Nigerian music has experienced a meteoric ascension in the last decade, with artists like Burna Boy, Ayra Starr, Rema and Asake shining on the world stage.
However, we don’t talk enough about the producers who’ve defined this rise through their quality work. They’re the hallway of one of fastest growing cultural export out of Africa. These geniuses are changing the global sound.
Sarz
Sarz co-produced Drake’s One Dance (2016), one of the records that catapulted afrobeats to international shores. Because of Sarz, we got some of the best music projects from Wurld, Lojay, Obongjayar and more. The super-talented music producer, sound engineer and DJ has a catalogue as diverse as afropop, R&B, Hip-Hop and afro-house, classifying him as one of the most outstanding producers we have. He made the Hennessy Artistry 2014 theme song (Dance Go), released a sample and loop pack for producers (the first from a Naija producer) in 2020 and founded The Sarz Academy to train and develop songwriters, performers and producers. Super producers like Tempoe and P.Priime are products of his music school.
Pheelz
Some listeners discovered Pheelz when they heard the tall musician on his mega hit, Finesse (2022) with BNXN FKA Buju. But some 12 years before that, he was already affiliated with YBNL on chart-popping productions like Olamide’s First of All and Fucking with the Devil. His production credits cut across smash hits, era-defining albums and singles like M.I Abaga’s The Chairman album, Runtown’s debut, Ghetto University, Seyi or Shay by Seyi Shay, Adekunle Gold’s Pick Up and Vector’s Popular. He’s also worked with Lil Kesh, Wande Coal, Fireboy DML, Tiwa Savage and Bella Shmurda. Although he’s now focused on recording and performing his own music, Pheelz remains instrumental to how some of our fave sounds have come together.
Young Jonn
Since his early days at the Hit Factory, Young Jonn set himself up for an incredible career trajectory. After he produced five songs on Olamide’s Street OT album (Story For The Gods, Falila Ketan, The Real MVP, Prayer For Client and Blood Money), Young Jonn went on to bag the 2015 Headies’ Producer of the Year award for Baddo’s viral jam, Bobo. Since then, his tag, “It’s Young Jonn, the wicked producer” has become synonymous with hit songs, even though we hear it less as Young Jonn morphs into a recording act.
Altims
From 2013 to 2016, Mavin had its legs on everyone’s necks. And Altims is responsible for producing some of our fave 2010s songs from their stable: Oluwa Loni and Ladies and Gentlemen by Reekado Banks, Do Like That by Reekado Banks and DJ Xclusive’s Gal Bad. The former Mavin in-house sound designer, mix engineer and DJ also helped birth hits like Man Already by Ladipoe, Tiwa Savage’s Thank You, Before Nko, LaBaLaBa and Rema’s Lady, Woman, Boulevard, Oroma Baby in later years.
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Rexxie
Almost all your fave street-pop artists have shopped his beats. No Rexxie, no year defining hits like Able God, Zanku, Tesumole, Mafo, Soapy, Ko Por Ke (KPK) or Comma. He gained popularity in 2018 and became massively involved in bringing fresh sounds to afrobeats. With four star-studded music projects to his name, Rexxie remains relevant as one of Naija’s hottest music producers.
P.Priime
When you hear the vibrant “Giddem” or a resounding “P” production tag on songs, that’s to let you know P.Priime is the producer. After graduating from The Sarz Academy in 2019, he’s gained increasing popularity and his catalogue speaks for him. With hits like Wizkid’s Anoti, Reekado’s Ozumba Mbadiwe, Fireboy’s Bandana and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’s Anya Mmiri, Alone and Coming Back For You, P.Priime has placed himself as one of the youngest and busiest producers in Nigeria.
London
Most of the songs he’s produced have topped charts, so it’s no wonder London has been nominated at prestigious awards shows across the globe, breaking and setting records for the Nigerian music scene. Although he’s most famously known as one of Rema’s go-to sound men, London has production credits on Wizkid’s Grammy nominated Made In Lagos album, Ceeza Milli’s Diamond in the Rough, Tiwa Savage’s Celia, Arya Starr’s 19 & Dangerous, Black Sherrif’s The Villain I Never Was and more. As of publishing, he’s on Billboard’s Top 100 Producers list thanks to Rema’s multi-record breaking Calm Down — both the OG and remix versions.
Kel-P
Popularly known by the “It’s Kel-P Vibes” tag Sarz helped him create, he rose to prominence with his contributions to Grammy-nominated albums like Skip Marley’s Higher Place, Burna Boy’s African Giant, Wizkid’s Made In Lagos (deluxe version) and Angelique Kidjo’s Mother Nature. In 2023, Kel-P joined the likes of Pheelz and Young Jonn to become singer-songwriters but still won the Headies’ Producer of the Year award. Concentrating on his singing and production, we may yet see Kel-P unlock new incredible levels.
In case you didn’t know, the meat festival of this decade, our Burning Ram, is coming soon.
