Jesse Garba Abaga, known professionally as Jesse Jagz, is a Nigerian rapper, record producer, and songwriter. He signed a record deal with Chocolate City in 2010 and released his debut studio album Jag of All Tradez that same year. He voluntarily exited the Chocolate City deal in 2013 and announced the launch of his independent label, Jagz Nation. Jagz released his second studio album Jagz Nation, Vol. 1: Thy Nation Come in 2013; it included singles such as "Redemption", "Bad Girl", "Sex & Scotch" and "God on the Mic". His third studio album, Jagz Nation, Vol. 2: Royal Niger Company, was released in 2014. He returned to Chocolate City in 2015 but left the label again prior to releasing his fourth studio album Odysseus in 2017. In May 2020, he released a 5-track EP titled Garba.
Olamide Gbenga Adedeji is a Nigerian rapper, singer, songwriter, and record executive. He is regarded as one of the most influential artists in Nigeria and has been crucial to the creative and commercial success of several Afrobeats music stars, and is consistently praised for his role in elevating street pop to mainstream recognition as a distinct music genre. He records in Yoruba and English. In 2011, he released his debut studio album Rapsodi while signed to Coded Tunes. YBNL, his follow-up album, was released under his label imprint "Yahoo Boy No Laptop", also known as YBNL Nation. The album was supported by the singles "First of All", "Voice of the Street", "Stupid Love", and "Ilefo Illuminati". On 7 November 2013, he released his third studio album Baddest Guy Ever Liveth. The album's singles include "Durosoke" and "Yemi My Lover". On 17 July 2013, Olamide became the first Nigerian to sign an endorsement deal with Cîroc.
The Headies is a music awards show established in 2006 by the Hip Hop World Magazine of Nigeria to recognize outstanding achievements in the Nigerian music industry. The annual ceremony features performances by established and promising artists. It is broadcast live on HipTV to viewers across Nigeria. The first and second editions of The Headies were held at the Muson Center in Onikan, Lagos State. Between 2010 and 2012, the awards were held at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Victoria Island, Lagos. Several media personalities in Nigeria have hosted the annual ceremony, including Darey Art Alade, D'banj, Dakore Egbuson, Banky W., Rita Dominic, M.I, Tiwa Savage and Dr SID.
Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu , professionally known as Burna Boy, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and record producer. He rose to stardom in 2012 after releasing "Like to Party", the lead single from his debut studio album L.I.F.E (2013). In 2017, Burna Boy signed with Atlantic Records in the United States to release his third studio album, Outside (2018).
Nancy Isime is a Nigerian actress, model, and media personality.
The following is a list of events and releases that have happened or are expected to happen in 2019 in African music.
African Giant is the fourth studio album by Nigerian singer Burna Boy. The album was released on July 26, 2019, by Spaceship Entertainment, Bad Habit, Atlantic Records and Warner Music. The album is a mixture of Afrobeats, Afrobeat, dancehall, pop and hip hop. It was produced primarily by Kel-P, along with production from Benjamz, Dre Skull and Skrillex, among others. The album features guest appearances from Jorja Smith, Jeremih, Damian Marley, Zlatan Ibile, Angelique Kidjo, Serani, M.anifest, YG and Future. It was supported by eight singles, including "On the Low", which won Viewers' Choice at the 2020 Soundcity MVP Awards Festival, "Killin Dem", which won Song of the Year at the 2020 Soundcity MVP Awards Festival, among other awards; and "Anybody", which Burna Boy performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.
Azeez Adeshina Fashola, known professionally as Naira Marley, is a British-Nigerian singer, songwriter and rapper. He is known as the president of his controversial fan base, "Marlians".
ThankGod Omori Jesam known professionally as TG Omori or Boy Director, is a Nigerian music video director and cinematographer.
Carpe Diem is the eleventh studio album by Nigerian rapper Olamide and his first body of work under American label and distribution company, Empire Distribution. According to The Olamide Music Chart on X formerly (Twitter), Carpe Diem crossed the 500 million stream mark across all dsps on June 1, 2021.
The Headies 2020 was the 14th edition of The Headies, a Nigerian music awards show held to recognize outstanding achievements in the Nigerian music industry. The ceremony took place on February 21, 2021, due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic instead of December 2020, the usual month for the awards. It was held at the La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort in Ibeju-Lekki
Abiola Ahmed Akinbiyi, known professionally as Bella Shmurda, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter. He rose to prominence in 2019 with the release of the song "Vision 2020", and a follow-up remix which featured Olamide. He is also the leader of Dangbana Republik; a collective of creatives in Lagos providing community and humanitarian contributions.
Chisom Obinna Onyeke, known professionally as JaySynths, is a Nigerian record producer and sound engineer best known for producing Teni's hit single "Case" in 2018. He is the originating record producer of Ojapiano and the first record producer to produce it, a fusion of the Igbo people’s Ọjà and South African sub genre of house music Amapiano, taking its name from Ọjà and Piano, he is also the producer behind the soundtracks of 2023 Netflix number 1 movie, Shanty Town.
Boo of the Booless is the debut studio album of Nigerian singer Chike. It was released on February 14, 2020. Chike enlisted Ogaga Sakpaide to A&R the album.
Aremu Olaiwola Qudus is a Nigerian music video director. He has worked with artists of several musical genres including Wizkid, Skepta, Davido, Burna Boy and many others, winning 2020 The Headies Award for best music video of the year.
Daniel Etiese Benson, known professionally as Bnxn and formerly known as Buju, is a Nigerian Afro-fusion singer, songwriter and record producer.
NATIVELAND is an annual music festival in Lagos, Nigeria, and organized by The Native. The platform was established to bring together the best of pop culture, music, art, food, style, sports, and education in the Nigerian entertainment industry. In 2020, Billboard Magazine named NATIVELAND as one of The Gatekeepers of the Nigerian music industry.
Qudus Fakoya Oluwadamilare, popularly known as Qdot, is a Nigerian musician and a songwriter. He is known for his songs "Gbese", "Alomo meta" and "Emilokan". He is the CEO of Yoruba Boi Music record label and the winner of the 2019 Best Indigenous Artiste Award.
The Headies Award for Rookie of the Year is an award presented at The Headies, a ceremony that was established in 2006 and originally called the Hip Hop World Awards. It was first presented to Dammy Krane and Burna Boy in 2012 and is usually presented to upcoming musicians with no debut album out.
Ajebo Hustlers is a Nigerian Afrobeats and Highlife music duo composed of Piego and Knowledge, a rapper. They were nominated for the 2022 Headies Awards for Songwriter of the Year and won the Best Duo at the Soundcity MVP Awards in 2023.
