Late-pass but this one was too good to pass up. We just came across this extensive African Hip Hop mix on the toddler years of Nigerian rap music, compiled by Uchenna Ikonne of Naija blog Comb & Razor. AHH explain it best:

The first hip-hop record to achieve widespread popularity in Nigeria was “Rapper’s Delight” by The Sugarhill Gang, in 1979... It was a long way from there to here, though. For years, the earliest attempts at homegrown rap were ridiculed, resisted or downright reviled by the mainstream. But they also laid the foundation for the 2Faces, the 9ices, the D’Banjs, Ruggedmans, Modenines and the rest of today’s Naija hip-hop superstars. So here’s a salute to some of the groundbreakers in the first decade of Nigerian hip-hop.

Stream and download Nigerian Rap: The First Decade (1981 – 1991) below!

(H/T African Hip Hop)

TRACKLIST

01. Ronnie – The Way I Feel Rap (1981)

02. Dizzy K. – Saturday Night Raps (1982)

03. Dili I. Jukson – Rapp and Checkout Music (c. 1985)

04. Mams & Hart – Pump (1982)

05. Oby Onyioha – Break It (1984)

06. Rapmaster Lexy Mella – On The Air Rap (1985)

07. Super Doeths – Super Doeths (1985)

08. Kingsley Bucknor – You Gotta Keep On Luvin’ Me (Extended Re-Mix Version) (1985)

09. I.C. Rock – Advice/Oge Chi Ka Nma (1985)

10. McDormett – Let’s Hear the Funk (1986)

11. Mike Umoh – Do It (c. 1985)

12. Timi Gawi “3” – Boxing Rapping Show (c. 1984)

13. Rick Asikpo – Beat Jam (1986)

14. Judy Nackix – If I Have the Time (c. 1986)

15. Gee Tagbas – Rap Dazz (1986)

16. Mustapha Amego – Lagos (1990)

17. MC Skidd-O – Message (1992)

18. Emphasis – Which One You Dey (1991)

19. Sound on Sound – I’m African (1988)