Watch docuseries on Nigerian hip hop

Titled The Conversation, the series kicks off the 2020 edition of the Hennessy Artistry programme and seeks to trace hip hop's development and current place in Nigerian pop through the eyes of some of the country’s most notable practitioners and music professionals.

While it may not be the most popular genre in the West African country, playing second fiddle to Afrobeats and other dance genres, hip hop is still prominent and enjoys appreciable presence in Nigeria's mainstream. It has also been responsible for the careers of well-known Nigerian entertainers, many of whom are featured in the first episode of the series.

MI Abaga, Vector, AQ, Jimmy Jatt, Teeto Ceemos, Chuka Xavier Obi, Nosa Omoregbe and Alpha Ojini all take turns to detail the stories of their introduction to hip hop and how their love for the genre has helped them build successful careers over the years.

The 15-minute first episode of The Conversation also highlights university campuses, specifically the University of Lagos being among the spaces where Nigerian hip hop began, playing host to widely popular freestyle battles and bolstering the underground credibility of many undiscovered artists. It also celebrates forbearers like Eedris Abdulkareem, Weird MC, Mode 9, 6 Foot Plus, Swat Root, Trybesmen and Terry tha Rapman. Additionally, the docuseries touches on how Nigerian media has documented the genre since its inception in the early-to-mid '90s. 

Since 2009, Hennessy has been a key stakeholder within Nigerian pop culture, organising industry events and fostering collaborations with events such as the Hennessy Artistry Cyphers, VS Class, Artistry Club tours and Hennessy Artistry concerts. With The Conversation, the company continues its efforts to preserve and curate hip hop culture in Nigeria, and consolidate itself as a pivotal partner in the Nigerian music industry.

The upcoming episodes of The Conversation are expected to feature more musicians and tastemakers who will delve into themes such as the modern trends of the genre and the lyrical beef between MI Abaga and Vector, who are behind what is Nigerian hip hop’s biggest rivalry today.

The Conversation airs on YouTube every Tuesday from 11am WAT. It will also be broadcast on Fridays at 9pm WAT on Trace Naija.