Top 10 Nigerian Artists Who Broke Barriers This Year

2017 has been a great year for alot of artist in the industry with them winning awards home and abroad and releasing trending songs that had international recognition.

This year won’t go unnoticed with the likes of Davido and Wizkid winning the world best act and the Africa best act respectively at the MOBO Award beating the highly rated artist like Jazzy, Drake and the likes and with our own artist Timaya gettting a nomination for the Grammy Award This shows there is a lot to talk about and a lot of improvement on the path of our artist.

1. Davido

 

David Adedeji Adeleke, better known by his stage name Davido, a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and record producer who had his first single in 2011 titled “Dami Duro” was well-received throughout Nigeria.

Davido hasn’t been relenting and this year has been a great year for him with him having recognition home and abroad and he has won a large number of awards and nominations this year, let us not forget the same Davido was the one who sang the well accepted songs “IF”, “Fall” and of latest released “Fia” which has gotten to the heart of many lovers of music in the country and outside the country.

2. Wizkid

Ayo Ibrahim Balogun aka Wizkid the well respected artist in the industry presently with his high relationship with foreign acts. The music star  delivered his first album, “Sounds From The Other Side”, under global music imprint “Sony Music”.

wizkid who during the course of the year has a lot of collaborations with highly rated artists in the world with names like Drake, Waley, Makifizolo and alot which we can’t start listing. Wizkid who released a hit track titled “Manya” weeks ago and had millions of views within a week has become a house name in the industry is never backing out and set a lot of record this year getting him comparison with legends in the world.

His hit song ‘Come Closer’ got a recognition in the industry and got alot liking the star boy more with his lovely twist sound.

3. Tekno

TripleMG star Tekno who  released a banger song like ‘Pana’ let us not forget that he is responsible for producing the biggest song this year, ‘If’. He also delivered hits like ‘Yawa’, ‘GO’, and Mama which features Wizkid. Tekno is among the few Nigeria artists who has make names for themselves home and in the international front.

The great producer Who has produced and mixed alot of songs for top artist this year was fews ago found doing what he knows how to do best in Drake’s studio, we are hoping very soon something deep will come out of the relationship between him and Drake.

4. Tiwa Savage

The former Beyonce backup singer who just won the most fashionable celebrity has been up and doing this year and of recent added her twist to three songs in one of her record label act.

The mother of one is not called the queen of Nigerian and African music for nothing. Tiwa Savage did not fall short of her status as she was giving us hits back to back. Her debut song of the year ‘All Over’ is one of the most played songs on radio in the country, and one of the hottest AfroBeats anthems globally this year.

5. Runtown

Runtown who has been one of the household names in the industry has allowed  his music do the talk for him, more especially in 2017 he has gotten a high recognition in the industry, you can not mention five great influential artist this year without you remembering the “Mad Over You” master.

His Ghanaian influenced songs has taken Douglas Agu to a lot of places this year, with his level of popularity he was invited along side Davido to the senate president’s daughter wedding.

6. Olamide

The YBNL boss  who always gives his fans back to back every year with his every year releasing album atitude and has been very consistent in the last half of a decade. With the Tough start of the year for Olamide he didn’t give in to challenges around but converted it to an opportunity to hit hard at the heart of his fans finally gave his fans what he knows how to do best which really went viral and with it dance all over the country and getting accepted and he titled it ‘WO!!’.

Olamide’s ‘WO’ is which got itself the most searched song in Nigeria this year, and he capped the year with his album, Lagos Nawa featuring top names in the industry.

7. Mr Eazi

The Pour Me Water Master popularly known as Mr Eazi made it both ways this year. Mr Eazi who had a controversial moment this year when he made a statement that the popular style used by a large number of nigeria act is from Ghana and brought about a roaring from fans, but am sure he has been forgiven and they are giving him the chance to rule again . The ‘Leg Over’ crooner embarked on one of the most detailed world tour by a Nigerian artist, shortly after releasing his EP, Accra To Lagos.

8. Ycee

 

The Tinny Entertainment front man, Ycee,  who released the song that gave the popularly sang “If” a run for its standard having a collaboration with the dynamic Maleek Berry and he titled it “Juice”, “Juice” who of lastest dropped davido’s trending song to number two on the itunes bill board.

Juice was the only song that wrestled out Davido’s ‘IF’ to become the most played song in Naija at some point. Nigerians did not only drink the ‘Juice’ but passed the bug to UK and America. Notably Diddy played the song during his 48th birthday celebration.

9. Simi

 

The sonorous singer Simisola Ogunleye who is know for her dynamism in writing songs and one of the fast rising names in the industry.   She was able to put out one of the best albums this year with lots of traction like “Joromi” and the latest “Owanbe” who has become one of the songs you hardly go a day without hearing it and considering she is an alternative music maker, Simi has one of the most popular songs this year ‘Joromi’ .

Her self titled ‘Simisola’ was one of the most streamed album on iTunes World Music Chart and she again headlined her first sold out concert in November. simi who has a lovely voice and at a point in time game the popular Tiwa Savage a tough time in the industry.

10. Niniola

 

At the start of the year, Niniola who almost got her names out of the mouth of her fans because she wasn’t giving her fans what they desired at that point in time and got herself on the watch list for many, however not many would’ve expected that she will break loose out of the unwanted situation she was in and not knowing she is gonna  end up having an incredible year.

Her major hit record, Maradona, turned her into a mainstream household name along with the follow up, Sicker. All this came in addition to a very well received debut album, This Is Me.