Chocolate City hosts listening session for three hip hop albums

The session was in fulfilment of a pledge to hip hop Chocolate City recently made via an official statement.

"For the entire month of August 2018, hip hop is promised to experience a reawakening in Nigeria because for the longest time the question 'Is there a future for hip hop in Nigeria?' has resurfaced multiple times across music discuss platforms. For the culture of hip hop in Nigeria, three hip hop albums shall be released on the 17, 24 and 31 August – Crown, Yung Denzel and Bad Boy Blaq respectively."

Two of the records referred to, Yung Denzel and Bad Boy Blaq, are solo records by renowned rapper MI Abaga and newcomer Blaqbones, while Crown is a collaborative record by rappers AQ and Loose Kaynon.

All three are hip hop records and are executively produced by MI Abaga, who seemed to know the lyrics to every song played by his colleagues.

“I came to Chocolate City sometime last year,” said AQ, who had built a reputation as a fine rapper before signing on to the label. His chemistry with Loose Kaynon was evident on the songs played. Both rappers also seemed keen on a word-heavy type of hip hop.

One of the songs, said MI, was partly taken to the studio straight from a voice note sent by the comedienne Chigurl. "There's so much talent in this country," he said. Besides Chigurl, other contributors to the album include Tec and Ghost, the rappers making up the duo Show Dem Camp.

"We just played 45% of the Crown album," said Loose Kaynon as his session ended. "Will you guys support it?"  

MI Abaga succeded the pair. Yung Denzl, his forthcoming album, is “actually three projects,” he said. He played a few songs and told his audience that although the album would be released in August this year, he “was done with the project August last year". 

After MI, it was then the turn of the youngest rapper on the night. "I decided to start making music, not just rap because I've rapped, I've rapped, I've rapped," Blaqbones said to laughter. His music received the warmest reception, as it went from trap to rap to a combination of rap and a sound suited for dancing the reigning shaku shaku dance. “This is the guy that would blow. This is the guy that should blow,” said a listener.

 “Blaqbones is amazing," MI later told Music In Africa. But before midnight, he had a different set of words for his audience: "Support this gaddem music. We need the money."

AQ and Loose Kaynon’s Crown is out 17/8/2018, MI Abaga’s Yung Denzel is out 24/8/2018 and Blaqbones’ Bad Boy Blaq is out 31/8/2018.