Earlier than Wizkid and Davido, we had larger artists who colonized the music trade within the early and mid-2000s; these artists had been releasing bangers again to again.

Gen-Zs are at present arguing on Twitter that Wizkid and Davido have at all times been huge, proper from the 2000’s. They aren’t responsible as a result of they weren’t invoked again within the day.

Now, it’s time to be schooled on the most important artists we had again within the day, these artists that we grew up with their songs.

I can vividly keep in mind throughout social nights in secondary faculty, I used to bounce to Might D’s banger. The place was Wizkid and Davido then?

These had been the times! Let’s dive again into the previous and provides a shoutout to the true pioneers who paved the way in which for in the present day’s Wizkid and Davido.

2Face

2Face began his music profession performing with Blackface Naija, his secondary faculty classmate, and Faze. Collectively, they shaped the trio band, Plantashun Boiz.

The band launched two albums beneath Dove Data—Physique and Soul in 2000 and Offered Out in 2003—earlier than going their separate methods in 2004. 2Baba then targeted on his solo profession.

His debut solo album, Face 2 Face, was launched in 2004 and obtained crucial acclaim, being hailed as “the best Nigerian debut album of the twenty first Century by a solo artist”.

He adopted this success together with his second album, Grass 2 Grace, in 2006. After leaving Kennis Music, he established his personal label, Hypertek Digital.

In 2009, 2Baba launched an experimental album known as The Unstoppable, with a world version following in 2010. The worldwide version earned two awards on the 2010 SoundCity Music Video Awards.

Psquare

P-Sq. is extensively thought to be one of the vital influential African acts of all time and one of the vital profitable music teams from Africa.

They performed an important position within the growth of African fashionable music throughout the 2000s and 2010s.

The duo gained mainstream recognition with their 2003 hit “Senorita,” and their recognition soared following the discharge of their second album, Get Squared, in 2005.

This album’s success led to a nomination for Greatest African Act on the MTV Europe Music Award in 2006. As a significant affect in African popular culture of the twenty first century, P-Sq. was honored with the Artistes of the Decade award on the MTV Africa Music Awards in 2015.

Might D

He rose to stardom in 2011, the identical yr he signed with Sq. Data. On August 21, 2012, Premium Occasions information reported that Might D was not with the label.

Might D launched his first single “Soundtrack” beneath Sq. Data on Might 13, 2011. The music video, directed by Clarence Peters, got here out on January 12, 2012.

Initially, the video garnered over 10 million views on YouTube earlier than it was deleted by the label. On September 25, 2012, Might D established his personal unbiased file label, Confam Leisure.

Later, on July 18, 2020, he introduced through his Twitter that he had signed with Davido Music Worldwide.

Timaya

Timaya launched his solo profession in 2005 with the discharge of “Dem Mama,” a single that highlighted the Odi bloodbath. The next yr, he launched his debut album, True Story.

This was succeeded by his second album, Reward and Grace, in 2008. His third studio album, De Rebirth, was launched in collaboration with Black Physique Leisure and featured the favored single “Plantain Boy”.

He additionally labored with Dem Mama Troopers on the album LLNP (Lengthy Life N Prosperity). In 2012, Timaya launched one other album, Improve.

Through the years, his contributions to the music trade have been acknowledged with a number of awards and nominations, together with 4 Headies Awards, two AFRIMMA Awards, one Nigeria Music Award, and one NEA Award.

Brackets

Bracket is a Nigerian afropop and R&B duo consisting of Obumneme Ali, often known as “Smash,” and Nwachukwu Ozioko, often known as “Huge.”

Initially a trio, they turned a duo after a member named Bistop left. The duo is signed to Bracket Data and is legendary for hit singles equivalent to “Comfortable Day,” “Me & U,” “Yori-Yori,” “Ada Owerri,” “Mama Africa,” and “Panya.”

J. Martins

Martins Okey Justice E., born on September 29, 1979, and extensively identified by his stage identify J. Martins, is a Nigerian musician, singer, songwriter, and producer.

He gained fame with hits like “Oyoyo,” “Jupa,” and “Good Or Dangerous.” J. Martins can also be acknowledged for his collaboration with P-Sq. on the track “E No Straightforward,” and has labored with different artists together with Phyno, YCEE, Fally Ipupa, DJ Arafat, Koffi Olomide, and Timaya.

Styl-Plus

STYL was shaped in 1997 in Akure, Nigeria, beginning with 4 members. After some adjustments, together with new members becoming a member of and one leaving, the group modified its identify to Styl-Plus in 2001.

Recognized for his or her easy songs that blend English and Yoruba, they’re typically known as “Africa’s Boyz II Males.”

Their fashionable songs embody “Olufunmi” and “Think about That,” in addition to others like “Run Away” and “Name My Identify.”

Styl-Plus additionally launched singles like “On the Dance Flooring” with Jesse Jagz and “Jekeserelo” with Chics Dangerous Boy Slim. Their music has made a long-lasting impression on the planet of African music.

Nigga Uncooked

Uncooked launched his debut studio album, “Proper & Improper,” on August 7, 2005. His second album, “The whole lot Stays Uncooked,” got here out in 2007.

His third studio album, “Finish of Dialogue,” was launched in October 2010. This album featured the hit track “O! Chukwu,” and its music video was awarded Greatest Afro-Hip-Hop Video on the NMVA Awards that very same yr.

9ice

In 1996, 9ice recorded his first demo titled “Risi de Alagbaja,” but it surely wasn’t till 2000 that he launched his first official solo track, “Little Cash.”

His profession took a major flip in 2008 with the discharge of the only “Gongo Aso,” which gained huge recognition and led to him acting at Nelson Mandela’s ninetieth Birthday Tribute live performance in London in June 2008.

That very same yr, 9ice received the Greatest Hip Hop Artist of the 12 months on the MTV Africa Music Awards.

The success of “Gongo Aso” continued into 2009, the place it earned him 4 awards on the Hip Hop World Awards in Abuja, together with Album of the 12 months, Artiste of the 12 months, Tune of the 12 months, and Greatest Rap in Pop Album.

Dagrin

Dagrin was a pioneering Nigerian rapper from Ogun State. His life impressed the 2011 movie Ghetto Dreamz.

Well-known for pioneering indigenous rap in Nigeria utilizing Yoruba and Pidgin, Dagrin is taken into account one of many nation’s best rappers.

He launched his first album Nonetheless On The Matter in 2006-07 and gained important acclaim together with his 2009 album C.E.O. (Chief Government Omoita).

This album introduced him a number of nominations and received the Greatest Rap Album on the 2010 Hip hop World Awards.

Dagrin’s type has influenced many Nigerian artists, together with Olamide and Reminisce, cementing his legacy within the music trade.