Record labels that popularised hip-hop trends in Nigeria

The I own my record label thing that seems to be plaguing Nigeria's music industry today started way back in the 60s and 70s when local genres like apala and highlife dominated the air space. It was also the period that witnessed the influx of foreign investors like Decca Records, Polydor, etc. who tapped into the potentials of local music. However, there were stories of artistes like Paul I.K Dairo and Haruna Ishola who left the labels they were signed to to establish theirs. In 1974, King Sunny Ade had a serious legal battle with two record labels owned by the same man:  African Songs Limited and Take Your Choice Records Stores Limited.

Fast forward to late 80s and 90s when hip-hop came into the picture after the era of reggae with stars like Majek Fashek, Ras Kimono, Ortiz Wiliki, etc., it changed everything. It wasn't just a kind of music, it was a culture. You had to look hip, speak hip with confused tinges of wanna--gonna and walk hip. Your head and body had to swagger in a particular direction per time while you bounced as you walked. Soon, many young talents became very influenced by this culture and modelled their songs on it. Some even formed an entirely new genre like galala which thrived first in the slums from it. 

Soon, new record labels started springing up to harness their potentials to popularise the hip culture through music. At this point, it is fair to say that Storm Records started in 1991 by Obi Asika way before Kennis Music in 1998 with Pidgin Rap Duo, Junior and Pretty then Naeto C, Ikechukwu, Sasha P, Gt Da Guitaman, Jazzman Olofin, etc much later. But as the saying goes, ''It's not far but how well''. When Kennis Music came into the scene in 1998, it became the biggest because it had most of the popular names on its stable: Plantashun boiz, Remedy, Azadus, Sound Sultan, KC Presh, Tony Tetuila, VIP, etc. 

There was alsoTrybe Records. It had artistes like Eva, K9, Sarz, Sheyman, 2shotz, Sasha P, Dr Sid and Eldee who doubled as the founder. Years down the line, he became an artiste on Kennis Music label when he came back to Nigeria.Then entered Square Record that had only Psquare as its artiste before May D much later; EME Music owned by Banky W produced stars like Wizkid, Skales and Niyola; Mo’ Hits co-owned by Don Jazzy and D'banj. D’Banj was the first signed artiste of the label. Others were Wande Coal, Dr. Sid, K-Switch and D’Prince. Other record labels of this era were Question Mark (Harrysong, Ashionye, etc.), Capital Hill Music, Chocolate City on whose wings the likes of MI Abaga and Ice Prince Zamani flourished as superstars.

As of this day, many of these labels are defunct. Some died due to mismanagement issues or fund issues. Some just died because they lost their steam. The few ones that still exist like Kennis Music, Chocolate City and maybe EME Music are really trying to keep their heads above the water as the competition in the industry is stiffer. New labels have sprung and are springing up. Artistes are wiser and greedier now. Many will prefer to be on their own while those who manage to sign won't do more than two years tops.