When Nigerians release hits, it goes international! We do this every time and in 2018, we did it again! Let’s take a look at Nigerian artists who probably busted our speakers in 2018. These incredible stars made hits to kick start our days and uplift our spirits. Read through as MUTIAT ALLI &FOLARIN LEONARD draws up 15 artists of 2018.Tiwa Savage
Tiwa Savage the queen of Afrobeats music
recently released the single titled ‘One’ as the year-ends. Tiwa who has quite
a number of achievements in 2018 released the popular hit ‘Lova Lova’ which
gained over 12million streams.
We can therefore comfortably say she
deserves some accolades for making our feets and voice active in 2018.
Solidifying her prominence as one of the top artists, Tiwa Savage’s timing cannot be any better as 2018 whines down with her stage performances and leg work on stage as seen on her Instagram handle.
Burna Boy
Damini Ogulu, better known by his stage
name, Burna Boy, is a Nigerian Afro fusion singer and
songwriter. Burna Boy came through 2018 with banging Afrobeat songs
like “On The Low“,
Prior to this new single,
“Gbona” this is still buzzing heavily on the street and also getting
great number of streams and airplays.
Could it be the release of the album with the realest sounds that got him on this list? We’ll find out in 2019. Outside (2018)
Tekno
TripleM G Afrobeat
superstar, Augustine Miles Kelechukwu also known as Tekno has been in the
news lately as regards to his health challenges.
Tekno’s management team led by Ubi
Franklin had called on Nigerians and the to pray for him as his vocal box had
been damaged due to his failing health.
Prior to this, the talented artist came
through with a brand new single titled “On You“.
The Jogodo crooner featured in
“Iwa” by Phyno where he tries to find out from his woman if she
will be there for him at his worst because he is ready to go any length to put
the expensive things and designers On her.
This serial hit maker has been amazing in 2018. We hope he recovers fully soon enough.
Davido
Davido is an American-born Nigerian
recording artist. this serial hit maker is the recipient of 2 BET Awards,
a Kora Award, a Channel O Music Video Award, a Ghana Music
Award, a Nigeria Music Video Award, 2 MTV Africa Music Awards, 2 African
Muzik Magazine Awards, 5 The Headies Awards, 7 Nigeria Entertainment
Awards and 2 Dynamix All Youth Awards.
What else could we expect from a guru
with 42 awards and 87 Nominations?
Davido has become the first international
act nominee to receive his award live on stage during the main Black
Entertainment Television (BET) Awards.
Davido’s Instagram handle has become a
reality TV as his feeds go live and true.
His 2018 hits include singles such as “Nwa Baby” and the recently released “Wonder Woman” which praises strong women who have made it in their various endeavors. Other hits include “AZA” and his play in Dremo’s “Kpa” and Kizz Daniel’s “One Ticket” which still dominates the speakers.
Wizkid
Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun known
professionally as Wizkid is a Nigerian singer and songwriter whose
contribution to the Nigerian Music Industry has earned him several
achievements.
He is the recipient of two BET Awards,
three Billboard Music Awards, two iHeartRadio Music Awards,
one MTV Europe Music Award, four MTV Africa Music Awards, two
SoundCity MVP Awards, three MOBO Awards, six The Headies Awards,
two Channel O Music Video Awards, six Nigeria Entertainment Awards,
two Ghana Music Awards, two Dynamix All Youth Awards, two City People
Entertainment Awards, and a Future Award.
In addition, he has been nominated five
times at the MTV Europe Music Awards, three times at the American
Music Awards, four times at the World Music Awards, and once at
the Grammy Awards. Moreover, he received an ASCAP plaque for his
songwriting contributions to Drake’s “One Dance”.
To begin a trend, Wizkid brought on board
Duncan Mighty to make some magic and you bet! They made “Fake Love”.
“Immediately” came and took
over, more and more sounds aired and then came the most anticipated song from
the stable of Starboy Records, “Gucci Snake” featuring the Shaku Shaku
master, Slimcase.
Wizkid served it hot in 2018 with the successful release of his double singles “Fever” and “Master Groove“. So, from DJ Spinall’s viral “Nowo” to Skepta’s anthemic “Energy (Stay Far Away)”, you must agree that Wizkid was hot in 2018.
Peruzzi Vibes
Tobechukwu Victor Okoh also known as
Peruzzi is a Nigerian singer and song writer under the Davido Music
Worldwide record label. His 2018 singles are “Run Am”, “Head
Shot” , “Mata” and “Tatashe”
However, he featured in Tu-Face’s
hit sing “Amaka”, AZA, and other hits in 2018.
These songs kept him relevant and soughed for with his D’banj-like vibe.
Duncan Mighty
Duncan Wene Mighty Okechukwu simply
known as Duncan Mighty, is a Nigerian musician, singer,
and music producer.
Though his musical style demonstrates a
high-level of genre versatility, it is also heavily influenced by the sounds
and culture of his people as most of his songs are sung in his
native Ikwerre dialectof Igbo language.
His last album “The
Certificate” dropped in 2016 and this artist has been on the low
since then. His sudden resurfacing in 2018 took the industry by surprise as he
became the most sought after artist.
Bracket had him featured in
“Chinelo”, Masterkraft
had him on “Low Waist” ft. Flavour, Ceeza Milli had him on
“Sabi”, DJ Xclusive had him on
“Gimme Love”, Mavin’s Reekado Banks had him on “Bio Bio”,
DMW had him on “Aza” ft. Davido and Peruzzi, afrobeats queen Tiwa
Savage had him on the popular hit, “Lova Lova”, Wizkid had him on “Fake Love”.
Let’s see what goes down in 2019. Will he keep up or fade out again?
Falz
Folarin Falana aka Falz TheBahdGuy is a
Nigerian singer, rapper, actor, and songwriter.
In May 2018, Falz released a music video
titled “This Is Nigeria” which was inspired by Childish
Gambino’s “This is America”. It highlighted Nigerian issues
including corruption and bribery.
This gained massive airplay, streams,
speculations and criticism.
Other 2018 singles include, the sweet boy
anthem, ”Sweet Boy” and “Child of the World”. Besides ”
Foreign” by Simi featuring Falz, there is also “Lekki” which features
Odunsi, Ajebutter22 & Falz and M.I Abaga which did well in the year.
On September 1, 2018, Falz won “Best
Supporting Actor” at the 2018 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice
Awards for his role as Quam in Tope Oshin Ogun’s movie New
Money, becoming the first Nigerian musician to have won the Africa Magic
Viewers’ Choice Awards twice.
This is about the music industry and not the movies but for an award winning actor, Falz has done well to leave a hit in 2018.
Mr. Real
Okafor Uchenna Victor, popularly known as
Mr Real is a Nigerian artist who has been churning out great songs since
he forayed into music.
Mr Real released the ever- gyrating
street anthem “Legbegbe” which put him in the spotlight for the
first time. He recently signed a recording deal with Sony Music Entertainment
Africa.
His singles and some features in 2018 include “Overload” ft Mr Eazi & Slimcase, “Allow Me” ft Solidstar, “Masun” ft Jaywon, Idowest and Ichaba, “Issa Banger” ft D’banj, Slimcase, “Sisi” ft DJ Neptune, Small Doctor and Pasuma, “Normal Level” ft DJ Nana and Zoro.
Slimcase
Oluwafemi Oladapo Oke-Eko is a Nigerian
songwriter and performer born in Lagos, and popularly known as Slimcase.
He won the 2018 Nigeria Hype Award’s Best
Street Act and was nominated by The Headies as Best Street-Hop Artiste of 2018.
He has featured in 2018 bangers like
“Shempe” ft DJ Xclusive and Mz Kiss, “Gucci Snake” by
Wizkid and more. His singles include In the year 2018 include “Shawa
Shawa”, “Shepeteri”, “Otunba Lamba”, “Upper,
Maro” and “Kalamo”.
The street accepted this talent with open arms and he ‘always’ delivers!
2Face
Innocent Ujah Idibia known by his stage
name 2Baba, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, record producer and
entrepreneur.
This name is no news in the entertainment
industry. Idibia has represented Nigeria and Africa as a whole.
In 2018, he released an undeniable hit
titled “Amaka”. This hit dominated the airwaves and topped the
playlists. This track features DMW’s Perruzi Vibes who presents sweet melodies
to adone his tracks.
This singular hit is one of the most downloaded Nigerian songs of 2018.
Olamide
This list would have been incomplete
without Olamide Adedeji also known as Olamide Baddo or Baddosneh.
2018 has been quite a year of
productivity for this recording artist and street star as he released sounds
like “Science Student”, “Motigbana”, “Criteria”,
“Logba Logba”, “See Mary, See Jesus” and just recently,
“Poverty Die”.
He was nominated for the Headies award
category of Best Street-Hop Artiste, Artiste of the Year, Best Rap Album, Song
of the Year and The Headies’ Viewer’s Choice 2018.
“Science Student” left the
street testing their shaku shaku steps as “Motigbana” remained on
replay.
Olamide was also in the news earlier this year for his single “See Mary, See Jesus”. The hit was accused of mocking the christain catholic religion.
Victor AD (Adere)
“Oluwa magbegbe mi, I want all this
money, I no wan take the same step wey I take last year wey no work for me
oh…. ”
If you know that, then you know Victor AD
who captured the story of a hustling Nigerian in his 2018 hit, ‘Wetin We
Gain”.
The young star also recently released the
video to another amazing single “No Idea”.
This video quickly drew the attention of
fans and lovers of aesthetics who could notice the beautiful face of upcoming
Nigerian model, Adesanya Olajumoke (the bride in the storyline).
We look forward to Victor’s progress in the year to come.
Teni
Teniola Apata is a Nigerian singer,
songwriter, drummer and rapper. Fondly called Teni the
entertainer or Teni Makanaki.
Signed to Dr. Dolor Entertainment, the
askamaya crooner seems to be making careful and judicious use of her time in
the spotlight.
Teniola has been Popular this year for
hit songs like ‘Case’ and ‘Shake am’. Besides being featured, fans have taken
to her Instagram handle to comment her for her performances at shows and
viberant display of affection for music.
Teniola won Rookie of the Year Award in the Headies, 2018.
Kiss Daniel
Oluwatobiloba Daniel Anidugbe, formerly
known as Kiss Daniel, now “Kizz Daniel” is a Nigerian recording
artist, performer and entertainer best known for his chart-topping single
“Woju” and his critically acclaimed song, “Yeba”.
With singles and hits from his album
“No Bad Songz” released in 2018, Kizz Daniel had kept the speakers
busy with “4days” and “No Do” which gained massive airplay,
“Ghetto”, and among others, “One Ticket” featuring Davido.
“One Ticket” remains a trending
hit that doesn’t seem to be leaving our play lists anytime soon.
So there you have it! 15 hit makers of 2018.
Nigeria has no doubt been blessed with talents to take it forward. And they are
busy doing just that! Not all our talents we’re able to make hits in 2018 so
let’s have a quick look the most downloaded songs in 2018 below.
1. Olamide Ft. Wizkid – Kana
2. 2face Ft. Peruzzi – Amaka
3. Davido – Nwa Baby
4. Mayorkun – Posh
5. Olamide- Science Student
6. Victor AD – Wetin We Gain
8. Olamide – Motigbana
9. Burna Boy – Ye
10. Davido – Assurance
11. Olamide – Logba Logba
12. Terri – Bia
13. Tiwa Savage – Lova Lova
14. Reekado Bank Ft. Duncan Mighty –
Bio Bio
15. Idowest Ft. Davido – Ji Masun
16. So Mi So – Wande Cole
17. Naira Marley – ‘Issa Goal’ feat.
Olamide and Lil Kesh
18. Able God – Chinko Ekun, Zlatan
Ibile, Lil Kesh
19. Doncan Mighty Ft. Wizkid – Fake Love
20. Tekno – Jogodo
21. Mr. Real – Legbegbe
22. Adekunle Gold- Ire
23. Teni – Case
24. Wizkid Ft. Terri, Ceeza Milli &
Spotless- ‘Soco’
25. Mystro, Wizkid – Nowo
