2016 was a great year for Nigerian music. This was the year our music broke down barriers in the international market.
Davido, Wizkid and Ayo Jay have taken Nigerian music to new heights abroad
In fact, a song (One Dance by Drake ft. Wizkid and Kyla) that had contributions from a Nigerian act was number one in 10 countries. It was also named by Billboard as the 2016 Song of the summer. On October 15, 2016, One Dance became the most played song on streaming media service Spotify, with over 950 million individual streams. A big win for Nigerian sounds in general.
Also, international record labels like Sony and RCA records set up shop in Nigeria and have already signed up a couple of Nigerian acts including Davido, Wizkid (allegedly), Ayo Jay, Ycee and Tekno.
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Back home, a lot also happened. Below are some of the male musicians that made 2016 a year to remember music wise.
1. Olamide
Olamide
Baddo keeps flying the flag for all indigenous musicians. Apart from Wizkid and Davido who made news internationally, Olamide is the only musician who did the same without any international collaboration. His international tours were so successful that police had to be called in to control the teeming crowd at the UK version of the tour.
He is also set to release his seventh consecutive studio album titled The Glory later this year. What about his work with the other acts signed to his YBNL record label? Talk about leadership by example.
Wizkid
Starboy, Babanla, Surulere’s Finest - the list of nicknames fans of Wizkid have given him go on and on. The only musician in Nigeria’s history to be featured at the top of Billboard’s top 100 songs.
Wizkid, if I may say, almost singlehandedly put Nigerian music on the map this year. There is talk that he has signed a seven figure deal with int’l label Sony music so we can expect bigger things from the Starboy CEO in 2017.
3. Tekno
I highly doubt that there is any other Nigerian musician who had more hit songs in 2016 than Tekno. His songs Pana, Where and Diana are certified bangers with Pana being the most played song on many radio stations and music sites all over Nigeria.
Phyno
Sometimes, when we compile lists of standout artistes, we often forget Phyno. Then he releases a massive tune that puts him back on our minds.
Together with Olamide, he released what many agree to be the biggest song of the year Fada Fada. This song was so big that it allegedly topped the charts in faraway countries like Burkina Faso.
Mr Eazi
The meteoric rise of Mr. Eazi in the music industry is enough material for anyone to make a documentary about.
Currently the most featured musician in Nigeria (he has been featured on songs by DJ Spinall, DJ Neptune, Reminisce, iLLBLiSS, Solidstar, Mayorkun, Del’B, Phyno, Lynxxx and many more), Mr. Eazi should have an even better 2017. He also signed to Wizkid's label Starboy worldwide.
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