#TheDecadeList
30. ADEKUNLE GOLD:
The Kosoko son was a breath of fresh air. Making his debut with ‘Sade,’ he revealed a penchant for the romantic. However, since then, his music has evolved, in theme and sound. While his earlier releases were all lovey-dovey, he has become a more rounded artiste, boasting philosophical songs, and the rest. He has two albums: 2015’s ‘Gold’ and ‘About 30’, released three years later. The album also got a Grammys consideration.
29. FALZ:
Folarin Falana has perhaps been the fullest entertainment package of the decade. An artiste, a comedian, and an actor, Falz has consistently stretched the borders of entertainment. And what makes him a particular kind of special is his consciousness, most reflected in his music. 2018’s Moral Instruction, which won Album of the Year at the Headies, has heavy Fela influences, and expectedly, has Falz rapping about the Nigerian reality, with a word for everyone.
28. RUNTOWN:
The former Eric Manny front man had his own share of label issues. However, Runtown got on his feet, making moves that confirmed what we knew years ago, since “Gallardo”: that Runtown was a phenomenal talent. "Mad Over You" is easily one of the love songs of the decade.
27. PATORANKING:
The Afro Dancehall artiste's stock has grown steadily in the industry over the years. From his time with K-Solo to Timaya, then Foston Muzik, Patoranking's trajectory has continued in an upward direction home and abroad. Having a positive image about him, it has led to his collaboration-friendly career, which has thus far, led to a number of high charting singles, and his two albums, 2016’s God Over Everything and Wilmer, released in 2019.
26. SEUN KUTI:
The Afrobeat maestro has continued to make waves, creating timely art with his Egypt 80 band (inherited from his father Fela). 2018’s ‘Black Times’ ranks very highly among his works, as it was protestant and aware, fiery and electric, as Seun is known to be.
25. ICE PRINCE:
Following in the ways of mentor M.I Abaga, Ice Prince made commercially-viable rap. Soon enough, he became the face of The Drip, a fashion icon whose musical style would be shaped by it. His latest project in the decade is the COLD EP, an experimental offering which relied on Trap, a form Ice Prince has previously dabbled in.
24. DUNCAN MIGHTY:
The PH City veteran’s moves in the decade fall under two periods. The first was in 2010, circa ‘Ahamefuna (Legacy)’. The second, was in 2018, when his ‘Fake Love’ duet with Wizkid shook everywhere. Almost eight years apart, what joins these moments together is Duncan Mighty’s artistry and hard work.
23. MR. EAZI:
The Banku Music honcho came into the game with a nomadic hat that signaled his intent of crossing over. Nowadays, Mr. Eazi has become an OG, a person whose business acumen is only matched by his musical skill. With his involvement in the emPawa initiative, he has mentored artistes like Joeboy and J Derobie to mainstream acclaim.
22. PHYNO:
Since his show-sealing hook on iLLBliss’ ‘Anam Achi Kwanu,’ Phyno hasn’t looked back, releasing three albums, a joint project with Olamide. All these, if one is not already sure, has cemented Phyno as possibly the greatest rapper to come out of the South East.
21. TEKNO:
The Afropop artiste has, low key, shaped the sound of his genre, creating in-roads for the likes of Davido, who he’s also produced for (“If”). Since 2015 (“Duro”), Tekno has consistently dropped hit songs, most of them one-worded. Some of these include ‘Pana’, ‘Diana’, and most recently, ‘Skeletun’.
