MODENINE

Modenine is a Nigerian rapper, who many consider the best lyricist Nigerian Hip Hop scene has ever produced. His real name is Segun Babatunde, and he grew to prominence in the early 00s with his crew "Swatroots", which comprised rappers like LD Extra Large, 6 Foot Plus, De Weez, El-Cream, and Terry Tha Rapman. He dropped classic hip hop songs for the radio in the early 00s, but it wasn't until 2004 that he dropped his first album, which also served as a compilation of some of the songs he had released in the past. The album, Malcom IX- The Lost Session, was released under Payback Tyme Records.










By the time he dropped his second album (E' Pluribus "One Amongst Many), which many consider his best and most commercially successful, he was now signed under QuestionMark Records. The album had popular tracks like "Cry", "Lagos State of Mind" and "Nigerian Girls. He dropped a third album two years later titled The Paradigm Shift, which was at the height of his beef with Ruggedman; a very commercial Nigerian Rapper. Although Ruggedman had been more successful with his career, as he focuses more on party tracks, Modenine showed him how it is really done with the "Talking To You" and "Death Blow" diss tracks. Ruggedman never replied to the latter, and many consider the track Nigerian's version of Nas's Ether as they say Mode lyrically destroyed his opponent.


He dropped a mixtape in the following year- 09.09.09 The Mixtape (2009), and his fourth album, Tha Davinci Mode in 2010. He is currently gearing up for the release of his new album titled Commercial Break, with the first single, "I'm Back" is already getting some radio airplay. From the title of the album, it is clear that Modenine wants to switch up his flow a little to cater for the clubs; we just have to see if he can pull it off.


Modenine has a mastery of infusing intelligently woven Metaphors in his verses, and his heavy-set voice rides the beat perfectly. Many, although acknowledge his untouchable status when it comes to the lyrics, say he is not versatile enough and could be too monotonous with his verses. I guess he is about to prove them wrong on this new album, which is dropping later this year.