In the Nigerian music industry, 2007 was a watershed moment. Artists like Asa, Timaya, and 9ice released their debut albums to critical and commercial acclaim during this time period.
The largest label in Nigeria at the time, Mo Hits, released a first-of-its-kind label compilation CD.
Don Jazzy, the country’s most successful producer at the time, handled the majority of the production on the project, which generated singles including “Booty call,” “Move your body,” and “Close to you.”
In the 15 years since 2007, a lot has happened in the industry. Nigerian music has advanced in leaps and bounds to the point where it can now be regarded as global mainstream music.
Even if this is magnificent, no one should dismiss the amount of work that went into bringing the picture to this point.
Artists, labels, and other business stakeholders put in a lot of work in the early and mid-2000s, and it’s undeniably paying off now for the scene.
These were some of the songs that will be 15 years old in 2022.
Kini Big Deal- Naeto C ft. Ikechukwu
Naeto C has been around for quite a long time before “Kini Big Deal” was released. Before the publication of “Kini Big Deal,” Naeto C had been around for a while.
The above, on the other hand, was the song that changed his life and changed the trajectory of Nigerian commercial rap music forever. Earlier to this, rappers of the time were more focused on the technical aspects of rhyming, which resulted in their songs having a low commercial value. Naeto proved that you can be a superb rapper while also writing a fantastic rap-pop tune.
Yahooze- Olu Maintain
If you didn’t play Olu Maintain’s “Yahozee” at your 2007 party, it wasn’t a party.
When the song Yahozee came on, everyone and their mother had to sing along. Olu Maintain’s first real solo win after quitting the trio, “Maintain,” was also a success.
Timaya -Timaya
Timaya, popularly known as ‘Egberi Papa 1 of Bayelsa,’ had the entire world at his feet when he died in 2007. After releasing the similarly hit “Dem mom” in 2005, Timaya achieved gold again in 2007 with this self-titled track produced by K Solo for his iconic debut album, True Story.
Greenland- TY Bello
TY Bello was a member of the gospel group KUSH in the early 2000s. The band enjoyed a lot of success but, like most bands, eventually disbanded.
TY returned in 2007 with the smash single “Greenland,” a hopeful song about Nigeria’s future, after a couple of years of silence following the band’s dissolution. ‘Greenland’ was a smash hit across the country, especially with schoolchildren, as it was frequently used in school and church dance routines and choreographies.
Do Me-P-square
Game Over, Peter and Paul’s third album, was released in 2007. Along with 2face and D’banj, they were definitely the most popular artists in the country at the time. Everything they came in contact with turned to gold. “Do Me” was the most successful single from an album in which each track was a smash. The video, which was shot in South Africa, was a huge improvement above previous Nigerian music videos in terms of quality.
Fire on the Mountain- Asa
Asa was an outlier in 2007, a system flaw if you will. There was almost nothing in the mainstream when she first came out that sounded like her. With the support of the famous Cobhams Asoquo, she released her iconic self-titled debut album. “Fire on the Mountain” was the album’s lead single.
Julie- Shank
Shank’s song “Julie” is something of a cult classic. It may not have charted as well as some of the other songs on our list, but it was the best thing in the world for those who knew it at the time!
‘Booty Call’- Mo Hits feat Dbanj & Wande Coal
What happens when the country’s best pop performers join forces with the country’s best producer? Curriculum Vitae is a collection of Mo’s greatest hits. “Booty Call,” which featured Wande Coal and D’banj, was the album’s most hit single.
Lori Le’- X-Project
“Lori le,” a song written by two Sierra Leoneans and one Nigerian, was published in 2007 by X-Project, a group made up of two Sierra Leoneans and one Nigerian. “Lori le,” from their third album Sierra-Naija, was known for its catchy start and was one of the most popular party songs of the time.
Cry- Modenine
Modenine jumped on Cobhams Asuquo’s softer track, ditching his tried-and-true punch lines over hard body beats. With the ease of a seasoned storyteller, Modenine presented riveting tales about widows’ rights in Igbo country and cultism in Nigerian colleges.
