M.I

M.I is a Nigerian Rapper; many consider him the best in the country presently. His real name is Jude Abaga, and he rose into prominence in 2008. Although his first single to hit radio, Crowd Mentality was released in 2006, it wasn't until his song, Blaze hit radio that he became a household name. The track featured his other Loopy Crew members, Jesse Jagz (who is his brother, and doubles as his beat maker) and Ice Prince. Just as people were guessing if he had more tricks up his sleeves, he dropped the track that brought him to limelight, Safe. The track showed his Mastery of the lay-back, punchline filled rap style popularized by lil wayne.





His debut album, Talk About It dropped at the tail-end of 2008, and it has been no looking back for M.I since then. He is signed to Chocolate City Records, and has dropped 2 albums and one mixtape so far. Illegal Music (the mixtape) was dropped in 2009, and his second album, M.I 2 dropped in 2010. Although, a lot of people criticized the album for not being on the the same lyrical level as his first, it went on to become the highest selling album (digital) copies of any Nigerian artist on notjustok.com (a music merchant online) since they started operating.




He is presently working on his second mixtape, illegal music 2, which he plans to drop before the year ends (2011). Since his debut in 2008, his other label mates, Ice Prince and Jesse Jagz have latched on to his popularity and have gathered followers of their own. Jesse Jagz dropped his debut album, Jagz Of All Trades in 2010. And Ice Prince has had one of the biggest songs in the country this year, with his Oleku single. Ice Prince debut, Everybody Loves Ice Prince is due to drop on Oct 8.




Modenine and Ruggedman are two rivalry Nigerians rappers that were holding the hip hop scene before M.I came in the game at the end of the last decade; the former was more of the lyrical type, while the later was more into making commercial radio friendly tracks- M.I became a blend of the two, and that was why he could rise so high so quickly. It was like the world had been waiting for him. Although his first album was very commercial (selling 30,000 copies in its first 30 minutes of release), it also showed his lyrical prowess; and when M.I 2 dropped, the real hip hop listeners were disappointed at his tilt towards more commercial radio friendly tracks.




At the moment, the only other rapper that is in the limelight enough to compete with M.I for the title of The Best Rapper in Nigeria is Naeto C, and the argument is on on every blog and forum about who is the better rapper. They bought have released two albums so far, and have enjoyed huge commercial success.




Since he got into the Nigerian music scene in 2008, M.I has been nominated for numerous awards and has won a handful. He was nominated for two MTV Africa Music Awards in 2009, and Best International Act at the 2010 BET Awards. He has won awards awards in Nigeria such as-Best Rap Single, 2008, Hip Hop World Awards; Best Rap Album, 2009, Hip Hop World Awards; Artist of The Year, National Daily 2010; Musician of The Year, The Future Awards 2010.