The decade marked a defining era of hip-hop and RnB on the Nigerian music mainstream, filled with rhythmic bangers and lyrics children had no business singing out loud. The 2000s were an exciting time for Nigerian music. There was a wave of new artists, young, eager, and ready to make a name for themselves.
What was a party without Olu Maintain’s “Yahooze” or a club scene in a Nollywood movie without 9ice’s “Gongo Aso”? The sounds were daring and diverse, some tracks were upbeat, others soulful or groovy.
The Dawn of New Sounds
The 2000s were a free-for-all in sonic experimentation. Nigerian artists boldly blended genres in ways that had rarely been done before. Albums could feature everything from highlife to hip-hop, RnB to reggae, and even traditional folk laced with electronic beats, all in one project. Not like the audience minded, anyway.
Styl-Plus’ album Expressions (2006) is a good example. The album hopped between boy band-style harmonies, Nigerian storytelling, gospel-tinged ballads, and understated hip hop beats. Similarly, P-Square’s Get Squared (2005) album merged American RnB and hip hop arrangements but also included tracks with Igbo lyrics.
A symphony of genres
Although some of these songs were inspired by Western music styles, Nigerian artists weren’t copycats. In pure Nigerian fashion, they found a new identity, infusing tradition with innovation. Take Lagbaja’s Afro jazz style or P-Square’s interesting experimentation of club-ready dance beats with hip-hop, and RnB while offering renditions in Igbo.
In a sense, this was the era we began moving towards creating a fusion of Western trends that resonated deeply at home and increasingly across Africa. The musical buffet included everything: boy bands, solo acts, pop, rap, afro-pop, Afrobeats, soul, gospel, you name it, we had it.
Nigerian Music Industry: A Budding Ecosystem
A lot of record labels sprang up right around the late ‘90s and early 2000s, a testament that the Nigerian music industry was blooming. These labels helped to launch the careers of many of our all-time favorites. A few are highlighted below:
Kennis Music (Founded in 1998)
Founded by Kehinde “Kenny” Ogungbe and Dayo “D1” Adeneye. Kennis released music in predominantly Afrobeats, RnB, hip-hop, and pop genres. The artists’ repertoire included 2Face Idibia, Eedris Abdulkareem, Sound Sultan, and Tony Tetuila.
Mo’ Hits Records (Founded in 2004)
Co-founded by Don Jazzy and D’banj, Mo’Hits became well known for Afrobeats and hip hop. D’banj was its first breakout star, followed by Wande Coal, Dr SID, D’Prince, Kayswitch, and many more.
The label dissolved in 2012, leading Don Jazzy to establish Mavin Records.
Storm Records (Active in the 2000s)
Though founded by Obi Asika in the ‘90s, it wasn’t until the 2000s that its signees became mainstream. It delivered hip-hop, RnB, and pop hits from talents like Naeto C, Sasha P, Ikechukwu, and Tosin Martins.
Chocolate City (Founded in 2005)
Founded by Audu Maikori, Paul Okeugo, and Yahaya Maikori. During this period, the label was known for its hip-hop, RnB, and Afrobeats roster, M.I. Abaga, Ice Prince, Jesse Jagz, Brymo, Victoria Kimani, and Dice Ailes.
Square Records (Founded in 2001)
This label was launched by P-Square (Peter & Paul Okoye) and managed by their brother, Jude Okoye. Square Records was one of Nigeria’s earliest major artist-owned labels. You could say it influenced a wave of independent music entrepreneurship in Nigeria.
And then there were the producers, standing behind every beat and every hit, shaping an ecosystem that boasts a rich, diverse music history. From Mo’ Hits to Mavin Records, Don Jazzy is an undeniable figure in the evolution of 2000s Nigerian music. There’s also OJB Jezreel with 2Baba’s 2004 album Face-2-face, I mean, does “African Queen” need further introduction? And Cobhams Asuquo with Asa, Sasha P, and Djinee. These are the Influential figures that helped mold the early 2000s Nigerian hip-hop, RnB, and gospel.
We could go on and on, about a decade of explosive creativity, unforgettable albums, mad beats, but we’ll let the music speak for itself. As always, Royalti.io prepped a nostalgic playlist to take you back.
Our 2000s playlist
- Styl-Plus – “Olufunmi”
- Olu Maintain – “Yahooze”
- Eedris Abdulkareem – “Mr. Lecturer”
- Asa – “Jailer”
- Mad Melon & Mountain Black – “Danfo Driver”
- 9ice – “Gongo Aso”
- African China – “Mr President”
- Bracket – “Yori Yori
- Tony Tetuila – “My Car”
- Wande Coal – “Bumper to Bumper”
- Mo Hits All Stars – “Pere”
- Lagbaja – “Konko Below”
- 2Face – “African Queen”
- Paul Play Dairo – “Angel of My Life”
- Zule Zoo – “Kerewa”
- Artquake – “Alanta”
- Asa – “Fire on the Mountain”
- Prince Gozie Okeke & Njideka Okeke – “You Are the Pillar”
- P-Square – “Bizzy Body”
- Djinee – “Ego”
- P-Square – “Game Over”
- Sunny Neji – “Oruka”
