1. M.I (Jude Abaga):
Twitter: @mi_abaga
The biggest of them all and richest rapper in
Nigeria. MI came into national limelight in 2008.
An Indigene of Taraba state and raised in Jos, it
was tracks like 'Safe' ft Djinee, 'short black boy',
'anoti', etc that shot him to the top of naija rap
game with his debute album 'let's talk about it'.
His second album 'M.I.2' released in 2010 was
another thriller that gave us something we had
never heard such as 'number one ft Flavour, 'my
head my belle', etc. He has won many awards was
nominated for best international act in the BET
awards in 2010. M.I is the founder of Loopy
records and is currently the vice president of
Chocolate City where he's been signed since 2008.
He released his 3rd Studio Album 'The Chairman'
in 2014 featuring a lot of Nigerian star artists. M.I
is a glo ambassador.
2. JESSE JAGZ (Jesse Abaga):
Twitter: @jessejagz
The kid brother to M.I. Abaga, Jesse Jags got
popular before Ice Prince, but its obvious that Ice
Prince now has more Hits, Wealth and Fame than
Jesse. Signed to Chocolate city thorugh his elder
brother, he was featured on M.I's 'blaze' and
Djinee's 'over killing it remix' his first hit single
was 'greatest' then 'wetin dey' 'pump it up' all
included' his first album 'jagz of all trade' in 2010.
He left chocolate city and founded his own label
'Jagz Nation' where he released his sophomore
album 'Jagz Nation Vol I: Thy Nation come' in
2013 with hits like 'Only you' ft Wizkid. The Album
didn't do well in terms of sales but any one who
settles down to listen to it will really appreciate the
depth of his lyrics and the versitility of Jesse Jagz.
'Jagz Nation vol II: Royal Niger Company' is his
third album and was released.
3. ICE PRINCE (Panshak Zamani ):
Twitter: @iceprincezamani
Is an International Superstar. An Indigine of
Plateau State and raised in Jos. He came into the
limelight in 2009 through M.I and was featured on
tracks like 'somebody wants to die' 'blaze' then
'overkilling it remix' by Djinee and 'Nobody Test
Me' by Jesse Jags. Also signed to chocolate city,
his first hit single was 'oleku' ft Brymo which was
a club banger, second hit was 'superstar' another
massive hit single was 'Northerner' all included in
his debut album 'E.L.I' of 2011. His sophomore
album 'FOZ' was realeased in 2013 and featured
international collaborations with Wale, French
Montana, Joel Otis, Sarkodie and AKA. Ice Prince
won Best African Act at the 2013 BET awards.
014.
4.TERRY THA RAPMAN/T.R (Terry Madaki):
Twitter: @Iamlord_TR
An indigene of Nasarawa state but raised in
Kaduna. Terry was one of the pioneers of hiphop in
Naija. Came into limelight with 'I am a Nigerian'
and went on to make 'na beans' which was a
popular hiphop classic. His other popular tracks
are 'ojoro' ft Terry G, and 'sample' ft Stereoman
and Pherowshuz. Terry raps both in plain english
and pidjin with ease and he kills any track he's on
no wonder he has worked with many Nigerian star
artists on both his tracks and features. He was a
co-founder of the Swatroot Crew with Solo Dee,
Six Foot Plus, Mode 9, and Eldee. His last track
'your best rapper is a lie' is one where he took a
little swipe at the naija music industry. Boys Are
Not Smilling!!!
5. PheroWshuz (David Torkuma Joshua):
Twitter: @iampherow
Was born in Sokoto and raised in Kaduna. Since
his days in the revolutionary hip hop group "KD
World", Pherowshuz has been spitting fire. He's a
veteran in the Nigerian music scene and has been
an inspiration to many 'a rapper. One of he's
biggets hits is 'Korrect' which gained him
nationwide recognition. His works range from 'the
Return of Phero the Great' [the Album], to 'Blood ,
Sweat, Tears And Years' [The Mixtape]. He has
collaborated with Modenine, Eldee, Terry tha
Rapman, Yung6, etc
6. MORELL (Musa Akilla) :
Twitter: @iMORELL
Morell became popular after he released his single
'anti social' ft Olamide. Born in Bauchi state but an
Indigine of Borno. He raps and Sings and has done
collaborations with Naeto C, Ruggedman, Jesse
Jagz, Ice Prince, Terry The Rap Man, OD, Ain
Mosini, Vector, Godwon and Pherowshuz backed
with performances alongside international stars,
Sean Kingston and Kanye West. A graduate of
University of Maiduguri, He is currently signed to
Bento records. Some of his recent works include:
'ganga da garaya' 'Borno' and 'wazobia' ft
Reminisce and Phyno
7. CLASSIQ ( Buba Barnabas Luka):
Twitter: @ClassiQ
Currently the fastest rising rapper from the North.
Classiq is an indigine of Bauchi State, and a
graduate of BUK. His unique style of rap has been
gaining the attention of Hiphop heads all over the
country. He raps fluently in hausa, impecably in
English and superbly in pidjin all of which he
combines on his verses. His Mixtape 'sarki' is
seriously d0pe with hot tracks like 'duniya' ft Ruby,
'duniya remix' ft Jesse Jagz, 'kakaraka' 'sarki'
'magana', 'danburo uba shege' etc. He was
featured by Vector on the remix of Kingkong
alongside Phyno, Reminisce and Uzi and many
agree that his verse was the illest. He's currently
signed to Finesse entertainment. Probably the best
indigenous rapper in Naija, Olamide and Phyno are
good but man, Classiq is better. When Olamide
and Phyno switch to English in their verses, they
usually sound mediocre, but Classiq is awesome in
any language.
8. KHEENGZ aka YFK (King Bawa):
Twitter: @yungkheengz
Here is another very talented rapper from arewa.
He hails from Naija state and is a graduate of ABU
Zaria. One of the pioneers of d0pe hausa rap with
his silky smooth vocal texture, interesting lyrics
and technique. Kheengz was known in some
quaters of the north before Classiq broke out, He
featured M.I on the track jealous' and Erigga on
'high school remix' He also did a cover of Dija's
track 'yaro' naming his 'Haba'. Kheengz dropped
his 'college kid mixtape' CKMT in 2013 with some
of the illest rap tracks around. Some of his hottest
tracks include 'balling' 'run arewa' 'wasila' '48'
'Yara' 'I believe' etc. Word on the streets is that he
will soon be dropping his EP.
9. THRILLZ (Benjamin Bitrus):
Twitter: @thrillzgangaria
An indigene of Gombe state and raised in Abuja.
Thrillz is another fast rising rapstar from northern
Nigeria. A graduate of Unijos, His track 'yanga no
be swagga' is currently his biggest as it has been
aired in various radio stations across the country.
He is a very prolific rapper with crazy rhyme skills
which he does in English, hausa and pidgin and
his tracks range from hardcore raps, commercial
rap and dance tracks. His other highly rated joints
include: 'gangariya', 'over' ft Killmovez and
'kambala'I' ft Promphizy. He's Currently based in
Kano and Lagos and is rumoured to soon be
dropping his mixtape 'YNBS'. He's also a member
of the Wild Streets Alliance.
10. MAGNITO (Mohammed Usman Adamu):
Twitter: @officialmagnito
Hails from Benue state. He is a graduate of Unijos.
He is signed to Deklientel Music. His track that
first drew attention was 'medecine girl' in 2010. He
has done various other tracks and collaborations
and featured Phyno on his latest track 'hoha' in
2015
The north is never bereft of Hiphop Talents. Not
forgetting guys like Six Foot Plus, Alchadas,
Freezlinks, etc.
note: some people argue that benue is not north
so you are permitted to take the benue guys off
the list in your mind if you hold that view.
#AllAboutHipHop
On point
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