Hip-Hop is all about expression and poetry to a beat. These rappers on this list have decided to express themselves the best way they know how, and that’s in their native tongue. Whether it’s Hausa, Yoruba or Igbo these Nigerian hip-hop MCs do their thing very well on the MIC.
A lot of times we get carried away with the “gonna finna wanna” rappers that we forget the truest essence of hip-hop. The freedom to express yourself in your own way.
Here are 9 hip-hop acts that flow in their native tongue. Just one of the reasons we love them.
Olamide
The self proclaimed Baddest Guy Ever Liveth, took the platform Da Grin created and took it to a whole new level. You can argue that Olamide made rapping in your native tongue the new cool, and makes hip-hop in Yoruba sound so natural and effortless. What’s even more impressive is that he’s been able to put out solid material consistently for the past 2-3 years and it’s easy to see him being a name we’ll remember for years to come.
*** Story For The gods
Zoro
Zoro is one of the newer cats on the scene, but he’s repping 042 (Enugu) like he’s been carrying the city on his back. His flow is solid, and even better is his ‘slowed down’ flow that makes you hear and digest pretty much everything he’s saying… of course given you understand Igbo.
*** 042
Kheengz
The only representing the north on this list. He’s not necessarily the only rapper from northern Nigeria, neither is he the only one that can flow in Hausa, but he’s the one that has decided he’ll do it on a consistent basis. That makes him unique, and he’s possibly opening the doors for something new and exciting in Nigerian hip-hop.
*** Haba
Phyno
What Olamide is to Yoruba hip-hop, Phyno is slowly becoming to the Igbo hip-hop movement. Is he the first one to flow in igbo? Nope. But I can tell you he’s the first one that’s made so refined and polished and brings so much swag to his flow it’s ridiculous. With a solid debut album he has shown that he can potentially stay consistently good for years to come.
***Parcel
Reminisce
Reminisce brings such a raw street edge to his flow in Yoruba is hard to miss him when he’s on a track. You don’t talk rappers in Yoruba without bring Reminisce into the discussion. He’s stayed very consistent going from someone flying under the radar to one of the hottest names in Hip-Hop in less than 4 years.
***Ise Yen (by Sarz)
Tipsy
On the opposite gender line we have Tipsy who pretty much carries the torch for the ladies flowing in Yoruba. There aren’t too many else who do it as good as her, and really in my opinion she should be much more highly rated in the media than she is. Switching it from raw bars to a softer flow is nothing to her. She can give it anyway you like.
***So Le
Splash
Splash made a huge “splash” literally when she dropped her single, Church Agbasa. Suddently there was a femcee that could flow very well in igbo. You can correct me if I’m wrong but I believe there wasn’t anyone of note before her. She’s still feeling her through the music game but she’s definitely one to be on the look out for and she’s gathering an ever growing fanbase.
*** Ego Uwa
Seriki
Last and certainly not the least we have Seriki. You ask quite a few people who their favorite yoruba rapper is, and Seriki will be at the top of the list and they have a valid case for their argument. Seriki has been bringing it and holding it down for a long time. He flies a bit under the radar but that doesn’t mean he isn’t just as nice on the mic as the best of them. For his loyal fans though, there isn’t any better than him.
*** Sweet Love
Did we miss anyone? Or someone you think is really good? Let us know by dropping a comment or 2.
2hours the best igbo rapper as fanz calls him, why is he not on de list, bosalin too, these guys are all better than zoro
How can you have Olamide and Seriki but not have BaseOne. You people sef
U missed alot, Slowdog, bosalin, hype Mc, stormrex
BaseOne nko? Why he no dey list?
N wat happend to d the lyrical Edidem d ibibio rap king @ikpa_udo ,he’s far sicker dan all d names here ,were is stomrex ???
I for fear if u no add seriki….. He also run tinz….
What about morell five star general gatan arewa..i fink morell too is a gud rapper cos he can rap in hausa
Hot list
This list is fucking narrow.. why would only one person represent the north, where is Classic and Morell?
phyno is the best man of the year
i lyk phyno pass other musician phyno boss die
You need to know Upper-X in Calabar who rap in Efik
What about Ikpa udo? that nigga can spit in efik.. Reminisce??? that idiot spits nonsense
F**k ur father 4 saying Remi speaks nonsense…..rap urs nd let me hear u…..Mad fellow!
reminisce is the best hardcore yoruba rapper follow by olamide and base 1
Where is my guy ””’HYPE MC””
Zoro spit dope more than any igbo rappers,listen to otu by zoro and 042 etc,but i only see the best of bosalin in money on mind ft phyno that’s’his dopest linex in his carrier
this is just trash I can’t find classiq in ur list
u na dey crazy this list is noting but nonsense where is G-SIXD and TADNIZ that is killing the east right now with good igbo rap, check them out and stop listing trash.
Where is Classiq,Dr Lyrical Smith(All in hausa) and K-large(in Igbo)?
You people should try and recognise the only Dopest rapper that spits in Ibibio. his stage name is Ikpa Udo and He is from Akwa Ibom State. I swear he is better than all these aforementioned rappers. He is hot nte hell.
Korekt dis list North ix Morel nd include CDQ pls
Zoro is really trying but phyno is topping him,umu 042 ,check out 4 dis up coming by name 2jay raw aka iyele baby