State of The Music: Where is the first Nigerian hit song of 2016?

Go through the Nigerian clubs, and the radio stations and you find the hit songs on rotation are from last year. Where are the hits songs of 2016?

This year rolled in with so much promise after a whirlwind end to 2015. Over 15 albums were dropped in the last quarter of 2015, giving us pundits and analysts a clear indicator of the competition to expect in 2016.

The New Year rolled in with so much promise. Tiwa Savage chose a transition or ‘rest’ period during the window between the end of 2015 and the start of 2016. That gave us hope. That gave us a feeling of momentum. We all expected a bang. We all expected the heavens to rain hit songs.

 

The Nigerian music savvy writers and media visionaries fed off this momentum and the contents rolled in. Predictions were made from where the next hit will come from. Who would be the runaway leader of the new year?

But that hasn’t happened. Instead, we have had more fights than hits. Don Jazzy and Olamide made it ‘cool’ to fight, and like all trends, this one caught fast. We are still reeling from the consequences of their heated action at the Headies 2015. Ask Peter and Paul Okoye. Ask big brother Jude also.

 

The most damning aspect of this fight trends is that the anger and controversy was not directed to the studio for blazing songs to be recorded. Shout out to Davido. At least we got a verse off ‘Osinachi’ remix which took in the Dele Momodu-Baby Mama drama. Thanks David.

“This has been ongoing for quite some time, but we have not really noticed until now.” Says Popular talent manager, Obinna Agwu. “For me I think the music has been dismal for the longest time. It is only just starting to be obvious now. It has been in operation for close to 3 years now. Even the people who break into the big time lose the fire.”

“I feel like the seriousness on the part of the artiste has dwindled. People are not as committed as they should. People are not committing the right amount of time and resources, and effort into pushing the product. I feel hype has taken the place of the product.

“The Nigerian artiste would rather want you to see them in a nude way on news platforms, rather putting out amazing music. They feel like appearing to be successful will bring about more success to them.

Go through the Nigerian clubs, and the radio stations and you find the hit songs on rotation are from last year. In fairness to this artistes, they are working at it to make sure fans get a hit song, and they get their finances up.

Here are 10 songs which might find a place in the famed halls of Nigerian hits sooner rather than later.

 

2Face Idibia - 'Coded Tinz' ft Phyno, Chief Obi

LK Kuddy - 'With you' (remix) ft Wizkid, Yung6ix

Omawumi - 'Play na play' ft Angelique Kidjo

Lil Kesh - 'Ibile'

Maire - 'Alhaji' ft Iceberg Slim

D'banj - 'Emergency'

DJ Enimoney, Olamide – ‘Oya dab’

Humblesmith - 'Osinachi' ft Davido

Timaya - 'I like the way'

iLLBLiSS – 'Nku' ft. Flavour, Stormrex

Eva Alordiah - 'Kanayo' ft Reminisce, Phyno

These songs were released this year, and promotion for them all has been heavy, but the reception hasn’t been really great. Only ‘Oya Dab’ has found a way to receive happiness from the streets, but that has not really earned it ‘hit’ status.

Will this change soon? Ono Macaulay a promoter and talent manager agrees. “People are definitely taking their time to bring out quality songs, and they will follow up. I think most of this people are just chilling, trying to prep themselves to drop good singles.

Watch the video for Oya Dab below.