Top 10 hottest Nigerian artistes this year
We present the top 10 hottest acts of 2015, based on the music, endorsement and deals, and power moves.
Don Jazzy
2015 is almost done, and
Nigerian musicians are gearing up for the festive season. But what
determines the booking potential of an artiste is the relevance of that
act.
This year has seen a number of artistes
become hot, with Seyi Shay, and Falz crossing into the elite circle of
desirable musicians due to hard work, the quality and acceptance of the
music, endorsements and deals, and also power moves to consolidate their
position in the market.
Based on these criteria, Pulse Music presents the top 10 hottest acts of 2015.
1. Olamide
Olamide’s
consistent hard work has been the underlying reason for his success.
With 5 solo albums in 5 years and a joint-album with Phyno, the YBNL
boss has kept his brand relevant as ever. The singles from the album
have given him some of the biggest songs with ‘Bobo’, ‘Melo melo’, and
‘Lagos Boys’ dominating.
Also, Olamide has had
a good run in label management, helping his protégés Lil Kesh and
Adekunle Gold hit the ground running. This year has also seen him carry
out major work for the brands Guinness and Etisalat. Olamide also signed
up a new deal with sports gambling brand Surebet 24/7.
Concerts
for Olamide has been sold out with a highly lucrative tour of the UK
and other venues. To wrap up the year, he is planning the second edition
of his conceptual concert ‘Olamide Live In Concert’.
2. Don Jazzy
Don Jazzy(Instagram )
Pop
culture will forever remember the brilliance as Don Jazzy as the
blueprint for talent, enterprise and hard work. This year has not been
different.
For Don Jazzy, 2015 has been one of
tremendous personal and label growth. With the exception of his first
lady Tiwa Savage who took time out to become a mother, every other
talent signed to him have received guidance and the finances to improve.
For Don Jazzy, this
year has had him grow fully into an artiste on his own right, with
show-stopping hooks at every turn. That has not been limited to his
signed artistes with his craft extending beyond his camp. At the time of
this report, his good vocal work on Timaya’s ‘I concur’, is receiving
rave reviews.
Mavin Records have had hits after
hits this year, with Di’ja celebrating with ‘Awww’ and ‘Falling for
you’. Korede Bello’s ‘Godwin’ is yet to see him take a break, Reekado
Banks is flying high with ‘Corner’, ‘Katapot’, and ‘Sugarbaby’. D’Prince
just got his groove on with ‘Oga Titus’, and ‘Bestie’, Dr SID’s
‘Kabiyesi’ is gearing up for explosion.
Don Jazzy, Mavins set to thrill fans with massive concert
Endorsements for Don
Jazzy has come in fast and thick, with the classy liquor brand, Johnnie
Walker pitching their tents with him. His deals with Loya Milk, and MTN
still stand.
To crown it all, in partnership with
Access Bank, Mavin Records will be hosting their first ever concert
tagged the ‘Access Mavin Concert’ on December 23. 2015.
3. Wizkid
Wizkid(FADER)
What
a year it has been for the Starboy CEO. Still buzzing off the release
of his sophomore album ‘Ayo’ (Joy) in late 2015, the singer has kept up
the pace in 2013.
Hit single ‘Expensive shit’, and
the more recent ‘Baba Nla (final)’ has ensured that his musical
brilliance is intact. Also, his good work internationally has been a
revelation. Wizkid worked with Grammy winner Angelique Kidjo, recorded a hook with Coldplay’s Chris Martin for pop star Rihanna. A performance with Chris Brown was in the works also in South Africa at the ‘X Tour’, so was another recording with UK star Tinie Tempah, and Norwegian pop icons Nico & Vinz.
Wizkid, Nico & Vinz, after a recording session.(Instagram)
But the bread and butter of the entire affair came with the blessing of arguably the hottest rapper in the world, Drake, who rolled off a verse to remix ‘Ojuelegba’ with Skepta. That move added extra spice to his year.
A
failure to release his third studio album this year put a dampener on
his shine, but that hasn’t derailed his numerous performances and
concerts which has been steady and sold-out.
Wizkid on the red carpet of 2face's Fortyfied concert.(Instagram)
Wizkid made a strong
financial move with his porting from MTN to GLO in a deal that was
reportedly worth N120 Million. Also he renewed his Pepsi deal which
according to reports brought in a staggering $350,000.
4. Davido
Davido's chevrolet
2014 ended with Davido’s ‘Owo ni koko’ creating a storm in pop culture that ran through into 2015.
That storm gave him the perfect launching pad for his work this year. This year started with the single ‘The Sound’ ft Uhuru, followed by ‘Izzue’
with Dammy Krane that he failed to promote, and then came the Meek Mill
collaboration on the smash single ‘Fans mi’, which has led up to the
recent jam ‘The Money’ with Olamide. Also he put in admirable work on DJ
Xclusive’s ‘Wole’.
Davido
Davido’s failing this
year has been his refusal to drop his sophomore album. That album
promises an international collaboration with Trey Songz.
On
the endorsement front, not a lot of activity has happened for the man.
Davido is still signed to MTN Pulse, and inked a deal with CloseUp.
5. Yemi Alade
Africa’s hottest
female act comes in with a busy year for her. Yemi Alade’s star has
risen meteorically, and this is off her hit single ‘Johnny’, and the singles off her debut album “King Of Queens” including ‘Tangerine’, ‘Kissing’ and ‘Taking over me’.
Endorsement
for the artiste have come from CloseUp, who jointly signed her with
Davido. She has been actively involved with Coke Studio Africa.
The awards for Yemi
Alade have come in thick and fast, as she has been successful at the
2015 MAMA, AFRIMMA 2015, and AFRIMA 2015, with all awards pointing to
her as the best female on the continent.
In 2016, the singer intends to release her sophomore album titled “Mama Africa”.
6. Phyno
Phyno
The
King of the East is in here with his profile maintained by hard work.
2015 had the singer releasing a joint studio album with Olamide his
Western counterpart.
Olamide, Lil Kesh, Adekunle Gold, Phyno thrill London(Press)
Also he dropped the visuals for ‘Oringo’, ‘Asai’, and ‘Nnunu’, before wrapping up in style with ‘Connect’, which has shaped up to become one of the hottest songs to round-off the year.
Phyno kept up his end of the Guiness brand endorsement deal, and added a major scoop with the telco Airtel.
7. Patoranking
The singer began the year promoting his single ‘Daniella Whine’. He later consolidated his position with the Wande Coal-assisted ‘My woman my everything’. His recent single ‘Make am’, an inspirational number is racking up acceptance.
The blight in Patoranking’s music this year came from his inability to release his debut studio album.
Patoranking in 'Make am' video
The singer fared respectably in the endorsement department after he bagged the deal with Skyy Vodka.
One
deal which has placed Patoranking in a good place, is the
ground-breaking agreement he signed with the world’s biggest music
label, VP Records.
8. Burna Boy
Burna boy
Spaceship
Entertainment act, Burna Boy is currently promoting his sophomore album
“On A Spaceship”, which crowns a thriving year for the singer. His
singles ‘Follow me, ‘Rockstar’, and ‘Soke’ have all been stellar additions to the singer’s catalogue, propelling him to relevance.
His
sophomore album is still in its early stages, but it marks a good
moment for the singer who has taken responsibility for his craft after
quitting Aristokrat Records.
Burna Boy got a huge financial boost as one of the headlining acts for 2015 Hennessy Artistry, which also had Vector and Praiz. He also extended his GLO contract.
To round off a good year, Burna inked a distribution deal with Universal/Island Records for distribution of his music.
9. Seyi Shay
Seyi Shay’s year has been a revelation. Picking up from her 2014 smash hit song ‘Murda’, the singer struck again as her club single ‘Crazy’ with Wizkid received new life after the video.
Picking up from that, she released ‘Jangilova’,
which ushered in the deal-clincher ‘Right now’. That has led to the
release of her debut album “Seyi or Shay”, and also aided in her new
Pepsi brand endorsement deal.
10. Falz
Falz launches Stories That Touch Album
With
comedy forming a strong part of his artistry, Falz has been able to
utilise his teeming fan base eagerly consuming his music.
The rapper has had a number of good songs, with ‘Karashika’ forming an integral part of his sophomore album “ Stories That Touch” which is receiving credit as a solid conceptual work.
Endorsements have also come for the man, with online brands Cheki, and WebMall, signing him up to lucrative deals.
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