This year, I’ve got for you a list of top 10 best rapper in Nigeria, but what comes to mind when you hear the word “rapper”?
The fact is, not everyone knows what it means exactly.
Not quite long, we made a post on the top 10 richest musicians in Nigeria. I think you should check that out. Just one of the best rappers on this list made it.
In this post, I’ll share with you the top 10 rappers in Nigeria, Nigeria best rapper of the year, more info about African hip hop and I’ll let you in on best rapper in Africa.
What Is Rap?
Rap, rapper, rap artiste, rap music, fastest rapper; these among others are what pops out of one’s mind when talking about rap music.
A rapper is a musician who combines unique beats and rhymes to create catchy entertainment songs.
This is not an easy task though; it requires word skills, dedication, and a lot of hard work.
A rapper delivers musical form that incorporates rhyme, rhythmic speeches, and street vernacular which is performed or chanted in a variety of ways usually over a backbeat or musical accompaniment.
A rapper’s music should not be void of three things, which are content (what is being said), flow (rhythm, rhymes), and delivery (cadence, tone).
With those three elements that make up a dope rap music, there’s no other reason fans rush to any of these top 14 Nigeria music sites to download the latest rap songs, and other mp3 music all free of charge.
But the question is, who is the best rapper in Nigeria today? I mean who is Nigeria best rapper?
What are the criteria for ranking the top rappers in Nigeria?
- Awards Won or General Public Acceptance
- Street Credibility/ Street O.T
- Rhymes and Flows
- Popularity
Did you know that the genre of music a rapper sings is categorized as hip hop?
Let me give it to you straight up!!
List of Top 10 Best Nigerian Rappers 2020
| 10 Best Rappers in Nigeria | Artiste |
| #1 | Olamide Badoo |
| #2 | Jude M.I Abaga |
| #3 | Ice Prince |
| #4 | Reminisce |
| #5 | Phyno |
| #6 | Falz |
| #7 | Vector |
| #8 | YCEE |
| #9 | Illbliss |
| #10 | Mode 9 |
1. OLAMIDE ADEDEJI
First on my list of best rappers in Nigeria is Olamide Adedeji popularly known by his stage name Olamide badoo. He was born on 5th of March 1989 in Bariga, Lagos, Nigeria.
Talk about Hip-hop Naija and you’ll agree with me that Olamide Badoo is an indigenous rapper i.e he raps in his mother tongue; in this case which is Yoruba.
He started his musical career in 2011 and has since then stayed on top of his game. He released his debut album in 2011 while being signed to coded tunes.
This hip hop star has since the inception of his career released xqq album every year which makes a total of seven albums altogether to his name.
In 2011 Rapsodi was released, 2012 YBNL, 2013 Baddest Guy Ever Liveth, 2014 Street OT, 2015 Eyan Mayweather, 2016 The Glory, 2017 Lagos na wa..
He has been nominated for multiple awards and has won some of them. Some of the awards he has won are Channel O Awards, Nigerian entertainment awards, the Headies, City people entertainment, MTV Africa music awards.
Olamide has featured artists such as Davido, Wizkid, Lilkesh, Phyno and reminisce to mention a few and he has 120 songs in total to his name.
Now you see why this Nigerian rapper has to make it to my list of top ten best rapper in Nigeria.
Olamide’s net worth also speaks more of him, how he hustled to make it to the top list of Nigeria best rapper of all time.
Did you know that Olamide also made it to the list of top 10 richest musicians in Nigeria? Check our link below or the section of the best musician in Nigeria below.
Related Post: The top 10 richest musicians in Africa
2. JUDE M.I ABAGA
This is of the top Nigerian rappers on my list of top 10 best rappers in Nigeria till date. MI Abaga as he is popularly called is a Nigerian hip hop artiste and a record producer.
He was born on 4th of October 1981 and he is the CEO of Chocolate City.
He started his music career in 2004 and he released his debut album on 11th of December 2008 which he named Talk about it.
He has worked with a lot of artists; the likes of Eldee, Banky W, Jesse Jags, Ice Prince, and Waje to mention a few.
Also Read: The top 10 richest musicians in the world and their net worth
M.I has received a lot of awards and has been nominated for even more. Some of the awards he received are The Headies Award, Nigerian entertainment awards, Modemen awards, MTV Africa music awards and lots more.
His flows have been categorized as easy going but packed full of punches and has been compared to renowned rappers like Kanye West, Lil Wayne, and Jay-Z.
3. PANSHAK ZAMANI
Here we have a hip hop artist who is one of the best rappers in Nigeria, he is a recording artist and an actor. Ice Prince as he is often called was born on 30th October 1986 in Jos Plateau state.
He started his career in 2004 and has since then worked his way up, he has featured a lot of top Nigerian artistes such as M.I, Jesse jags, Brymo, Wizkid, and 2face Idibia.
He was appointed the vice president of Chocolate city in 2015 and is currently signed to the record label.
Iceprince has been nominated for multiple awards and he has won a great deal also, I am talking BET awards, Ghana music awards, the Headies, Nigerian entertainment awards, Chanel O music video awards, and lots more.
So, he made it to my list of the best rapper in Nigeria and I think you’ll agree that his hard work as bought him a ticket to being a top rapper in Naija.
4. REMILEKUN ABDULKALID SAFARU
He is known popularly as Reminisce or Alaga Ibile. He is a Nigerian rapper and songwriter from Ogun state. He raps both in English and his native language Yoruba.
He is one of the best Nigerian rappers who started his musical career in 2008, he is signed to EDGE records. He is also the creative director and founder of LRR records. Reminisce has released three albums since the start of his career.
His debut album Book of rap stories was released March 31, 2012, while his second album Alaga ibile was released on 15th Nov 2013, and his third album Baba Hafusa was released in 2015.
He has worked with the likes of Olamide, 9ice, wizkid, lilkesh, seriki to mention a few. Also, he is the only hip hop artist in Africa to have an album debut on billboard charts world music category at number 12.
You all will agree with me that he is one of the best rappers of Nigeria and there is no doubt about that.
Also Read: The top 10 richest footballers in Nigeria
More On Nigeria Best Rapper Of All Time
Hmm, that’s just 5 hot rap musicians on my list, here’s more below:
5. CHIBUZOR NELSON AZUBUIKE
Chibuzor Nelson better known by his stage name Phyno is one of the best Nigerian rappers. He was born on 9th of October 1986 and he is a singer and record producer who started his musical career as a producer in 2003.
He is known for rapping in Igbo language. He started his singing career as a rapper in 2010 and his debut studio album was released in 2014, he has produced for artists such as Timaya, Flavour, and Bracket.
Phyno is signed to Penthouse music and has worked with artists such as Olamide and illbliss.
He has won three Headies award, one Nigerian entertainment awards, and 1 city people awards. So, when you talk about hot rap music, Phyno can’t be left out.
Also Read: Top 12 Best Residential Estates In Nigeria
6. FOLARIN FALANA Nigerian Rapper
Falz, as he is well known, is also one of the best rappers in Nigeria. He was born on Oct 27th, 1990 in Lagos Nigeria.
He began his career while in secondary school after forming a group called the schoolboys and his professional music career started in 2009.
He owns a record label known as Bhad guys record. Falz has worked with artists like Simi, Davido, Reekado Banks, Olamide, etc.
He has been nominated for a lot of awards and has won awards like Bet awards, City people awards, Nigerian music awards.
He has released two albums since the inception of his career in 2015 and he named his album Stories that touch and in 2017 he released 27.
Also Read: Top 12 Richest Actor In Nigeria and Their Net Worth
7. OLANREWAJU OGUNMEFUN
Here we have another musician who is one of the best rappers in Nigeria, he is known by his fans as Vector that Viper. He was born in Ogun state Nigeria and he is a songwriter and a hip hop artist.
He is signed to GRAP and he started his musical career in 2008. Since then he has worked with a lot of artists such as 2face idibia, Movado, 9ice, Iyanya, Sarkodie.
He has won awards such as The Headies awards, Nigerian music awards, Nigerian entertainment awards, Dynamic awards, and has been nominated for more awards too. Well, Vector also made it to my list of best Nigerian rappers.
Also Check: List of top 10 richest pastors in Nigeria and their net worth
8. OLUMIDE MARTIN ALEJO
This Nigerian rapper was born on the 29th of January, 1993 in Lagos Nigeria, he is popularly known as his stage name YCEE. He is a Nigerian rapper and songwriter currently signed to Tinny Entertainment.
He rose to lime Light after his single “Condo” featuring Patoranking. Yes, he started his musical career in 2012.
He has since then worked with artists like Olamide, Reekado Banks, Falz, and Malek berry. He has been nominated for a few awards which are Nigerian entertainment awards, MTV Africa music awards, and the Headies awards. He has won a few of those nominations too.
Also Read: Top 10 Richest Footballer in the World and Their Net Worth
9. ILLBLISS
Illbliss is a Nigerian rapper, hip hop recording artist and stage performer. He is the owner of a talent managing company known as The Goretti Company which was responsible for launching the careers of Chidinma and Phyno.
He released his debut album “Dat IBO Boy” in 2009, Oga boss in 2012, Powerful in 2014, and illygaty 7075 in 2016.
He has been nominated for a lot of awards and won some of those nominations. He has won Sound city music video awards, south music awards and the NMVA.
10. BABATUNDE OLUSEGUN ADEWALE
Mode 9 is also on my list of the best rapper in Nigeria. He was born on the 14th of June 1975 in London, United Kingdom. He is from Ogun state in Nigeria also he is a Nigerian rap artiste.
He has been singing since 1999 and is signed to Redeyek Muzik. He released his debut album E’pluribus Unum in 2007. Mode 9 has won 3 Headies awards and 3 Chanel O music video awards.
Also Read: 19 hot inspiring hustle songs in Nigeria for hustlers
The 2 Richest Rappers In Nigeria
Olamide Adedeji Badoo as he is often called is the richest rapper in Nigeria today with a net worth of $12 million dollars.
He generates his wealth from shows on bookings which he charges 4 million Naira and on organized events and concerts which he charges N300,000,000.
He got an endorsement with Ciroc in 2013 and also with Guinness Nigeria that same year, currently, he has an endorsement With sterling bank.
He also gets wealth from his songs which people buy on iTunes and also whenever his videos were watched on YouTube he gets paid for it.
Chibuzor Nelson Azubuike is also among the richest rappers in Nigeria. His net worth is calculated based on his endorsement deals, cash in bank, stage performances, and album sales.
He got an endorsement deal with Guinness Nigeria in 2015 and in that same year he signed another endorsement with Nairabet a football betting company. He also signed another endorsement same year with Airtel.
Phyno is worth $10 million according to Forbes which makes him second on my list of the richest rapper in Nigeria.
Jude Abaga With a net worth of $8 million is the third richest rapper in Nigeria today according to Forbes. He signed an endorsement with Glo Nigeria a telecommunications company.
He gets his money from shows and concerts and he also owns a record label named chocolate city from which he gets money from every artist signed to it.
Who Is the Fastest Rapper In Nigeria
JUDE ABAGA: With the popular stage name MI Abaga, M.I is regarded as the fastest rapper in Nigeria.
He knows how to carefully manipulate words without hitch and he produces slags as he sings.
His flows are full of punches and are easy going. His rapping is top-notch and can be compared to none; he has even been compared to international artists such as Jay z, Kanye West, and Lil Wayne that’s how cool he is.
So no doubt let’s give accolades where it is due. There is no one more deserving of the fastest rapper in Nigeria today trust me.
More Nigerian Rappers
Every day, millions of Nigerian music lovers want to know the ratings of their favorite Nigerian musicians and they ask the question; who is the richest musician in Nigeria?
That has been answered early above in this post.
But here is a quick list of Nigerian rappers who are good at their rap game. When talking about the top 20 best rappers in Nigeria, you’ll find:
- Vector
- Naeto C
- Yung6ix
- Ycee
- Rugged Man
- Dremo
- Jesse Jagz
- Lil Kesh
- Chinko Ekun
- CdQ
But who is the best rapper in the world? I’d love to hear from you in the comment box below this post.
Best Rapper In Africa – Nasty C
Nasty C, is a South African rapper, songwriter, and record producer. He’s been ranked among the best musicians in Africa and South Africa in recent months.
He was the youngest recipient for an award at the 2015 South African Hip Hop Awards, namely the Best Freshman Award.
In July 2018 he released his second studio album titled Strings & Bling. His performance in the past 12 months has got him a lot of love and many international approvals.
With hit singles like ‘Said’ and hits songs on his album, Nasty is the best rapper in Africa today
Last Notes On Best Rappers In Nigeria
And so there you have it, my list of top 10 best rapper in Nigeria. I would like to mention that the list is not in a particular order.
What did you think? Is there something I’m missing, would you like to add a comment? Let’s have your comment in the box provided below.
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