Most times when albums are made, there is usually just one basic thing in the mind of the artist(s) involved... the cash returns. This is why songs are cut just to appeal to the pocket and the album makes noise for the moment. Check for that album a year later and its probably gone out of extinction. But if art and love for the music prevails, the content and conceptual flow of the songs cut on there will carry the album for a lifetime and that is how the title 'classic' is earned.

On this note, I present to you SoulJazz and the album is The Renaissance Theory. I am not particularly sure if it was marketing or promotion but this is a seriously slept on material. I stand by my word that it is slept on and you only need to give it a serious listen to understand where I'm coming from. 

If I have any complaint about this piece of work, it will probably be that the strong point also being the weakness too. By this, I am referring to the varying styles of the rappers involved. Instead of hearing a monotonous style all through the project, you hear differing styles but that in itself could overwhelm one too. But all in all, this is a very impressive album and it is even more impressive to know they did it all independently which makes me respect them even more. MHP, Aqbar, Rapsom, G.A.B and Rhyme Master Richy deserve every accolade and support they can get for this, and they are SoulJazz which interestingly describes the sound of the project too.

Groups die easily in the music industry but one of the groups that have stuck together in the frustrating environment such as the one in Nigeria is the one called SoulJazz. I heard this James Brown sample and i was blown away when i got to hear the complete song. The rap styles will overwhelm you so be prepared for this.

MHP, Rapsom, Rhyme Master Richy, Aqbar, 1st Born Soulomon and G.A.B make the collective of SoulJazz (i still dont know why there's only five silhouettes on the cover). Rappers and producers all blended together and rolled into one big power house. They definitely intend to do damage in the industry and i hope they keep the momentum.

Enjoy this video for the track Proof of Ownership. The compilation where this track is from will be put up shortly. Simple video this is and its just to let you see the faces behind the music. Share your thoughts.

If you are familiar with the words 'grungy', 'gritty' and 'grimy' then you would be able to relate to this video you about to peep. This is by no means a new video but i can bet a lot of you cats out there missed out on this when it premièred so see this as another premier. 

B-Elect, one-fifth of the Thoroughbreds, is the artist that brought you this and it is the title track of the album that also has the favourite 'Love and War' track. This is Hard Listeners. To be honest and fair, 'hard' has become a cliché in the music circles but this right here is not buttered up so it definitely fits the bill called HARD!!! Before i forget, Ruffman from the StreetMonks features on this one.

Brothalee a.k.a. Buddah is the culprit responsible for this pictorial and i can say dude is definitely on the come up with what i have been seeing from his end of the table lately.

One group to really respect doing hip hop in Nigeria and still ensuring the rap elements are kept alive is Str8Buttah (apologies if this is sounding like a cliché now). These young brothers have been at it for a while now and it is impossible not to give them their deserved accolades. To get this track in the audio format, go get a copy of Illastr8 2 and peep the whole joints on there. This lets you know that their work ethic is crazy and content is not lacking on their end.

The bohys got together with Clarence Peters, a crazy director who is known to have lost his mind, and the result is this video for Fire you see here. Some of y'all may have seen it but if you missed it then get acquainted. 

I should add that Teck-Zilla and Mister Rae where missing on this cut and i'm not sure why but maybe they got married and are nursing fathers now??? Time will tell.

I did say Str8Buttah deserve all the accolades they can get and i stand by that. I really respect their work ethic and how the group is more than just a rap collective. Video making, graphics, productions and emceeing, all of which is at the core of the group. How can you decide to sleep on such a group?

This is a track that was made in a spontaneous combustion type meeting of the boys. XYZ made the beat and was playing it from the decks in his car and everyone (except for Mister Rae who still owes me an explanation for not being a part of this) put in their verses right there and then. The studio was just a formality and we have Monkey See Monkey Do. Rcube a.k.a. Oshodi and XYZ directed the video, making it a complete Str8Buttah production.

There are a lot of slept-on elements in the Nigerian hip hop environment. When i say environment, do not assume i speak of elements in the hip culture but the ones that stay true to the core of the rap game. One of such individuals is MHP. I have heard about this person for a while now but i really got to feel his vibe from this song and then some.

MHP came to Lagos to give the music Won't Take Long a visual effect and Oshodi is the man he called on to do it for him. Some of y'all actually missed out on this so this is an opportunity for you to understand and overstand where the young brother is coming from. Also, watch out for his group SoulJazz.

I don't know much about this guy called Stormatique but i came in contact with the name on the McSkill ThaPreacha's mixtape being that he hosted and handled the production end. Now, he didn't produce every single track on that tape so i wouldn't say i really got a taste of his beatmining skills.

It might be for this reason that Stormatique decides to give y'all a beat tape so you can feel what he can cook in the lab. This isn't a long collection of beats sadly; it is about six beats deep. If you feel his skills much then kick a '16' on it or even make a mixtape or EP out of it and let us here it. Encourage the brother or discourage him. Either way, you will be doing him a great favour.

Let's get this straight, there isn't any artist that wouldn't want mass appeal but when they don't get it, what happens to their artistry? Personally, i think it is this period that defines the artist and shows forth their true talent. It is also in this period you get to know for certain if money making is the motivation for the artistry or if the art is all that is yearning to come out.

One guy comes to mind, Cashino. Since the era when rap music started crawling in Nigeria, this London-based rapper has been on the scene with his NDT affiliates. Surprisingly, Cashino still does music in spite of the minimal number of people that are tuned to him. This earns him my respect as he has not dumbed down on the material or quality of his craft.

This video is the visual for the track I Love Africa and it is directed by NDT team member DBlack.

If you were an ardent follower of MusicAfrica back in the day, then you should have viewed this video. Paragon is the group and they came together with NDT to get down on this track. NDT if you don't know is the makings of Cashino and DBlack. There should be some other persons in the group but not certain who has left and who hasn't. Interestingly, the music sounds better than a lot of the new music out there today. Yes, i do say so myself! Not sure what has happened to the group now but its hard not to chronicle this piece as one of those heavy materials on rotation back in the day. Feel this.

Its unfortunate to know that some people put in work and it seems like the big bang won't happen in the end. But i can only say 'savali' because no matter how hard you try, you can't force success except you wanna sell your soul to the devil.

2006/2007 was the period when this video came on the screens courtesy of Nigezie and a lot of people that didn't know who Lyrikal was sat up as they watched the emcee spit gully. Another product of Port-Harcout which seems to be churning out all these emcees of repute, Lyrikal is yet to hit the big times but i can assure you he has got the package. Check out the video and it is titled Can U Relate. i hope you can relate.

Simplicity brings the best out of people in whatever they do. This is my definition of what you are about to witness. On this day which so happens to be his birthday, Mr Stay Sharp better known as Teck-Zilla gives back to his loyal fans who recognize his hard work and support his movement. Yes, he is one out of the Str8Buttah collective and he always lets you know that.

On this one, Teck-Zilla gives us The Pledge. For you and you and you out there who support hip hop and have been with the Str8Buttah team till date, this is for you. Just so you know, Teck-Zilla crafted the whole nine; from the beat to the rhymes and even to the mixing/ mastering stage. Are you impressed? Let us know.

Just before i forget, another Str8Buttah member gives the track a new life in the form of a visual. That is none other than XYZ. This video helps you appreciate the team and even brings you closer to the rapper as you can clearly read his lyrics and connect to his emotions. Enjoy y'all.

There has been so much said about the current state of hip hop and a lot has been negative. Jumping into arguments is the last thing advocates of this genre want to do hence they go the same route they have always gone to express their mindstates about all the talk and negative press on the subject. Modenine steps to the plate with the plate with this video from his The Paradigm Shift album. The track is called Hip Hop, directed by South African based Igho and you get to hear what the 'lyrical monfasa' has to say about the issue. Hit the play button.

Str8Buttah seems to be in heating season and i say this because of the volume of materials that have emanated from the camp recently. I am no publicist for the gang so don't think i am doing them a favour. That being said, Mister Rae has got next on this one.

Rae has been quiet for over a year now after dropping his Brand New Masquerade EP which i have to say was quite refreshing at the time. Well, it is still refreshing because music content has gotten worse and his is one those stand out materials you will find.

A new mixtape is in the works to be titled So, How far? and Rae gives us a single from the body of work titled Ask Me Too. Fellow Str8Buttah team member, Teck-Zilla produced the track and samples Omawumi's Ask Me on the hook to give it a complete effect.

Even in the rapid fire delivery, Immense shots were fired at the Nigerian music industry. Well, instead of moaning in silence Rae decides to speak up and i am sure you will love it except you aint fiending for hip hop.

Rae has promised that a lot is on the table and he will serve them in due course. The Big Rae EP with super producer Bigfoot of Micworx is the top on the list and should hit the blogs by the end of the month. Watch this space for that.

Expression is the unique virtue of hip hop that makes it what it is. The need to voice out and get attention is probably one of the qualities of a poet and this is the ingredient i find in this man's work. RiS is his name and he takes you on the Road to Northbay Vol. 1.

Conceptual albums are lacking in present times because everyone is about business and not art. So, its a great feeling to hear a complete material like this one and the elation knows no bounds. I am not saying RiS is the best to ever do it but hit the play button and understand why i shower accolades on the man. I cant help but wonder how long it will take before this dude gets frustrated and switches to hip-POP. Hopefully, Drake is not his inspiration.

Teck-Zilla, Cold Legistics, Hvy, Lil Wax are the producers responsible for the beats on the tape and Teck-Zilla along side Shikara, Manny, Season, Hvy also and Crybaby share the guest appearances slot. 

Right now, it is Bliss in Retrospective.

Some rappers get the limelight and accolades they deserve and some, well... keep waiting to get it or never get it at all. One of such people that continue to wait for the break is these cats called Show Dem Camp (SDC). These guys do the rap so well that you wonder what else they need to show to the world to prove they've got it and can bring it.

Modenine is a seasoned emcee and his credibility is not in doubt. Now, if Modenine, who is very critical and choosy when it comes to rappers can endorse these men, you should pay attention to them boys too. So, its Modenine behind the lens and Teck and Ghost, who make up Show Dem Camp with the freestyles.

I'm not going to say much on this one but understand this, if you haqve no idea or have no information as regards the beginning of the new musical pop culture in Nigeria, then this is a crash course. This is of course before the musical scene was hijacked and made what it is now. Listen and put the metaphor together and the history will stare you in the face

It is no longer news that there are views and opinions about this musical art form known as Hip Hop. What raises my curiosity is whether the art form has done anything to allay fears or to make one weary. So, i thought it best to give y'all views and perspectives from an international debate about this divergent views about the genre i love so much.

If you have got the time (which i hope you do) drop a comment and give your take on this issue. The cliche is that 'hip hop is dead'

This track was one of the songs that broke the norm back in 2005 when it dropped. The perspective of people about hip hop changed to a certain degree we all realised that hip hop can actually be done properly from our end.

Thoroughbreds is the group and Streethop is the track. Elajoe, B-Elect, Obiwon, Ill Bliss and Amaka tha Chief Rocka make up the collective of Thoroughbreds. This is a journey of nostalgia for the ones that have seen this before and if you missed out on this, then get acquainted. 

I can't help but wonder if that Thoroughbreds compilation will ever see the light of day.