Entertainment
Revisiting The Rise Of ‘Naija’ Super Rappers …(From Lord Of Ajasa To Olamide)
In the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, Nigerian rap lovers were only exposed to the hard core American-English style of the genre from the United States of America (USA), later Nigerian artistes started to interprete the art in our own version of English language as well as pidgin.
Rap stars like Trybesmen with Eldee D’Don, KB, Freestyle and Swat Root, a group which included Mode 9, Terry Tha Rapman, Six Foot Plus and Rule Clean as well as Eedris Abdulkareem became pioneers of the contemporary form of the genre in Nigeria.
However, another set of rappers came up almost simultaneously who preferred to adapt the urban American Street expression to our own indigenous languages unlike the early pioneers, these rappers earned some appeal since they flowed in languages Nigerians understood.
These days, the pioneers have been replaced by more popular acts like Olamide, Phyno and Reminisce, but their legacy will never be taken for granted. Among the popular pioneer ‘naija’ rap artistes are ‘Lord of Ajasa who leads the pack. With his first single ‘ma yi lo’ in 2000 he went on to produce a monster hit “Fenusa” featuring Gice on his second album “second turning by the right”. He is known for strictly rapping in yoruba with English words mixed into his rhymes.
Then came ‘2phat’, another Yoruba rapper under ID Cabassa’s coded tunes. He is popular for his “Bere mi” track featuring Gice released in 2009. I ll Bliss pioneered raping in Igbo with his first album, “Dat Igbo Boy” which had hits like “Aiye Po Gan” and “You Go Wound”, he has gone on to release three studio albums namely ‘Dat Igbo Boy”, “Oga Boss” and “Powerful”.
After Ill Bliss came ‘Niga Raw’ who now goes by Mr Raw another Igbo rapper popular for his track ‘Obodo’ featuring comedian “Klint Da Drunk”. However, with the rise of Dagrin came a new twist in the game. He brought in modernity and streets vibes. Although his first album “Still on the Matter” did not make much waves, his second attempt ‘Executive CEO’ did.
He brought life to the game and what many indigenous rappers today leverage on popular for his hit track ‘pon pon’ and over 200 collabos before his untimely demise on April 22, 2010 that left the whole nation mourning. Dagrin’s death paved way for new school indigenous rap artistes like Reminisce, Olamide, Phyno, Lil Kesh CDQ, Chinko Ekun, Base One among others.
Phyno, Olamide and Reminisce have gone to be the faces of indigenous rap in Nigeria. Others include Mode 9, Ice Prince, Naeto C, Falz, Skales, Ycee, Vector, M.I. Abaga among others.
The Lennox K. Black International Prize for Excellence in Medicine is a prestigious accolade awarded by Thomas Jefferson University, recognising outstanding individuals.
The actress was honoured with the Lennox K. Black International Prize for Excellence in Medicine by Thomas Jefferson University in America in recognition of her outstanding contributions to social activism and impact through her work.
This remarkable achievement, they said, highlights her dedication to societal well-being and marks her as the first Black recipient of this distinguished award.
The Tide Entertainment reports that the Lennox K. Black International Prize for Excellence in Medicine is a prestigious accolade awarded by Thomas Jefferson University, recognising individuals who have made significant contributions to the medical field, promoting scientific discovery and advancements.
Named after Lennox K. Black, a Canadian manufacturing executive known for his philanthropic efforts and service on various boards, including Thomas Jefferson University, the prize celebrates excellence in medical innovation and global contribution to health and medicine.
The actress is renowned for her activism and impactful work in areas concerning women’s health and rights, including her efforts to combat issues like fistula and gender-based violence.
According to the award organisers she has been instrumental in bringing about social change through her films and campaigns. They added that her work extends beyond borders, affecting lives and policies internationally, embodying the spirit of the Lennox K. Black International Prize.
On receiving the award, Stephanie expressed her gratitude and reaffirmed her commitment to using her platform for social good.
“This recognition goes beyond me; it is for all the women and girls fighting for a healthier, safer world. It amplifies our message and our work. It strengthens my resolve to continue advocating for gender equality, social justice, and improved maternal and reproductive health in Africa,” she said
Susan Aldunge, Interim President of Thomas Jefferson University, admired the actress, saying, ‘‘Your ability to educate while humbly addressing the cultural obstacles impeding progress for young women is commendable. Your intelligent, personal take on the necessary human rights changes has deeply impacted all lucky to encounter you. Congratulations once more on this well-deserved award and the acknowledgement of your efforts.’”
Ms Aldunge further said that Thomas Jefferson University, a leader in medical education and research, hosts the award to underscore its mission of improving lives through innovation in health care.
‘‘The university is proud to honour Stephanie Linus, whose work aligns with Jefferson’s values of creativity, collaboration, and compassion in pursuing excellence in medicine and beyond.
“Awarding the Lennox K. Black International Prize to Stephanie Linus celebrates her achievements and signals a broader recognition of the importance of social activism in medicine and health,” she added.
“Her pioneering efforts continue to inspire and effect change, paving the way for a healthier, more equitable world’’.
Stephanie, who was named Chairperson of the Nigerian Official Selection Committee (NOSC) for the Best International Feature Film (IFF) category of the Oscars in August 2023, is best known for her 2015 advocacy movie ‘Dry’, which tells the story of a 13-year-old girl whose parents marry her off to a 60-year-old man, with devastating consequences.
Ilebaye’s revelation came just after Phyna had publicly called out the organizers for withholding some of her prizes.
Phyna, who revealed this to Newsmen insinuated that Ilebaye broke the gender code by announcing that she got her full prize money.
She also stressed that she would continue to demand for her balance, stating that she worked hard for the money during the show’s 72-day duration.
“I believe I should at least get what I worked so hard for 72 days. You all suddenly remembered your alert screenshots and IG Live………… Common……one among others is 1BTC which is over 80m in today’s market.
“To those who got their money in full
I’m happy for you. As a poor man’s child, let me ask for my money and other items remaining.,” She added.
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