Nigerian producers’ tagging enhances their fame and imprints their names in the minds of listeners.
The truth is we called these tags from memory and that led to the realization as to how we have these Nigerian producer tags engrained into our minds unknowingly.
When I first heard Rema‘s “Bounce,” produced by Don Jazzy, I squinted a little at the opening adlib: “Na who do the beat? Jazzy! ” I recall that moment because, even after dozens of listens, I still get the same emotion.
Now that I think about it, my reaction wasn’t actually one of rejection; rather, it was one of sentimentality for the sake of nostalgia.
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Mo’ Hits, the Don Jazzy-led crew who held Afropop in a chokehold at will every year, dominated my adolescent and early teen years when I was a kid in the early to mid-1990s.
There was an ever-present adlib during that run that will go down in Nigerian pop music history: “It’s Don Jazzy Again!”
Rema‘s adlib at the start of “Bounce” isn’t completely unfamiliar Wande Coal utilized it on “Taboo” but it didn’t feel powerful enough to declare a towering, era-defining super-producer to my old self.
These are credible tags from Nigerian music producers
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Legendary Beats!
This duo of amazing producers is at the helm of the bangers emanating out of Star Boy. However, I reckon their credits on Skales’ Take care of me is one of their finest offerings.
Telz’s ‘Funkula
The Nigerian music community once shared a joke over Telz’s ‘Funkula’ tag on Twitter when some people wrote it out as ‘Born killer’ and even ‘Porn Killer.’ Eventually, Telz or Odunayo Alli himself had to step in to correct this.
Pheelz on the beat / Pheelz Mr Producer / Riddinmaculayo
Rated one time as the best afrobeat/hip-pop producer of his time. The “Awon Goonz Mi” crooner has set a pace for himself.
Being one of the pioneer stakeholders of the YBNL family he has created lots of magic with his FL and Cubase for the past ages
Sess problem kid
Currently one the best in Nigeria; it’s unique, it’s fresh and it’s sharp. This tag is executed by Falz and that made me wonder which song it first appeared on.
Masterkraft on the beat /GO: An underrated Nigerian sonic master, Masterkraft already had hits under his belt producing for the late Goldie but his recent behind-the-board magic on songs for Banky W, Phyno, The Flavor Nabania, and CDQ are distinguished.
“Yo Rexxie pon this one!
“Yo Rexxie pon this one!” is a tag that has in a seemingly short while become a household name and has become the herald of a good time as it has been so introduced to us by Rexxie who makes eclectic-so street-hop inspired beats.
Beats By Sarz or Sarz on the beat or Really
Don’t act like you don’t know, his first full credit production work was for Lord of Ajasa’s “See Drama” in 2007.
He has produced tracks for Wizkid, Naeto C, Banky W, Skales, Shank, Reminisce, Goldie Harvey, eLDee, Wande Coal, YQ and Niniola
Major Bangz
The king of hard-hitting kicks and bass drums. He might be synonymous with our Eastern Brothers, but it doesn’t decrease his brilliance.
His tag is usually worded by the Rapper, like Phyno.
It’s Young John the wicked producer — Young John
Young John is a Nigerian record producer and audio engineer. He is best known for producing the critically acclaimed single titled “Story For The Gods” off Olamide’s Street OT album.
Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock in Antarctica due to a fear of Polar Bears, you should be familiar with who this is.