Victor Okpala, Spotify’s Artiste and Label Partnerships Manager for West Africa, recently celebrated the outstanding achievement of Nigerian rappers including Olamide, Odumodublvck, Blaqbonez, Zlatan Ibile, and Ice Prince.
These gifted artists have been recognized as the most streamed Nigerian Hip Hop artists on Spotify, underscoring their rising popularity in the music world.
Okpala’s statement, released on Friday, September 1, highlights not only the impressive growth of Nigerian hip-hop but also the pivotal role played by these artists in shaping the genre.
Spotify’s Revelation: Nigerian Hip-Hop Dominance
Spotify, the renowned online streaming platform, revealed that Olamide, Odumodublvck, Blaqbonez, Zlatan, and Ice Prince hold the distinction of being the most streamed Nigerian hip-hop artists.
According to Okpala, hip-hop has achieved global prominence, and this success story extends to Nigeria, where it has significantly influenced the evolution of afrobeats.
Nigeria’s Hip-Hop Impact: A Regional and Continental Perspective
Unsurprisingly, Nigeria stands as a significant hub for hip-hop enthusiasts within Africa, holding the second position after South Africa in terms of Hip-hop listenership.
This ranking not only reflects the genre’s popularity within the country but also underscores the extensive influence of Nigerian Hip hop on the broader African music scene.
Nigerian Hip-Hop Shines Globally
Quoting a section of the statement, Okpala highlighted the fact that Olamide, Odumodublvck, Blaqbonez, Zlatan, and Ice Prince have garnered the most streams in Nigerian Hip hop.
This phenomenon sets Nigeria apart from regions like Kenya and South Africa, where international sensation Drake leads the charts.
Hip-hop’s universal appeal and its continued impact on new music genres both in Nigeria and globally were also acknowledged.
Insights from Spotify’s Data
Based on Spotify’s data, Okpala reported that Nigerian Gen Z individuals between the ages of 18 and 24 constitute a significant portion of Hip hop listeners, accounting for 55% of total streams.
The next highest age bracket is for listeners aged 25 to 29, contributing 19% of the streams.
Listeners aged 0 to 17 and 30 to 34 each hold a 9% share.
A Journey Through Nigerian Hip-Hop
The statement also provided historical context, tracing the popularity of Nigerian Hip hop back to the 1990s when artists such as Modenine, Naeto C, Bouqui, Ruggedman, Gino, Eedris Abdulkareem, eLDee, Sasha P, Ikechukwu, and others pioneered the sounds and culture of Hip hop.
Their contributions have not only influenced Nigerian tracks but have also gained substantial traction within the continent, shaping the vibrant landscape of African music.
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