We all agree that the music industry in Nigeria has been tough on male Nigerian rappers. But then, imagine how much tougher it has been on female Nigerian rappers. Nevertheless, there are still some trailblazers who defied the odds and worked their way into the spotlight. In no particular order, here are the top six iconic female Nigerian rappers we can never forget.
Eva Alordiah
Eva Alordiah no doubt came ready to the rap scene in Nigeria. She released a couple of singles before her debut EP, “GIGO”. The EP was supported by hit songs like “I Done Did It” and “High”. Eva’s style of rap was laid back and intricate, with a sensual delivery to her lyrics that was not very common in the industry. Nigerians took to this and the artist’s career had a good number of years in the spotlight.
With several respectable award nominations, she gained many recognitions. One of them is the most promising act to watch in the 2012 Nigerian Entertainment Awards, among others. Let’s reminisce with a personal favorite of mine, “High” by Eva Alordiah.
Sasha P
The next iconic Nigerian female rapper is Sasha P. Some people refer to her as the first lady of Nigerian Hip-Hop. Upon her debut, Eldee’s Trybe Records signed her, and subsequently, she formed her own record label, STORM. Her debut album was called First Lady (rightfully so). After this, she made history as the first-ever female Nigerian artist to perform on the World Music Awards stage during a celebration of its 20th anniversary in 2008.
She also gained recognition in the following year for winning Chanel O’s Music Video Award for Best Female Video, among others. Let’s take a look at one of her hit singles from her prime years, “Adara”.
Weird MC
This is the Nigerian-British rapper who hit the limelight in the 90s when she frequently went on tours with artists like DJ P and Tee Money. She released her debut album in 1996, “Simply Weird” followed by a second album in 2006, “After The Storm”. The year after that, the Headies nominated her for the artiste of the year award in 2007. Even though she had a topsy-turvy career, we have her to thank for the massive hit “Ijoya”. Take a look.
Mo’Cheddah
Another iconic female Nigerian rapper is Mo’Cheddah, who hit the scene with her lead single “If You Want Me” in 2009. That was immediately followed by her debut album “Franchise Celebrity”, a project that had another hit Nigerians did not get tired of, “Ko Ma Roll”. She gained so much recognition at the time, with the 2010 MTV Africa Music Award for Best New Artist and the Channel O Music Video Award for Best Female Video. For another trip down memory lane, “Ko Ma Roll” by Mo’Cheddah.
Bouqui
This is one of the top iconic Nigerian female rappers, with a rather interesting name. B.O.U.Q.U.I. stands for “Born Once More Unto A Quickened And Unparalleled Image”. Her debut album was a self-titled project that dropped in 2007, with hit songs that trended on UK charts.
This same album also gained nominations for the 2007 Headies’ Best Rap Album, and Hip Hop World Revelation Of The Year. She maintained a fair amount of relevancy in the industry up until 2017, when she was ordained as a reverend in 2019 in the US. Another hit from the former rapper, “Molejo”.
Kel
The name is Kel, the true rap enthusiasts would know who this is. Kel’s popular singles like “Wa Wa Alright” and “You Too Fine” gained her a good audience after her 2009 debut album “The Investment”. She was only in the spotlight for a short period of time, owing to some record label disagreements she encountered after her debut. Take a look at one of Kel’s classics, “Wa Wa Alright”.
