Producers | Zikoko!

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Producers | Zikoko!

Artists come and go, but the exceptional ones stick around to build name and relevance. As we wave 2023 goodbye, we’ve marked out ten new cats we believe will seize 2024.

These artists made our list because of their talent, uniqueness, consistency and quality of the music they put out this year.

Pop

Kold AF

The light has been on Kold AF, born Aninooritsewarami Alero Oritsesesan, since she and French music producer, BGRZ, put out the six-track EP, KOLLIDED, in October 2023. Almost every stage that gave space to upcoming stars this year — The Future Award Africa 2023, Jameson Distillery On Tour and Indie Vibe House Party — has seen her in action. She was one of the highlights of Aristokrat Records’ Open House Volume One album, which showcased some artists on the come-up in December 2022. In the same month, Kold AF released a two-song pack called Kold Szn. Influenced by Burna Boy and Cynthia Morgan, her voice and vivid storytelling distinguish her from the crowd.

Image source: Kold AF

Morravey

Morravey is more than just Davido’s latest signee. She’s one of the brightest talents out of one of Nigeria’s biggest breeding grounds for talent, Port Harcourt (PH). With a catchy delivery and vocal range, her impressive performance on Davido’s IN THE GARDEN introduced her to a wider audience. In November 2023, Morravey released an introductory album called RAVI, and with her label’s backing, she may be everywhere in 2024. Based on the project and with her PH background, the singer-songwriter is set to tell Afropop stories in new and interesting ways.

Instagram: Davidonews

Qing Madi

Qing Madi’s See Finish (2022) enjoyed some viral moments this year and earned her a position as Spotify Africa Equal Ambassador in June 2023. Madi has since released other singles like Why, Ole with BNXN and Journey, and finally, her self-titled debut EP. At just 17 years old, Qing Madi’s music has peaked on popular charts like Apple Music chart, Turntable Official Nigeria Top 100 and Official Charts Afrobeats. With this trajectory, she’ll only get bigger in 2024.

Instagram: @aijaupdates

Rap

OluwaMillar

Favour Joshua Oparemi, AKA OluwaMillar, penetrated the underground rap scene in 2022 with a series of songs and features. He was on For Her (Voice2Rep’s compilation album), Menu with Droxx, Kokoka with VRSD, Fake Heads with Blvck Oreo and a remix of Menu with Emaxee, O’Shea and PayBac iBoro. In 2023, he came out with a two-song pack titled Agba Beef, which featured the songs AGBALAGBI and Beef Dey. The beautifully unique delivery of Yorùbá language in his music sets him apart from the many rappers springing up these days.

X.com: @llarim9

Jeriq the Hustler

On December 10, 2023, Jeriq the Hustler filled the 15,000 capacity Okpara Square in Enugu for a concert. The Igbo-speaking rapper’s catalogue goes back to 2018 with releases every year till date. With upcoming features and co-signs from top industry people, Jeriq is about to be in our faces in 2024.

X.com: @the49thstreet

Droxx

Only a few artists can boast a solid streak of up to 20 guest features in a year. Droxx, AKA African Chief, has long proved himself as one of the pioneers of Drill music in Nigeria and a top contender for most revered new rapper in the country. He opened for Davido’s “Timeless Concert” alongside Rebelwav in Abuja on December 15, 2023. With every performance, Droxx showcases true passion, consistency and his charisma places him as one of the coolest young emcees who’ll make 2024 a year to remember in Nigerian Hip-Hop.

Image source: Droxx

R&B

Brum3h

Brumeh Oghenekaro is a singer-songwriter, record and vocal producer and sound engineer who calls himself “Emo Boy”. The name accurately describes the deep feelings Brum3h expresses on his songs. As the R&B scene returns to its purest form in Nigeria, you’ll find acts like Brum3h in the frontline, uncompromising and passionate with his rhythm and blues. In September, he released Typewrit3R Volume One — a set of love letters to a difficult lover.

Image source: Spotify

Rukmani

Rukmani is managed by Cokoon Records (sister company to Aristokrat Records). Straight out of Port Harcourt, Rukmani masterfully renders intimacy, vulnerability and youth onto her soul-searching audio material. And her debut album, Angel On the Run (2023), encompasses these elements perfectly.

Image source: Spotify

RnB Princess

Staking her claim as a singer and storyteller capable of deep emotion and soulful melodies, RnB Princess’ voice carries a warm appeal. Her dear diary EP, produced by Beezyx, proves this point.

Image source: Spotify

Alternative

DoTTi the Deity

Forever Sweet (2022), a neo-folklore jam that’s been reigning at wedding parties all year, has solidified DoTTi the Deity as an amazing songwriter, singer and performer. More than that, his lyrics showcase him as a Yorùbá language custodian for the new generation. In 2023, DoTTi released another EP titled For You Knew Me, giving us a peep into the greatness the singer will unleash in the coming year.

Image source: Spotify

Bizzonthetrack

With Bizzonthetrack, you’ll get a mix of pop, R&B and lo-fi influences. You’ll also get simple lyrics that cover hustle culture, good life and sensuality. If you want to relax and have a good time or marinate in your feelings, Bizz is the guy. Start with his latest, Sir Jaiye Kuti, or attend his concert in Ibadan on December 23 to experience him live.

X.com: @bizzonthetrack

Ravington

Sitting at the intersection of rap, singing and music production, Ravington has conveniently designed his own brand of alternative music. Borrowing from Cruel Santino, Odunsi the Engine and Black Magic, Ravington adds in his abstract style of production to go with his deep vocals. After his Retrograde Blues EP dropped in 2022, he put out five songs and produced for fellow up-and-comers in 2023. We look forward to his 2024 offerings.

Image source: Ravington

Production

Afroselekta-BBK

An Abuja-based music producer and artist, Afroselekta-BBK has collaborated with EESKAY, Zilla Oaks, Reeplay, Laxy-BBK and more of the city’s finests. His expertise is an alternative blend of Afropop, Amapiano, EDM and Hip-Hop sounds like drill, grime and trap. His music projects like AED & AMAPIANO (2023), DRILLER & VANILLA (2022), Dangerous (2021) and AED (2019) helped establish him as an expert on these sounds. We can’t wait for what he’ll bring in 2024. He’s also carved a dynamic spot for himself as an animator, writing scripts and animating videos for his music releases.

Image source: The Guardian Nigeria

Kemena

Some may recognise Kemena as a recording artist, songwriter and sound engineer, but he’s also a music producer with credit on all the tracks off his projects, Bond (2020) and Guitars and Malaria (2023). He creates and arranges his music from scratch and has produced for Joeboy (The Best For You), Badboywilz (Agbalagba) and Music Business Africa 2022 finalist, Jola Bello (Rain). His style swings between Afropop, R&B and alternative rock music.

Facebook: @Kemenamusic

NYRP

NYRP is an Afrobeats music producer making his name underground after he left the Sarz Academy in 2022. His soft popping beats have earned him production credit on songs like Jimni Abdul’s Royal Rumble, Söulaar’s Balance, Muis’ Saati Ramoni and The Lemon Vinyl’s Majo and Tomorrow.

Instagram: @nyrp_szn

DJing

WEAREALLCHEMICALS

When she’s not modelling or working on Dencity, her skateboard collective focuses on empowering women, Blessing Ewona AKA WEAREALLCHEMICALS, DJs. She has Gen-Zs spellbound with her Afrobeats, electronic dance (EDM) and House music mixes. You can catch her performances at every cool youth party in Lagos, such as Activ.Yard, Science Club and MELT. She’s on to something incredible with her unique mix style, and the mainstream will soon get fixed on her chemical doses. It’s only a matter of time.

Instagram: @blessing_ewona

DJ Kiss

Anyone who’s paid attention to DJ Kiss since her Unilorin days circa 2018 knows she’s cut from a different fabric. She never misses with her selection of romantic early 2000 pop hits, both local and foreign. She also works with afropop and rap jams of the 2010s, and a slew of current Afropop, Amapiano, House and Hip-hop hits. Kiss has worked stages like the Jameson City Takeover, Afrobeats in the City and even her very own U.K. Summer Tour from August to October 2023. But no matter the size of the venue she plays, her set always brings the crowd alive.

Instagram: @celebritydjkiss

DJ 212

DJ 212 is popular in the NYSC orientation camp and corporate events in Lagos for hot playlists of Afrobeats and Amapiano mashups. He’s the guy for anyone who needs twedding turn-ups and themed parties. After his Press Play Party 2.0 featured Asake and YhemoLee in February 2023, he’s set to have a blast with parties next year.

Instagram: @dj2.1.2

Tomide Marv

December 20, 2023

General, Music, Pop

2023, DJs, next to blow, nigerian music, Pop, Producers, Zikoko
Sarz is one of the biggest Nigerian producers of the moment, having worked with everyone from Wizkid and Niniola to Skepta and Queen B (Yes, Blue Ivy’s mother). But today, we’ll judge Sarz’s music based on one thing and one thing only: is it twerkable?

As Zikoko’s resident twerk expert (I was announced after BVAS didn’t work), this is an official ranking of Sarz’s biggest hits as an artiste from least to most twerkable.

Gone Girl with Obongjayar

See, Gone Girl is a bop and arguably one of Sarz’s best songs, but is it twerkable? No. Obongjayar’s voice and narration about the girl who’s changing right before his eyes makes it hard for anyone to focus on jiggling their cheeks left and right. Gone Girl is a great song to sing along to and shout “Zombie” over and over again, but it doesn’t support bum bum activities.

Mad with Wurld

Mad doesn’t strike you as a song you can twerk to until you listen to it repeatedly. It’s what I call a grower, not a shower. The girls that get it, get it.

Tonongo with Lojay

Do not twerk to Tonongo unless you’re ready to be a parent because this song can and will lead you down the road of fornication. This hidden gem off Sarz and Lojay’s 2021 EP, LV N ATTN, is perfect for that seductive slow-motion twerking you see people do in the club at 3 a.m.

Park O X3 with Lojay

Nothing about the lyrics from Park O X3 makes sense. What does “Sho fe jo ko ninu Mercedes. Abi o fe jo ko sinu methodist” mean? But who cares? As soon as Lojay starts singing, “Park o! Park o!” you’ll forget the lyrics and focus on the bigger picture, moving your dump truck up and down.

Good Morning Riddim

Something about twerking to a song called Good Morning Riddim in the club at 11 p.m. doesn’t sound right to me, but who am I to tell people’s bum bum what it can or cannot do and at what time it’s supposed to do what it wants. It’s a mouthful, but you get the point. Bum bums deserve their own agency, and that’s what they’ll get.

Get Up with Flash and DJ Tunes

This song’s title literally encourages you to get up in the club. And what do you do when you get up in a club? You guessed it. Twerk. DJ Tunes gave us Iskaba, and Flash joined SDC to give us Tropicana,so it’s no surprise that Get Up is a banging twerk anthem.

RECOMMENDED: Lojay’s Monalisa is Better than Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, Let’s Discuss

Monalisa with Lojay

Do I have to say anything here? Monalisa is a versatile queen that supports twerking, all the legwork in the amapiano multiverse of madness, azonto and even yahoozee. Yes, I’ve tried all of them, and they all worked.

Vex with Wande Coal

If you liked Wande Coal’s underrated 2013 jam, Rotate, then Vex is the twerk anthem for you. This song is for chaotic but experienced twerkers who can twerk upside down without missing a beat. The last minute of this song will make your bum bum jiggle like hot amala.

Designer with Niniola

Suppose Sarz and Niniola’s Ibadi was “Twerk 101: Twerking, The Basics” for first-year students. In that case, Designer is “Twerk 401: The Macroeconomics of Twerking” for final students who want to explore twerking on a larger scale. Niniola might not be a fan of Gucci or Fendi, but best believe she’s a fan of twerking.

Inbox Riddim

Have you twerked continuously for four minutes and 17 seconds before? Well, there’s always a first time, and yours will probably be when you listen to Inbox Riddim for the first time. Please, make sure you have access to painkillers after. Let it not be that I didn’t warn you.

Beat of Life (Samba) with Wizkid

This song was made for twerking, and you can’t tell me otherwise. I have a strong feeling even Wizkid was whining his waist and backing that ass up when he was in the recording booth. I mean, we already have evidence that Ayodeji can throw it down here:

Wizkid should do wiz party for the culture please 😘😘 pic.twitter.com/LUpvLjigaV
— Nyokabi (@Evelyn_GodGiven) July 14, 2021

I still don’t know what “Samba” means, but something tells me it’s code for “get up and twerk”.

ALSO READ: These Producers Helped Make Afrobeats Famous, Give Them Their Flowers

Conrad Johnson-Omodiagbe

March 17, 2023

Music, Pop

Afrobeats., music, Nigerian Songs, Producers, SARZ
There’s a popular saying that goes, “The only constant thing in life is change,” and the music producers on this list embody this philosophy.

After making hits for some of our favourite singers behind the scenes, these producers have gone on to replicate the same (or almost the same) level of success for themselves as singers in their own rights.

But of all the producer-turned-singer transitions, which one shocked fans the most and which one made us go, “Oh, yeah, this makes sense”?

Young Jonn

Between 2014 and 2016, almost every Olamide song started with the lines, “It’s Young Jonn, the wicked producer.” He showed his “wickedness” producing songs like Story For The Gods, Bobo, Falila Keitan and Blood Money. But nothing prepared me for his 2022 EP, Love Is Not Enough or just how much I’d be obsessed with Dada, his single with Davido.

While I couldn’t place a face to the name when he was producing, now I know what Young Jonn looks and sounds like when he’s singing. And let’s just say, I’m totally here for it.

Pheelz

I can’t recap 2022 without talking about how we were all shouting, “If I broke na my business!” at the top of our voices. It didn’t matter whether we were at the club or on a long queue for spicy rice at Chicken Republic, Pheelz and BNXN’s Finesse has been everywhere this year.

But before becoming a household name and badass performer (this video lives rent-free in my head), Pheelz was always behind the scenes and in his producer bag creating major hits like Durosoke for Olamide, Billionaire for Teni, Scatter for Fireboy DML and Pick Up for Adekunle Gold. No one was doing it like Pheelz as a producer and it looks like he’s moved that energy to his singing as well. Love it!

Kiddominant

What do Orezi’s Rihanna, Davido’s Fall, Mr Eazi and DJ Neptune’s Marry and Mayorkun’s Mama all have in common? Yes, you guessed right — it’s Kiddominant’s special touch. Even though he’d churned out major hits as a producer, I was still shocked to hear his voice singing the chorus on AKA’s Fela in Versace. Since then, Kiddominant has dropped an EP and changed the spelling of his name to KDDO.

Nigerian artists are taking this rebranding thing seriously.

RECOMMENDED: We Listened and These Are the Biggest Songs of 2022 So Far

Maleek Berry

Cutting his teeth behind the scenes as a UK-based producer creating bangers for Wizkid, Maleek Berry made a big shift becoming an artist with songs like Kontrol, Eko Miami and the unforgettable Juice with Ycee. You had to be there for his 2016 EP, Last Daze of Summer. Someone needs to bring Maleek back because the streets miss his vocals for real.

Don Jazzy

Technically, we heard Don Jazzy’s voice on D’banj’s Tongolo when it dropped back in in 2005. Even though some of us thought it would be a one-time thing, as producers sometimes make vocal cameos on their songs, Don Jazzy has become one of the most sought-after Nigerian singers. And he does this while running a massive record label, producing hits for everyone from Burna Boy to Ruger, and killing it as a social media influencer.

Does he have two heads, or are the rest of us just lazy? These are the questions.

Tekno

Many of us didn’t even know Tekno was a producer until his career blew up as a singer. From rhyming Lagbaja with Gwagwalada on Pana to calling out all the tribal female names he could find on Duro, we’ve all come to know Tekno as a big hitmaker. But while working as an upcoming musician, Tekno produced songs for Bracket, Victoria Kimani, Ice Prince. After he “blew”, he produced If for Davido in 2017.

Davido

Guys, his first hit as a producer was his own song, so it just makes sense that Davido is the least surprising producer-to-artist transition story on this list. While Davido had produced for Dammy Krane, everything changed when he dropped his debut single, Back When, and we all heard him say, “On the beat, it’s Davido.”

Breaking out as a producer and an artist simultaneously is a major feat. But if there was anyone who could pull it off, it had to be OBO himself.

ALSO READ: These Producers Helped Make Afrobeats Famous, Give Them Their Flowers

Conrad Johnson-Omodiagbe

July 13, 2022

Pop

afrobeats, Davido, Don Jazzy, nigerian music, Pheelz, Producers