Who is the best rapper in Nigeria? This post is going to be like a question- i am asking you all, and i would like to get your views on the topic. But, i would give my analysis of all the rappers worth mentioning.
Starting off with no order in mind, i would like to talk about Mode 9. When it comes to doing the real hip hop, real rap, no one comes close to this guy in Nigeria. But this has limited his growth, and success, because the masses don't want to know how intelligent you are with words, they just want you to make them dance. And contrary to what a lot people think, mode 9 is not really a conscious rapper- he is good with the word play, in fact you can call him a beast on the mic, but he is not a deep rapper.
For his passion alone, i can give Naeto C an A in the hip hop school. Naeto is the next rapper i am going to be talking about- i think he is brilliant on the mic. It is evident, in his rap style that he was highly influenced by American rapper, T.I. And you can say also say he has a little of Jay-Z in him. Naeto might not be heavy with the the metaphors and wordplay, but his delivery makes up for all that. He ain't super-lyrical, but he got a super-flow.
Next up is Ruggedman. This man brought real hip hop to the country, or should i say, he helped real hip hop gain the acceptance it is enjoying now. Before him, there just a lot of crappy rappers. He has enjoyed a lot of success, and if you had asked me 5 years ago who the best nigerian rapper was, i would have said ruggedman, but things have changed, there are now a lot of great rappers on the scene. He is the type of rapper that does not form up stories in his raps and does not talk a lot of bullshit. His voice is clear and you can hear every word he raps, and that is the very quality i respect in him.
M.I blew up last year, and a lot of people are giving him the position of the best rapper in Nigeria. I used to be one of them till he started doing music just to sell records. It is very evident from his recent works that he has dumbed down his raps to appeal to the masses. His debut album, "talk about it" was a huge success without going commercial, so i wonder why he had to go that route.
Terry Tha Rapman. I think this dude is the perfect blend between the streets and the clubs. This dude can make a party jam and still drop dope lines. He can appeal to the masses and still be intelligent on songs. I think with the right marketing he could rise higher up the ladder.
Okay, those are the names that are worth mentioning, and based on impact, success, and rap style, the crown still goes to m.i till someone else proves he can have a better balance. If i didn't mention any rapper, it is because they have not been relevant for a long time, or that they have deviated from rapping.
Okay, i have done my analysis, i would now like to hear from you guys- name who you think is the best and give a reason.
