Rap groups in Nigerian hip-hop and the need for more.

Hip-hop, by its nature, has always been a collaborative art form.

It’s why rap groups have been one of the essential pillars of the genre over its fifty years of existence.

In fact, the first proper rap record was created by a group called ‘The Sugarhill Gang’.

Rap groups played an important role in establishing the dominance of hip-hop in its early days.

The 80s and 90s era, which is also regarded as the golden era of hip-hop, was dominated by rap groups.

Rap groups like NWA, Wu Tang Clan, OutKast, Run DMC, a tribe called Quest, Public Enemy, and many more groups dominated the mainstream in the 80s and 90s.

In the 2010s, rap groups like Migos, Rae Stremmurd and City Girl’s rocked the mainstream, releasing blockbuster projects and selling millions of records.

The Nigerian hip-hop scene in its early days also adopted the culture of rap groups.
The existence of rap groups in Nigerian hip-hop can be traced to as far back as 1997, when The Remedies dominated the airwaves.

Members of the three-man band were Eedris AbdulKareem, who is considered one of the greatest Nigerian rappers of all time, Tony Tetuila, and Eddy Montana.

They debuted with the evergreen hit record ‘Sakomo‘ released in 1997 and followed up with hit records like ‘Sade‘ and ‘Judile‘.
They released their debut (and only) album, ‘Peace Nigeria‘, in 1998. However, Tony Tetuila had already left the group by the time the album was recorded.

Maintain was another Nigerian hip-hop group that dominated the mainstream in the 90s.
Composed of cousins Olu Maintain and Tolu Maintain. Big Bamo, the third member of the group, joined later.
The trio was known for mirroring American hip-hop records and repackaging them to suit the Nigerian audience.
The formula worked to great effect for the trio, as they scored multiple hit records and gained nationwide acclaim in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
The coming of Ruggedman and the release of ‘Ehen’ in 2002 literally put an end to the group.
While the other members of the group ultimately quit music, Olu Maintain returned in 2007 with the smash hit ‘Yahooze’.

Trybesmen were also a prominent rap group in the 90s. They were so popular they were referred to as ‘The Run DMC of Africa’. Members of the group were ElDee the Don, Kaboom, and T.K.O.

They became national sensations when they released their debut single, ‘Shake Bodi, which became a hit.

They released their debut album in 1999, ‘L.A.G. Style Volume 1‘, and their second album, ‘The Bigger Picture‘, in 2003.

Plantashun Boiz were also national superstars in the late 90s and early 2000s.

The group consists of three members: 2face Idibia, Blackface, and Faze. They released three albums and scored multiple hits before the group split to pursue their solo careers.

Rooftop MCs, Da Thoroughbreds, Ruff rugged N Raw, Skuki, and many more groups left their mark on the Nigerian hip-hop scene.

In recent times, the prominence of rap groups has fallen so badly, especially in the Nigerian hip-hop space.

When you try to identify the rap groups we have in Nigeria, one can only think of the Ajebo Hustlers and the Antiworld Gangsters. Mars and Barzini had a good thing going on, but it was sadly short-lived.

The Internet, social media, and streaming platforms have made it easy for artists to kickstart their music careers and become successful.

With only X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, artists are able to build a devoted community of fans that stream their music and buy their tickets.

Hence, the need for three or more people to come together to form a group seems nonexistent.

When you also consider the financials, it’s more enticing when one individual is carting away a large chunk of the profits realised from streams, touring, brand deals, and endorsements.

However, rap groups are still important regardless of music’s adaptability to the times.

When a rapper is part of a rap group, it means the rapper is joining a group of people who share similar interests and passions.

Instead of being treated like a product in the music industry, being part of a rap group means the rapper is supported and encouraged to grow as a musician in a more personal and caring way. It’s like having a creative family that understands and appreciates your unique talents.

Rap groups also enable collaboration. When multiple talented rappers collaborate and bounce ideas off each other, The results tend to be memorable.
It’s like a creative brainstorming session that can elevate the music to new heights.

Most rappers today are quite limited. A lot of rappers don’t have the required range to drive a record. It’s why a lot of rap records do not have the X factor to elevate promising records to great records.

A rap group is necessary for rappers like these. One rapper is there to compliment the other rapper and hide their blind spots. In the end, the music is elevated from promising to great and, in most cases, timeless.

When you look at the promotion and marketing aspects of things, A rap group also makes a lot of sense.
Multiple rappers share the workload and support themselves in promoting the music and the brand.

And most importantly, the energy and excitement of performing together on stage.
A lot of new-generation rappers are boring performers, lacking the charisma and presence to drive a performance that can captivate the audience.

Rappers these days cannot deliver memorable performances. Odumodublvck understands the importance of delivering memorable performances; that’s why he doesn’t hesitate to bring a number of his guys on stage to elicit a reaction from his audience.

Rap groups are also a launching pad for great solo careers. Some of the greatest rappers and producers of all time came to prominence as part of a group before deciding to pursue solo careers.

At the point they decided to leave the group, they had already gained the attention and following required to propel them into solo superstardom.

Eedris AbdulKareem, ElDee the Don, and Illbliss all went on to have successful solo careers after leaving their respective groups.

Rap groups played a significant role in pioneering Nigerian hip-hop.
They provided a platform for artists to come together, share their talents, and create amazing music that has stood the test of time.

‘Sakomo’ is still played in the clubs to this day.

Rap groups often bring different styles and perspectives, contributing to the diversity of the hip-hop scene.

They also push the boundaries of creativity and elevate hip-hop to new heights.

It’s obvious we need more of them, especially on the Nigerian scene.