When the news filtered in that Koko master, Dbanj, was working on a collaboration effort with American rap artiste, Snoop, many people wanted to wave it aside. Before then, the story had made the rounds that African Queen crooner, Tuface Idibia, was working on a song with another award-winning American artiste, R Kelly. Though very little has been heard about Tuface’s duet with the American singer, Dbanj dropped the Mr. Endowed remix featuring Snoop. Also, award-winning music producer/singer, J Martins, has collaborated with another of Africa’s leading lights, Fally Ipupa, in his song, Jukpa. Although artistes in Nigeria have been jamming together before now, collaboration or collabo, as it is known in local parlance, took on a new meaning when a new generation of Nigerian artistes began to feature in each other’s albums. Today, artistes increase their fans’ base by collaborating with their colleagues. With Tuface appearing in Muri Thunder’s track, Kasakasa, from his latest effort, Unforgettable, it seems that in the near future, there will be a thin line between traditional music and the ‘swagger’ music favoured by Nigeria’s hip generation. Here is a quick guide to Nigeria’s most sought artistes when it comes to collaborations
Tuface Idibia: Innocent Ujah Idibia, better known as Tuface, is rated as one of Nigeria’s most popular musicians. The multiple-award winning star has been involved in quite a number of collaborations since he became a hit.
Many Nigerian artistes believe a song done in collaboration with Tuface will be an outright hit. So far, the recipe has not failed.
His collaboration with P Square in the track, Possibility, will be talked about for a long time. His vocal ability is also felt in Solid Star’s One in a Million and African China’s Loving You.
Timaya: Enetimi Alfred Odom, popularly known as Timaya, has been in the music industry for some time, but somehow, he was unknown until he hit it big a few years back.
Timaya has been involved in many collaborations that can last him a life time.
Among the artistes he has collaborated with are Kefee, J Martins, MI – and many others.
Dagrin: Dagrin worked in the studios with many artistes. Though late since April 2010, many of his collaborative efforts with Nigerian artistes while he was alive are still ruling the airwaves.
Who knows, with the way he was going, he might have surpassed many other artistes in the quest for collaborations if not for his death in a car crash. This is because many artistes were eager to collaborate with him.
He added spice to Kenny St. Brown’s Turn me Around and also made YQ’s Fimile to top the charts.
Terry G: Like him or hate him, Gabriel ‘Terry G’ Amanyi has become a household name since he ventured into the music industry.
Though controversies seem like a second skin to him, one cannot take away the fact that fellow artistes love him and most of them want to feature the singer in their songs.
His collaboration with artistes have usually turned out to be hits. This has made the crooner to be respected among his contemporaries.
Till date, many still believe AY dot Com’s Pass me Your Love is Terry G’s because of the breezy, fast-paced signature that is associated with the dread lock-wearing singer.
Others artistes like Muma Gee, Mazzy and Igho have also featured him in their albums.
Jaywon: Oluwajuwonlo (James Abayomi) Iledare, known as Jaywon to his fans and friends, has been aiming high since he was discovered by Kennis Music a few years ago.
Jaywon is climbing to become one of the most sought after artistes. Apart from featuring in the albums of some of the artistes on the Kennis Music label – including Essence and Goldie – AY dot Com also featured the young dude in his single.
Flavour: Enugu State-born Chinedu Okoli, popularly known as Flavour, is waxing strong. Not only has he attracted many fans with his high-life genre, Flavour has found favour with many Nigerian singers who feature him in their songs.
He did a great job in MI’s No One. He also did some stuff with Sound Sultan, VIP and Ruggedman.
MI: Jude ‘MI’ Abaga has been going from strength to strength since he entered the music industry a few years ago. Not only is he winning awards as a rap artiste, he came into the hip hop scene and overtook those who were there before him.
It is no wonder that Nigerian artistes love ‘the boy from Jos’ and have featured him in their albums.
He played a good one with Timaya in Anagaga and Banky W in Feeling It.
Waje: Aituaje ‘Waje’ Iruobe is an up-and-coming female artiste, who is making real impact in the music industry. P Square apparently saw the talent in her and featured the pretty babe in the song, Do Me.
