 The Headies. Born Azubuike Chibuzo Nelson, Phyno
looks a dead cert to be influential in 2013.
Phyno
Burna Boy:
His new single, Like To Party, along with the video established the
Aristokrat Records leading act as one of the revelations of 2012.
Currently working on his debut album L.I.F.E. (Leaving An Impact For
Eternity). His other singles like Touch Your Toe, Wickedest Luv, Trumpet
and Firewood are currently on rotation.
Burna Boy
Born
Damini Ogulu, Burna Boy hails from Ahoada, Rivers State. His
grandfather, Benson Idons was a manager to Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. Burna
Boy broke unto the scene in December 2010, when he returned to Nigeria
from London, initially choosing Port Harcourt as his base. It wasn’t
until June 2012 that he moved to the Lagos. He was a joint winner of The
Headies 2012 Rookie of the Year Award with Hypertek’s Dammy Krane. He
has shown no sign of slowing down, having released another single,
Tonight, to start 2013.
Skales: From all
indication, 2013 will definitely see Empire Mates Entertainment
singer-rapper, Skales, getting busier. Skales, whose real name is Raoul
John Njeng-Njeng, has wowed audiences across the country with his
refreshing rap style and charm on stage.
Skales
Though
Skales has been on the scene since 2008, right from his participation
in the Zain True Search talent competition. He would later catch the eye
of Banky W. His official EME debut single, Mukulu, was an instant hit.
He followed it with Ko Mole, his own contribution to the Empire Mates
State of Mind compilation album.
Mr. 2 Kay: A sensation around the South-south zone, especially Port Harcourt. All through 2012, Mr. 2Kay was a major act.
He
dropped his debut album, Waterside Boy, in April 2012. The album has
spawned numbers of hits like Run This Town and Kosi Were featuring
Ruggedman and the title track. His latest single, Bubugaga, is an
instant hit and has taken his music to radio stations in Lagos. The song
was listed among the ‘Hot 99 Songs of 2012’ by Lagos-based radio
station, Beat 99.9FM.
Mr. 2Kay
Mr.
2Kay was on tour of the United Kingdom mid-2012 and rounded off the
year with a sold out concert at Buguma on 29 December, 2012. He is an
artiste seen by industry watchers as one of those that will shape the
direction of the mainstream music industry in 2013.
D’Prince
D’Prince:
With the success of his debut album, Frenzy, late last year, D’Prince,
has silenced jibes that Don Jazzy, his elder brother, is the one
propping him up. Within weeks of release, the album found acceptance
through hit cuts like Take Banana and Goody Bag. Prior to the release of
his album, he had delivered chart toppers like Omoba, Give It To Me,
End Up Loving Me and Jonzing World all between 2009 and 2011.
Flowsick:
Real name: Abiola David Aina. His hit single, Lowkey, won him Next
Rated nomination at the 2012 The Headies. He was snapped by the Hennessy
Artistry to join a select group of young artistes on a nationwide club
tour. A new single, Ringtone, offers great promise in the year ahead.
May D:
For four years, Akinmayokun Awodunmila, popularly known as May D,
worked closely with the PSquare-owned Square Records until a split
mid-last year. He immediately announced the launch of his own record
label, Confam Entertainment. The new direction yielded a series of
successful singles, which include Use Me. May D’s hit single, Gat Me
High, was one of the favourite Afro-pop songs of 2012 and is still
burning up the charts.
Akinmayokun Awodunmila, popularly known as May D
Dammy Krane:
When 2Face Idibia announced the signing of Dammy Krane to his Hypertek
label, many industry watchers took interest in the young singer. His
Hypertek debut was My Dear, a single that found immediate acceptance.
The song went on to establish the singer as a favourite. After that,
Krane, reputed for his playful lyrics and ‘off his head’ freestyle,
worked with a couple of big names and he is expected to attract the
attention of other top dogs.
Dammy Krane
Reminisce:
Kako Bi Chicken, a single on his debut Book of Rap Stories, was his
ticket to the big time. Before then, Reminisce (Remilekun Safaru) rapped
in English with a smattering of Yoruba, as evidenced by his
introductory single Ever Since featuring 9ice. Then came a full switch
to Yoruba. Last year, he was one of the two pre-eminent rappers using
the language. Apart from Kako Bi Chicken, the album also delivered the
impressive 2musssh.
Remilekun Safaru, a.k.a. Reminisce
Rayce:
He has not exactly raced to the top of the visibility charts, but many
have been enthralled by his Roll and Ibadi Disco, two eminently
danceable cuts. Born Rayce Amoni Kingsley, the young singer sure has
star quality.
Seyi Shay: The only female entrant
on the list. The sexy singer has an impressive resume. She was the lead
singer of From Above, a British Pop/R&B girl group, which was
signed to Sony/Columbia Record Company. Loving Your Way and Irawo, two
singles released last year, are her first fruits to the domestic
audience.
Deborah Oluwaseyi Joshua, a.k.a. Seyi Shay
Seyi
Shay is signed to Cecil Hammond’s Flytime Music and is working on her
debut solo album to be released later this year. She has already
recorded a number of songs with top Nigerian producers like Jay Slick,
Tee-Y- Mix, Del B and Cobhams Asuquo.
Born Deborah Oluwaseyi
Joshua, the singer was quoted to have said that she wasn’t home to
compete with the likes of Tiwa Savage and Omawumi, but to take her own
place in the Nigeria’s music hall of fame.
Tunde Ednut:
He has shuttled between comedy and music, returning to the music scene
in 2011 with the reloaded version of his smash single Buga Won, a track
off his sophomore album titled Cross Over.
His stocks soared with
the success of the track Catching Cold Remix with Dr. SID. The rumour
mill continues to buzz with the tales that Ednut is on the verge of
joining Don Jazzy’s Mavin Records.
