List compiled by Reading-Bridges magazine.Totally
agree with it...guess that's why I'm sharing it :-).
Once upon a time, the oyibo man ran Nigerian
music when big international music labels as Sony,
EMI, Motown etc set up here and called the shots.
Unable to contain the yawa they met, they packed
their baggage and left. Leaving us with no clue as
to what to do.
Those who decided to invent a new Nigerian sound
were criticized strongly by the older music act as
being armatures who were heading nowhere. The
press too, was not exactly kind to their course. But
they stuck to their guns with sacrifices and today
we have thousands making millions out of an
industry they slaved for
These are the top 20 guys who began and grew the
new age Nigerian music industry. The seed sowers
and pioneers who created and promoted the new
sound that feeds millions today and put our music
on the Global map. See the guys after the cut...
1) Kennis Music : Nigeria's foremost indigenous record
label. Even though they had a structure that promoted
basically acts under its umbrella, they generally gave
the new school artist an enviable status. Hype masters
who were undeniable experts of bestowing a larger than
life perception to the new school Nigerian music artist
and warming them into the hearts of Nigerians via the
widest TV network at the time. This often attracted
followership for the artist, increasing their fan base as
well as big bucks from the corporate sponsors. Kennis
music hold the record of getting the first new school
Nigerian act (Rapper EedrisAbdulkareem) to be paid
N1,000,000:00 for one show
2) Ben Omoage, popularly known as Grand Master Lee
and widely called GML. A strong crusader for the new
school act. His voice was on radio and it was loud. His
platform had power and he used the power
predominantly to call attention to the emergence of a
new kind of sound. He was loud and he was heard. GML
was known to be kind to the new bunch of musicians
and gave them air time they could never pay for.
3) Ayo Animashaun : The resilience of another pioneer.
His introduction was with his magazine that thought a
generation the lyrics of all their favorite songs. He was
one of the first to play Mongo Park with the hip hop
world. Discovering a whole new world of Nigerian
music. Ayo also engineered the most enviable reward
scheme for the new school act with an Award ceremony
that replicated Hollywood's glitz and glam
4) Emma Ugolee: A forerunner with the introduction of
music videos as the new tool for marketing the new
Nigerian artist. On TV, this presenter, producer was the
only alternative to the Kennis music dynasty. As
inventor of the first ever all Nigerian music video
countdown, his TV show was making more artist than
we expected. Renowned for his ear and eyes for talent
and personal support for most of Nigeria’s biggest
music acts today from the early days of their struggle. A
force the industry would never forget
5) Dj Jimmy Jatt : An old school Dj with the new school
flavor. If Jimmy played your song, it was like getting a
seal of industry approval, cause unlike many of his
colleagues who were still stuck with music from the
west, Jimmy celebrated the new Nigerian music by
playing at the biggest platforms in his time. Every leader
of the new school has a cherished favor given by Jimmy
in the wake of his career. In the words of Tuface “back
then na Jimmy Jattna him dey give us instrumental”
6) Paul Play : New school producer extraordinaire. Made
that fresh sound for so many of the pioneers as well as
himself. Formed one of the first new schoolR and B
groups in Nigeria called Oxygen. Paul IK Dairo had big
shoes to fill with a musical icon of a father, but like
Femi Kuti, he too had found his own path and identity
but also carried quite a crowd on his back in the
process.
7) Kwame : Kwame was another voice on radio with a
following that was hard to ignore. His style made us all
want to listen to what he said. This presenter deserved
our attention. When the new school took off. Kwame
was a pilot that the journey wouldn't do without. He
used his platform well for the good of the course. His
hunger expanded to TV where Nigizziewas eventually
born
8) Eldee: For an under graduate in his late teens, his
vision was legendary. Forming his solo record label
(tribe records) and initiating trade with the Alaba trader
for the industry are landmarks that changed the
business, inspiring a whole lot. Attributable all to a man
aptly called the Don. Tribe records also went on to
create a long chain of successful careers.
9) Nelson Brown : Another producer of the new Nigerian
sound. The legendary Daddy Showkey’s "Diana" and
Plantation boy's "body and soul" albums are one of the
many industry redefining sounds that came out of the
stable of Mr Brown's dove records that operated from a
small kiosk in Festac. Nelson's versatility was amazing
as he made hip hop hits for Def O clan, Love songs for
P.boiz and yet sold that Ajegunle new school to
Nigeria.
10) Obi Asika : Heavy weight that enjoyed throwing his
weight behind the new Nigerian sound. His backing for
Junior and Pretty was one of the early signs that the
industry was better off with Obi sticking around. This
was made manifest over time as many more owed their
blossoming careers to his dedication to improving the
industry
11) Swat root: When rap music had taken over the world
and we were wondering who could represent the nation
with the way it should be done. A team of Northern
Nigerian based rappers known as Swat root did not let
us wait for long. These intellectual kings of punchlines
made so many youngsters believe that they too could
get a shot at this as a means of living. The
acknowledgment intro of Ice prince's ELI album lists
their names as OD, Terry tharapman, Mode 9, Six foot
plus, Ruclean and EldeeXtra Large
12) Uzo Okpechi : The man who took directing music
videos personal. Invested for the sake of showing that
we too can look like the guys on MTV Europe and
Channel O. He was at a time the sole supplier for
quality videos to all who played them. His tag team with
Mr Emma Ugolee mentioned earlier was memorable as
defining what is today called packaging with visuals.
13). Plantation boys : As Jodeci, New Edition, The
boys, Boys to men, etc all got everyday black American
boys to believe in coming together to make music
magic, Plantation boys did same for the Naija kids.
Totally fresh sound from the boys next door,
transformed their reality into millions of achievable
dreams for music hopefuls who flooded the industry.
Body and Soul- the album remains the contact point for
many with the new age Nigerian sound
14) Remedies : Another Music redefining band. Made
music that opened doors to the acceptance of the new
school.Eddie, Tony and Eedris where the symbol of the
new school super stars. They inspired many to make
that trip to the studio and make the sponsors of
entertainment take the new school seriously
15) Ojb Jezreel : Like Paul play and Eldee. Ojb too had
opened his doors to the production of talent that
congested his studio daily. If he got paid for free beats
he gave out, he would have been a millionaire.
Responsible for the 1st sounds from Dbanj, Rugged
man, Funke etc... He was another one man mopol that
defended the new music
16) Femi Lasode : Here is a man who set up a business
to make money out of music with his Africa 'n Vogue
concept but ended up playing father Christmas all year
round with free studio sessions and video making ticket
to countless who could not afford it. Femi was
supportive of the new music and must be proud of
where it has gotten.
17) Tee Joe : it takes one to know one they say. A
music lover but also a business man.Approached by
Eldee with a plan to make paper packages for cd's
instead of the expensive plastic cases. Then also to use
the Nollywood distribution network to spread this new
emerging sound. The catch was for him to provide a
bulk sum to finish production and invests in the
distribution. That game changing decision in favor of
millions to come was made by Tee joe and today
millions of naira flow through that system
18) Eddie Lawani : The bearded one is everybody’s
uncle. Not only as a sign of respect for his mature,
fatherly demeanor but for his mentorship role that
pointed many budding acts in the right direction with
his wealth od experience. A technical guru with events
production but also uses the link to put bread on many
tables as a go between sponsors and artistes
19) Cali Ikpe : Cali was also a crusader on TV. The first
man to put plantation boiz on TV. Cali didn't believe
that we should make our guys look local. He did what
he could to equate the hype he gave home grown
talents on his show "Live Beats" to the one he gave
international act
20) Charles Novia : Charlie as he was fondly called is
today more remembered for his contribution to
Nollywood but he had long b4 that been a pillar for the
music industry. TV was his medium, and playing videos
and interviews was his timely share of introducing and
promoting the new era music. His show "who is on" in
1996 forced aoot of Nigerians to accept the new kids on
the block with the most populay medium called the NTA
network
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