The question that which musical talents
gaining attention now would still enjoy popular relevance in the coming
years is a necessarily moot one. We don’t know.
Because try as we may, industry experts, journalists, bloggers and other music enthusiasts are all painfully limited by the unimpeachable human inadequacy to accurately predict the future. All of our predictions which derive from rather scant data, and especially bias, amount to little more than conjectures which falls flat as reality unfolds.
Because try as we may, industry experts, journalists, bloggers and other music enthusiasts are all painfully limited by the unimpeachable human inadequacy to accurately predict the future. All of our predictions which derive from rather scant data, and especially bias, amount to little more than conjectures which falls flat as reality unfolds.
Indeed, some artistes have shown a lot
of early promise only to fade away after one single or two. But where
some have faltered, some others have flown. For reasons often reducible
to managerial and/or artistic incompetence, we know that not every Retta
go on to become Tiwa Savage.
In recent years, however, Wande Coal,
Wizkid, Olamide to name a few have shown that consistency, though
difficult to achieve, is possible even in a cutthroat industry.
I have here compiled a list of new and
emerging artistes who are either yet to release an album or have only
released their debut album within the past year.
The five years milestone is important to
every artiste in the highly competitive world of afro-pop music, and
contained in this list are five local artistes who are young, hot, and
banging and would likely remain so in another five years or more.
1. Lil’ Kesh: The
former YBNL artiste and Olamide’s protégé has shown himself as a force
to be reckoned with in the music industry since his acclaimed hit
record, Lyrically. Equally adept at rapping as he is at singing, Lil’
Kesh has constantly kept his fans entertained whether on his personal
projects or his several featured songs.
Indeed, like his mentor Olamide would
like the world to remember: Lil’ Kesh’s every single is a hit back to
back. And with the recent twin launch of his own record label and album,
YAGI, he doesn’t seem to be running out of steam yet, and we would just
keep our eyes on him while he makes us shoki or speak in tongues with
abandon. Go Kesh!
2. Kiss Daniel: A raspy
voice and a dashingly good-looking face is often enough to make one a
pop star; Kiss Daniel, however, seems to understand that a good
songwriting skill might keep you hot forever.
Since his megahit ironic love anthem,
Woju, Kiss Daniel is proving to be a mainstay at every event with
successive hit songs whose appeals cut across from the club to the
wedding reception, earning him the adoration of fans and grudging
respect from critics.
His 20-track album ‘New Era’ is
currently enjoying rave reviews and, if the title of its first track is
to be trusted, we truly might have a New King on our hands in Boy Kiss.
3. Patoranking: A rare
rendition of Jamaican patois in pidgin and a combination of afro pop
music with reggae dancehall sets Patoranking apart from his peers, while
he traverses the best of many worlds, bringing joy to a split
Naija-carribean fan base.
His recent collaboration with Ghanaian
rapper Sarkodie not only means Patoranking is spreading his reach to
neighboring Ghana; the resultant mix No Kissing Baby might prove to be
2016 summer jam.
Patoranking is hot right now and we
suspect the release of his highly anticipated “God Over Everything”
album would only make his fire inextinguishable. Wha ya say?
4. Reekado Banks: The
Mavin Records artiste and controversial winner of Hip Hop World awards
Next Rated Artiste have somewhat catapulted himself to popular music
relevance.
Capable of a catchy hook and with a
competent singing voice to match, Reekado Banks under the astute
management of Don Jazzy is set to keep on dishing out hits after hits
for years to come.
Hate him or love him the boy is on top, and would likely stay there.
5. YCEE: A sound which
indistinctly vacillates between Nigerian afro pop and American trap
music may earn you stick from purists; but without mincing words, YCEE
represents the dominant tenuous tend toward American culture.
A breath of fresh air on the local music
scene and one of the leaders of the new school with his strong
following; YCee’s efforts on ‘Su Mi’ and Desiigner’s Panda cover adds
much gloss to a brief but already shiny career which could also boast of
hit singles Jagaban and the eponymous Omo Alhaji.
It is no gainsay that YCEE’s soon to be
released ‘New Wave’ album is one of the most anticipated music events of
the year, perhaps second only to the release of another YCEE single.
Dude is hot and definitely not letting up.
This is far from an exhaustive list and
you’re welcome to mention what other artistes you think might be
relevant in another five years – or even disagree with the names already
mentioned here.
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