Inside Dapper's Decade-Defining Run: 10 Projects That Shaped Afrobeats

By 2025, Dapper Music and Entertainment’s influence on Afrobeats no longer needs defending or exaggeration. It can be traced through the music itself. Across genres, generations, and markets, the company’s involvement has consistently aligned with projects that arrived at defining moments in artists’ careers and, in many cases, in the culture at large.

Afrobeats has expanded rapidly over the past decade, but growth alone does not create longevity. What sustains an industry is structure, timing, and the ability to recognise when an artist needs direction rather than noise. Dapper’s most impactful work has often happened quietly, behind the scenes, shaping albums that reflected where the sound stood at a given moment and where it was headed next.

In 2021, Rexxie’s A True Champion marked a turning point for producer-led projects within Afrobeats. At a time when beatmakers were still largely positioned as background figures, the album asserted Rexxie as a cultural driver in his own right. Rooted in Lagos street energy but delivered with intention, the project helped redefine leadership in Nigerian music production.

Balloranking’s Trench Kid Deluxe followed in 2022 and captured a different kind of truth. Rather than smoothing out the grit that defined his rise, the project expanded his story without compromising it. The deluxe release felt deliberate, reinforcing Balloranking’s identity as an artist whose music reflected lived experience rather than industry expectation.

By 2023, Seyi Vibez had already become one of the most compelling voices in Nigerian music, but NAHAMciaga elevated his presence from momentum to movement. The album was emotionally dense, culturally grounded, and confident in its direction. Instead of reshaping his sound for global appeal, the project leaned fully into identity. That decision allowed the music to travel organically, resonating far beyond its point of origin.

That same year, Bhadboi OML’s Bhadriyun arrived with far less noise but equal intention. In a landscape driven by instant virality, the project stood out for its patience. It introduced an artist focused on emotional clarity and long-term growth, reinforcing the idea that sustainable careers are often built quietly before they become obvious.

In 2024, TML Vibez released Xin Mao, a project defined by mood and emotional continuity rather than commercial pressure. The album unfolded as a complete body of work, allowing feeling to lead structure. It reflected growing confidence in letting artists articulate their inner worlds without forcing them into predetermined formulas.

Shallipopi’s Shakespopi arrived that same year and captured a very different energy. The project embodied the chaos, humour, and self-awareness of a new generation navigating fame in real time. Rather than correcting his eccentricities, the album embraced them, proving that contemporary stardom does not need to conform to traditional templates to be effective.

Ice Prince’s Fire and Ice represented another important moment in 2024. Rather than attempting reinvention, the album focused on clarity and perspective. With executive support that respected his legacy while grounding the project firmly in the present, it reaffirmed Ice Prince’s place within Nigerian hip hop and the broader Afrobeats conversation.

By 2025, Rybeena’s Mr Bee reflected Dapper’s increasing focus on early-stage structure. The project transformed growing attention into artistic credibility, positioning Rybeena as more than a promising voice and allowing his identity to take shape beyond singles and fleeting moments.

Shakur Deluxe by TI Blaze followed with a similar sense of purpose. Rather than extending the project for numbers, the expanded release deepened its emotional weight. It reinforced TI Blaze’s reputation as an artist whose music carries introspection and honesty, strengthening the narrative rather than repeating it.

Later in 2025, Sweet Songs for You by Lasmid and TML Vibez demonstrated a broader pan-African vision. The collaboration felt rooted in musical compatibility rather than strategy, blending melody and emotion across borders in a way that reflected where Afrobeats continues to evolve.

Taken together, these ten projects form a clear pattern. They are not defined by genre, scale, or trend chasing. They are defined by timing and intent. Each arrived at a moment when the artist needed structure, perspective, or consolidation rather than spectacle.

Reflecting on the run, Damilola “Dapper” Akinwunmi, Founder and CEO of Dapper Music and Entertainment, framed the company’s approach as one rooted in patience and long-term thinking.

“We’ve always paid attention to moments of transition,” he said. “When an artist is evolving, that’s when structure matters most. The goal is never to rush the music, but to support it with clarity so it can live beyond its moment.”

Dapper Music and Entertainment’s decade-defining run is not about dominating charts or claiming cultural ownership. It is about recognising moments of change and supporting artists through them with intention and restraint. In an industry often driven by speed, these projects stand as evidence that careful construction still shapes culture in lasting ways.

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