Hey hip-hop heads! Let’s take it way back to the 1980s, when Nigeria’s hip-hop scene was just beginning to find its groove. Long before the industry found its commercial feet, a handful of artists were already laying the groundwork for what would become a booming cultural force. These pioneers blended rap with funk, Afrobeat, and pop, creating a unique sound that connected Nigeria to the global hip-hop movement.
Super Doeths: The Afro-Funk Innovators
One of Nigeria’s earliest duos experimenting with hip-hop elements was Super Doeths. Their sound was self-described as “Afro-funk,” but beneath the surface, their music carried strong influences from early American hip-hop. Their 1985 self-titled track, Super Doeths, paid homage to the genre’s greats by referencing Whodini’s Five Minutes of Funk and even name-dropping Run-DMC. At a time when hip-hop was still evolving in the U.S., it was remarkable that Nigerian artists were already resonating with the movement and contributing in their own way.
Sound on Sound: Nigeria Meets America
In 1988, another group emerged that would further push Nigerian rap into mainstream consciousness. Sound on Sound was a cross-continental group comprising Nigerian artists Mr. Kool, Ebony Laoye, and Monica Omorodion, alongside American artists Jedi and Scratch—who had previously worked with the legendary Sugarhill Gang. Their song I’m African became one of Nigeria’s first rap songs to receive significant airplay, particularly on Lagos-based stations such as NTA2 Channel 5 and Radio Nigeria 2.
Unlike many early Nigerian acts that leaned towards funk or pop, Sound on Sound delivered a more authentic hip-hop sound, reminiscent of what was happening in the U.S. at the time. Their music carried a strong Pan-African message, celebrating African identity and culture in a way that resonated with Nigerian youth.
Fellyx & Mozzyx: Paving the Way for Pop-Rap
While some early Nigerian hip-hop acts leaned heavily on funk and Afrobeat, Fellyx & Mozzyx took a different approach, merging pop with rap. This dynamic duo gained recognition in the late ’80s and early ’90s, dominating the airwaves with their catchy sound. Though their style wasn’t purely hip-hop in the modern sense, they were instrumental in bringing rap elements into Nigeria’s mainstream music scene.
The Legacy of 1980s Nigerian Hip-Hop
The artists of the 1980s may not have had the glitz and global reach of today’s Nigerian hip-hop acts, but they were the torchbearers who paved the way. They experimented with rap when the genre was still in its infancy, blending it with local sounds to create something uniquely Nigerian.
Their contributions proved that hip-hop could thrive in Nigeria, setting the stage for the explosion of rap culture in the ’90s and 2000s. Without Super Doeths, Sound on Sound, or Fellyx & Mozzyx, we might not have had the likes of Eedris Abdulkareem, Mode 9, Naeto C, and the many other Nigerian hip-hop legends that followed.
So, next time you’re vibing to a Nigerian rap track, take a moment to appreciate the pioneers who laid the foundation back in the ’80s. Their influence may not always be in the spotlight, but their impact on Nigerian music history is undeniable.
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