Top 5 Nigerian Producers That Changed The Landscape Of Our Music Industry

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OJB Jezreel

1.     OJB Jezreel: With due respect to the producers before him, OJB gave birth to the modern Nigerian music.His peak was the production of African Queen (which is still one of the highest points of the Nigerian music industry). Of course tracks, like “Right Here” by Tuface (written and produced by OJB), “Searching”  and most recently “Locho” that was written, produced and sang by OJB himself, can compete well, African queen just seem to have eclipsed them all.

2.     Cobhams: Probably the most talented Nigerian producer. Producing Asa, Darey, Banky W, Bez, Priaz, the list is endless, what more can be expected of any producer. He is just someone that words cannot fully describe. This is not a sentiment, as he has hardly contributed something new to the drums or other instrument part of production. But when Cobhams produces a piece for you, that is the master piece. Even more than others his works speaks for him.  

3.     Don Jazzy: No African list of producers is complete without Don Jazzy. Most noticeable among his achievements is being the producer of Africa’s number one entertainer, D’banj.  He also turned producers into celebrities. Before him, most producers have languished in obscurity; Don jazzy was the turning point because he knew his selling point. No long thing album had a different flavour; it was truly African with the fusion of some African sound like congas, which was rare at that time.

4.     K-solo: Oba K-solo (like he refers to himself), might not be the most talented producer around, but only few will argue his immense contribution to the music industry. K-solo is the father of commercial music that was much criticized but later accepted. As the producer of Iyanya’s and Timaya’s first albums, you also cannot deny his talent. His fusion of makossa and hiphop, and well as his introduction of the talking drum (a reversed voice of it though) was revolutionary.

5.     ID Cabasa: A hugely talented yet under used talent. Producing 9ice and Olamide two Yoruba lyricists who till date still make us appreciate the use of Yoruba in our music. He also enforced the influence of makossa and the talking drum on our music alongside K-solo. The sad part is that he tends to lose grip on his artistes too easily.  

Honourable mentions: Kelly handsome (produced Plantashun Boiz among others), Terry G, J martins,TeeY mix, JaMix, Sossick, Docta Frabz, J Sleek, Mekoyo, Sarz, Samkelf, among others.