Afrobeats is changing, folks! We’re seeing a major shift from those super fast beats to something a little more laid-back and soulful. But don’t think the energy is gone – oh no! A new wave is crashing onto the shores of Nigerian music, and it’s louder and more exciting than ever. Indigenous melodic rap is stepping up, taking the reins, and it’s absolutely dominating the scene. From the creative minds spitting slang in Benin to the poets in Lagos weaving spiritual tales, and the raw talent from the East, these artists are injecting fresh life and relevance into Nigerian Hip Hop within the wider Afrobeats umbrella. Get ready, because this is the sound of the future!
The Street Lingo Revolution
This year, something amazing has happened: Street Hop has staged a massive comeback, and it feels like every major chart has at least one indigenous melodic rapper dropping a nationwide banger. What’s their secret sauce? It’s a potent mix of authentic street language, deep-rooted cultural references, and a sound that perfectly marries the raw edge of Hip Hop with the irresistible mainstream vibe of Afrobeats. This isn’t your grandad’s rap; it’s a vibrant evolution!
This exciting twist comes after Hip Hop in Nigeria was kinda struggling to find its footing as the Afrobeats scene leaned more towards R&B, Soul, and Emo-Pop. But Nigerian Hip Hop decided to reinvent itself, ditching the old US-inspired styles for a unique, culturally rich melodic rap that’s now shining brightly.
Afrobeats Gets Slower, Rap Gets Louder
The numbers don’t lie! Spotify data shows that over the past five years, Afrobeats has actually slowed down, moving from an average of 119.5 beats per minute (BPM) to a more relaxed 114.9 BPM. The current top subgenres are Afro-soul, followed closely by Afro-pop, Afro RnB, Afropiano, and Pop. While these stats reflect what most people are vibing to, Nigerian Hip Hop is telling a different story – one of daring reinvention and undeniable success.
Meet the New Kings and Queens of Lingo
For ages, the debate raged: could indigenous Hip Hop, especially Yoruba and Igbo Street Hop, ever reclaim rap’s lost glory in Nigeria? Well, the answer is a resounding YES! In the last five years alone, a street-hop artist has consistently broken through to the mainstream each year. Many of these artists now proudly identify as both street-hop and street-pop, but it’s the raw street-hop elements that consistently fuel their biggest hits. A key feature of this new movement is the explosion of catchy catchphrases. It’s like they’re creating their own language!
For instance, Mavo’s massive hit in 2024, “Escaladizzy” (featuring Wavestar), introduced the viral line “hotboxing at the back of my escaladizzy.” This single phrase alone spawned a whole new lexicon of slang: “Kilobizzy,” “Kilolo,” and of course, “Escaladizzy.” Mavo is even working on a ‘Bizzypedia’ with Native Mag to document this linguistic phenomenon. Others have followed suit, creating their own signature phrases that become instant hits:
- Shallipopi with “Pluto Way”
- Zerry DL with “Wara Wara”
- Seyi Vibez with “Lo Seyi” and “Oblee”
- Psycho YP with “Steeze”
- Straffitti with “Thirsty Forever”
- Odumodublvck with “Black sheep for life”
These phrases aren’t just random words; they extend Hip Hop’s long tradition of shaping language and culture, weaving themselves into the very fabric of Afrobeats.
Regional Flavors Fueling the Fire
What’s really driving this rise? It’s the regional clusters! Artists are banding together, creating music that truly reflects their shared realities and experiences. The Igbo, Yoruba, and Benin movements are leading this charge, each bringing their unique flavor to the table.
Benin City’s Underground Goes Global
This year, the Uzama trio – Shallipopi, Zerry DL, and Famous Pluto – have solidified their place in the mainstream with their massive collaboration “Ewo.” This track chronicles their journey from the underground scene in Benin City to the biggest stages in Afrobeats. Individually, they’ve also been on fire:
- Shallipopi’s “Oba Pluto” (2023)
- Zerry DL’s “Once Upon A Time” (2023)
- Famous Pluto’s “Feel D Mood” (2024)
Their combined success makes them a unique fraternal trio and the biggest breakouts from the Benin City/South South region. Other talented artists like Zhud JDO (Johnbull) and Tegaboi DC (who featured on “Touch Am” with Zerry DL) are also making waves. Their melodic rap blends gritty storytelling with infectious flows, racking up millions of streams. And let’s not forget Mavo, who continues to be a standout from the region, bagging collaborations with heavyweights like Zlatan, Shallipopi, and Ayra Starr on “Escaladizzy II.” His slang-heavy style has catapulted him into the mainstream, boasting over 12 million streams!
Lagos, The East, and Beyond
In the South West, Lagos artists like Seyi Vibez, Balloranking, TI Blaze, Ayo Maff, Muyeez, and Superwozzy are carrying the torch. Their hyper-melodic rap draws heavily from traditional Nigerian genres like Juju, Apala, and Fuji, creating aspirational anthems that fans are collectively calling “Afro Adura” – a blend of Afrobeat and prayerful themes.
The East has also seen a massive surge in talent! Artists such as Jeriq, Highstarlavista, Hugo P, Anyafulugo, and Aguero Banks are masterfully weaving elements of Highlife and Drill into their unique sounds. Jeriq’s recent sold-out 22,000-capacity show in Enugu, following a 15,000-capacity success in 2023, is a clear testament to the immense popularity of Igbo rap. His collaboration with UK drill star Knucks on “Ogbe in London” has further pushed this sound beyond Nigeria’s borders.
Even Abuja is buzzing, with Odumodublvck and Anti-World Gangsters dominating the rap landscape. And in Port Harcourt, you’ve got Ajebo Hustlers, Dandizzy, Laime, and Vicoka representing. Meanwhile, Zaylevelten is carving out an “alternative” niche, blending trap beats with Gen-Z slang and global youth culture on tracks like “Show Me Love” and “Pawon.” It’s pretty amazing how all these artists are charting on major platforms like Spotify, Billboard, and Turntable Charts, proving they can be both commercially successful and culturally relevant within the Afrobeats mainstream.
Moments That Mattered
As we celebrate the uprising of melodic rap in today’s soul and pop-dominated Afrobeats scene, it’s crucial to acknowledge the special moments that have kept Nigerian Hip Hop’s flame burning bright. Rap beefs and strategically released albums have kept the culture buzzing with excitement. For example, Odumodublvck’s lyrical sparring with Blaqbonez reignited conversations about who truly holds the crown for Nigeria’s best rapper. Blaqbonez’s track “Who’s Really Rapping” (featuring A-Q) sparked this debate, and Odumodublvck’s responses, both online and in his track “2:02 PM In London,” hinted at his self-proclaimed role as Hip Hop’s savior.
While this high-profile beef captured mainstream attention, an underground artist named Eeskay has been quietly fueling the fire with a series of diss tracks targeting his former friend and collaborator, Odumodublvck. Titles like “Smoke Deetektor,” “Cook Am,” “Frying Pan to Fire” (a SoundCloud release), and most recently “Lamb Truck,” have garnered significant attention within the Hip Hop community. Odumodublvck, for his part, has mostly offered brief commentary on social media rather than direct lyrical responses.
On a more unifying note, Olamide’s globally-oriented self-titled album and the posse cut “99” (featuring Daecolm, Asake, Seyi Vibez, and Young Jonn) have provided a significant platform for indigenous melodic rap on international stages. These moments, big and small, clearly demonstrate that Hip Hop isn’t fading away; it’s actively reshaping Afrobeats from the inside out, creating a richer, more diverse, and undeniably exciting musical landscape for everyone.
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