New faces on the block: Meet Nigerian music tars making wave globally

The Nigerian music industry constantly evolves as it births new talents from Nigeria to the world. So far, music stars like Burna Boy, a Grammy Award-Winning singer; Wizkid another Grammy Award-winner, as well as Davido who has sold out major venues at home and abroad, among others like Tiwa Savage, Rema, Ayra Starr, have put Nigeria on the world map. Following this path, there are some fast-rising artistes who are taking Nigerian music into the consciousness of people around the world. Daily Trust highlights some of these artistes making Nigeria proud with their musical talent.

Born Tochukwu Gbubemi Ojogwu on 18th October 1993 but popularly known as Odumodublvck, the young lad is a multiple awardwinning rap artiste surfing the airwaves with some of his hit tracks like ‘Declan Rice’, ‘Normally’, ‘Ndi Ike’, among others.

Recently, English Premier League giants Arsenal used one of his hit tracks, ‘Declan Rice’, to announce their new signing, Declan Rice.

He is known for fusing Afrobeat, with Drill and Grime music. Born and raised in Lagos State for a while, he had his junior high education at Christ the King College Gwagwalada, Abuja, where he got the stage name “Odumodu” in the second year of his junior high school. The artiste relocated with his family to Abuja at the age of 17. Moreso, he attended Bowen University for his tertiary education.

Shallipopi

The name Crown Uzama might not ring a bell if mentioned in public but when the pseudonym Shallipopi is mentioned, his fans wear a smile. With hits like ‘Elon Musk’ released in 2023 which peaked at No. 1 on the Nigeria Top 100; and ‘Things on Things’, the singer and rap artiste has wormed his way into the hearts of Nigerians and the world.

Shallipopi started his career at young age, making freestyles, and posting them on TikTok and other social media platforms. He made a breakthrough with the release of his single ‘Elon Musk’.

On 20th June 2023, Apple Music announced Shallipopi as the latest featured artist in its Up Next artist development program in Nigeria. On 30th June, he released the remix of ‘Elon Musk’ featuring Fireboy DML and Zlatan.

He released the single

‘Ex-Convict’ on 7th July 2023, which debuted at number 6 on the TurnTable Top 100.

Bayanni

Twenty-six-year-old singer Abimbola Oladokun is professionally known as Bayanni. Previously known as Zhenoboy, he is a Nigerian afropop rising star. The African Beauty crooner came to the limelight in 2021 when videos of his cover songs went viral on social media.

On August 23, 2022, he was unveiled as a newly signed artist to Don Jazzy’s Mavin Records, joining the likes of Boy Spyce, Ruger, Ladipoe, Ayra Starr, Crayon, Rema, Magixx, among others on the label.

It was gathered that he developed an interest in music from an early age and his local church choir allowed him to express his musical gift. While in the choir, he built his vocal prowess and began to sharpen his song writing skill. He has hit ‘bangers’ like Ta Ta Ta, Dondosa, Body, among other songs.

Khaid

Another rising star in the Nigerian music industry is Sulaimon Shekoni Solomon aka Khaid. The music talent is a singer, rapper, and songwriter who rose to stardom with the release of the song ‘With You’, after signing a record deal with skit maker, Sydney Talker’s Neville Records in 2022. This earned him his first chart entry on Nigeria TurnTable Top 50 single chart at number 48 on February 14, 2022.

Born on December 10, 2004, the singer started his career on the streets of Ojo, Lagos. The Headies award nominee has songs like Amala, Anabella, Carry Me Go, among others which are having good numbers on streaming services.

Guchi

Another artiste enjoying the spotlight currently is the delectable female songstress Guchi. She’s a Nigerian Afropop singer born Ugochi Lydia Onuoha and is the

second of four children. Her family is from Mbaise in Imo State.

The sonorous singer was born in Kaduna State but grew up in Abuja. She began singing in her church choir and for her grandparents when she was seven years old. Moreso, she has cited the likes of Michael Jackson, a favourite of her father’s, as an early influence in her venture into music.

She began her university studies at the Edo State University but dropped out to pursue her music career. She later gained admission into the University of Lagos, where she’s presently studying Political Science.

The rising star has released songs like ‘Speedometer’, ‘Shattered’, among others.

Bloody Civilian

Fondly known as Bloody Civilian but bears the name Emoseh Khamofu, this young sonorous singer is also a song writer and record producer signed to Def Jam Records.

She is most noted for her single ‘How To Kill A Man’ and ‘Wake Up’ featuring Rema, which was soundtracked in the American 2022 superhero film Black Panther.

It is gathered that the rising star is originally from Taraba State. Emoseh grew up in the northern parts of Nigeria - Kaduna, Jos and Abuja, which she has said inspired her art. She was raised in a conservative environment and was not allowed to move around by her parents.

As a teen, Emoseh was known in her school as a kid who could sing and play the guitar because she’s often involved in school talent shows where she performed original music and people learnt her lyrics.

Emoseh started as a record producer before embarking fully as a recording artist. Her debut single ‘How To Kill A Man’ was released in 2022, with the video released the same year which was written, shot, produced and directed by her.

The Black Book takes third place on the chart. The story revolves around a deacon who, after his son is falsely accused of kidnapping, takes matters into his own hands and fights a corrupt police gang to clear his name of both his crimes and sins. Richard Mofe Damiji, Ade Laoye, Denola Grey, Sam Dede, Alex Osifo, Patric Doyle, and many others star in this epic Nigerian thriller.