MOST ANTICIPATED ALBUMS OF 2011

DAREY ART ALADE – DOUBLE DARE

ALBUMS – FROM ME 2 U (2006), UNDAREYTED (2009)

ALBUM TITLE – DOUBLE DARE

ALBUM # - 3

LABEL – SOUL MUZIK

Saying that Darey is one of the best (if not the best) R&B artist naija has to offer is an understatement. As previous albums have shown, when it comes to making soulful R&B tunes, Darey knows his onions. From his project fame days all through his debut and sophomore albums, he has been putting out chart topping singles, but you get a feeling that he is yet to find the right formula that will elevate him to the next level until now. 2010 saw Darey teaming up with Don jazzy on “Stroke me”, before unleashing a barrage of singles like “Ba ni kidi”, “Sisi Eko”, “The way you are” & “Don’t let me know” off his double album on radio. With this in mind, third time might just be the charm for Darey.

NAETO C – SUPER C SEASON

ALBUMS – YOU KNOW MY P (2008)

ALBUM TITLE – SUPER C SEASON

ALBUM # - 2

LABEL – STORM RECORDS

Delaying albums always help build up anticipation, but in Naeto C’s case, his released singles “10/10”, ”Share my blessings” ft Asa, “Ako mi ti poju” and “Duro” ftYQ have done a better job. After bagging his masters degree, it looks like the Storm records franchise artist is finally ready to deliver his sophomore effort. With the caliber of guests on it coupled with top notch production, chances are high that it is going be a 10/10 album

9ICE – BASHORUN GAA/VERSUS

ALBUMS – CERTIFICATE (2006), GONGO ASO (2008), TRADITION (2009)

ALBUM TITLE – BASHORUN GAA/VERSUS

ALBUM # - 4

LABEL – ALAPOMEJI RECORDS

If there was an award for hardest working artist in Nigeria, 9ice will clinch it with ease. In between separation from wife Toni payne, beefing with Ruggedman and shooting videos off “Tradition” , 9ice still succeeded in putting out a steady stream of singles off his forthcoming double album “Bashorun Gaa/Versus”. The Alapomeji front man will be taking a new approach with his concept album “Versus” where he will go toe to toe with the various artists in the industry as we have already seen on tracks like “All the way” ft P Square, “Loni ni” ft Da grin, “Safarawe” ft MI and “Atamatase” ft Modenine while “Bashorun Gaa” will be vintage 9ice as typified by singles such as “Shakashiky”, “Appetizer” and “Women, weed & wine”. With a load of singles on the airwaves, a video for “Appetizer” and beef with Ruggedman, 9ice already has the listening public salivating for the main course.

D’BANJ – MR ENDOWED

ALBUMS – NO LONG THING (2005), RUNDOWN (2006), ENTERTAINER (2008)

ALBUM TITLE – MR ENDOWED

ALBUM # - 4

LABEL – MOHITS RECORDS

Over the last couple of years, Mohits records have become synonymous with one thing, which is hit records and D’banj as the flagship artist has been at the forefront of their success. Showing no signs of stopping after 3 successful albums, the entertainer released “Mr endowed” last year to rave reviews and quickly followed up with the unsuccessful “Scapegoat” which slowed down his momentum. Just when we were thinking that Mohits had finally come up short, D’banj resurfaced in LA, teaming up with rap superstar Snoop Doggy Dog for “Mr endowed (remix)” and suddenly had the whole music industry wrapped around his fingers eagerly anticipating his upcoming album. With a bigger roster to call upon for cameos when needed, all bets are on D’banj to come out with one of the best albums of 2011.

WIZKID – TBD

ALBUMS –

ALBUM TITLE – TO BE DETERMINED

ALBUM # - 1

LABEL – EMPIRE MATES ENTERTAINMENT

Age has nothing to do with success in the Nigerian music industry as Wizkid is about to prove, at 21 years, Banky W’s protégé is already regarded as one of naija’s hottest sex symbols.  Wizkid doesn’t just win in the looks department as his singles ”Don’t dull”, “Holla at your boy” and the smash hit “Tease me” have rocketed up the charts in no time and It is no surprise that his untitled debut album is one of the most anticipated albums of the year. Not only will people want to see the level of growth he has achieved since the first time we heard him on MI’s “Fast money, fast cars”, they will also want to know if he has what it takes to be naija’s next superstar.

ICEPRINCE – THE PRINCE OF COOL

ALBUMS –

ALBUM TITLE – THE PRINCE OF COOL

ALBUM # - 1

LABEL – CHOCOLATE CITY RECORDS

Chocolate city is on the ascendancy and so is Ice prince, who is set to follow the footsteps of his brothers MI & Jesse Jagz by unleashing his debut album on the naija music scene. As easy as it is to simply write his attempt off as a case of coattail riding, one can’t but feel dude’s talent with his cameos on Ruggedman’s “She & my swagga”, MI’s “Represent” KSB’s “Alaye” and Jesse Jagz’s “Nobody test me” and with his smash single “Oleku” ft Brymo riding high on the charts, it is no longer a surprise that his debut album is one of the most anticipated of 2011.

D PRINCE – THE PRINCE IS HERE

ALBUMS –

ALBUM TITLE – THE PRINCE IS HERE

ALBUM # - 1

LABEL – MOHITS RECORDS

After tasting success with Mohits on “Curriculum Vitae” and watching fellow label mate Wande Coal move on to superstar status with “Mushin 2 Mohits” the onus was on D prince to carve his own niche. D prince’s first move was to stun the competition with the street banger “Omoba” which was followed by the Wande Coal & D’banj assisted “Ooze”.  Songs like “Jonzing World” ft Jesse Jagz & Wizkid, “I like what I see” ft Wande Coal and "Give it to me" ft Dbanj also played a huge part in strengthening his buzz. With his brother Don Jazzy and the Mohits family solidly behind him, the sky is the limit.

GENERAL PYPE – TBD

ALBUMS –

ALBUM TITLE – TO BE DETERMINED

ALBUM # - 1

LABEL – STORM RECORDS

You know you have made it when your first single has been licensed to Africa’s biggest sport channel, Supersport. After numerous cameos ranging from MI’s “Teaser”, Bigiano’s “Its over” to Illbliss’s “Blessing”, Pype finally dropped his own single in the form of the anthemic “Champion” and kept the fire burning with “Champion (remix)” ft Naeto C, Sasha, Da grin, Vector and GT tha guitarman. Despite the fact that Pype’s genre of music is seriously underappreciated in Nigeria, he is doing a pretty good job of resuscitating it, giving reggae fans something to look forward to.

SASHA – SASHA SPEAKS

ALBUMS – FIRST LADY (2007)

ALBUM TITLE – SASHA SPEAKS

ALBUM # - 2

LABEL – STORM RECORDS

Sasha’s sophomore album has been long overdue and people are becoming more eager to hear what she has to say. Judging from the released singles “Making money”, “Put it down” ft Dama do bling, “Making money (remix)” ft Sauce kid & Naeto C, “Ma wo be” ft Brymo and “Don’t stop”, it is clear to see that the self proclaimed first lady of Nigerian hip hop definitely has a lot on her mind. Some of her fans will be hoping that she finally opens up on her rumored affair with label mate Naeto C, but the majority of naija rap buffs just want to see how she holds her own in the face of stiff competition from other femcees like Kel, Blaise, Eva, and Muna.

MUNA – THE GODDESS, THE HUSTLER

ALBUMS –

ALBUM TITLE – THE GODDESS, THE HUSTLER

ALBUM # - 1

LABEL – RMG RECORDS

After conquering the catwalk, the former most beautiful girl in Nigeria is ready to stick her fingers in the naija hip hop pie. From the moment we heard her on Waje’s “So inspired”, “I feel real” and The Suspect’s “I no send you (remix)”, it was clear that she meant business and wasn’t just doing it for the fun of it, but it was when she dropped the J sleek produced “Killer Queen” ft Buckwylla that people started to respect her hustle. “Pop Sugar”, her collaboration with Micheal Word also went in long way in solidifying her status as next rated female MC.