On November 20, 2023, Victony posted a snippet of his new single, Ohema, along with interesting news: he worked with three music producers and featured 14 artists on the track.
While we all await Victony’s highly anticipated single, let’s travel back to the 2000s to highlight all the all-star songs we loved so much.
1,2,3 remix by DJ Neptune
The year was 2010 when three of the hottest rappers in the country took turns to drop bars on a DJ Neptune record. M.I Abaga, the song’s producer, opened up the remix, followed by Naeto C and the late Dagrin, who had arguably the best verse on it because of his strong Yorùbá delivery. While the 2011 Ako Mi Ti Poju remix gave us Naeto C and Dagrin, 1,2,3 remix is the only song to feature the three iconic rappers together.
My Pain (Tribute to Dagrin) by Sheyman
After Dagrin’s demise in 2010, veteran artist and sound engineer, Sheyman, orchestrated an emotional tribute to the memory of the late rapper. My Pain featured 20 artists including Omawumi, Reminisce, Durella, Kenny Saint-Brown, Waje, Banky W, Sasha, Jaywon, Jahbless, Tony Tetuila, Lord of Ajasa and more. We can’t talk about all-star records in Afrobeats without mentioning when artists came together to pay their last respects to a colleague.
Baddest Boy by E.M.E All-stars
In 2012, Banky W’s co-founded record company, Empire Mates Entertainment (E.M.E), released the album, Empire Mates State of Mind. The first single, Baddest Boy, features former E.M.E artists, Wizkid, Skales and Banky W. During this period, E.M.E owned the airwaves with a cool swag every young person wanted to have. And Baddest Boy had our attention with Wiz’s confident opening verse and infectious chorus, Skales’ braggadocious rap verse and Banky’s singy-rap delivery. Till today, when the Wizkid part, “Bí wón le, le, le” bursts out of any speaker, the crowd will respond with “I’m the baddest boy”. It was an anthem.
Made in Lagos by Naeto C
Way before Wizkid’s latest album Made In Lagos, Naeto C had a song of the same title. It’s the last song on his 2008 album, You Know My P
Born Champion remix by General Pype
Coming off the success of the original song, General Pype assembled Dagrin, Vector, Naeto C, Sasha P and GT tha Guitarman for a remix in 2010. This remix became the ghetto gospel, giving hope to young Nigerians stuck in the trenches. It’s still a sing-along that sparks nostalgia today.
Pere by Mo’Hits All-Stars
Off their Curriculum Vitae album, Mo’Hits All-Stars — Don Jazzy, D’Banj and Wande Coal — sang to woo their love interests. At the time, Mo’Hits had the music industry in a chokehold with their hit songs and superstar label roster. Pere‘s music video directed by DJ Tee upped its relevance with the iconic scene where Wande and D’Banj argued over who had the finest babe. Pere is still a jam that’s immediately recognisable from the beat drop.
We Are Africans (Naija remix) by JJC
Femi Kuti, Dagrin, eLDee, DJ Zeez, Kel, Ay.com, Ragga Remi and Moe Money featured on the Naija remix of JJC’s We Are Africans in 2010. One of those old-school Naija classics that’s a certified sing-along, the song was their way of promoting African unity and pride to the diaspora.
Represent by M.I. Abaga
Represent was the last song off MI 2: The Movie album, featuring Ice Prince, Jesse Jagz and Brymo. The song started with a lady saying the album can’t finish without a joint from the “Choc Boyz” — the Chocolate City labelmates. Their era as labelmates was a solid run, and their songs together are some of the best releases from Chocolate City.
