A STROLL THROUGH MY 2015 PLAYLIST

Foreign and local music had contrasting fortunes in 2015...or at least according to my playlist.While this will go down as a great year for a lot of our foreign artistes, the same can hardly be said for their Nigerian counterparts.No songs in the mould of DOROBUCCI,CARO or JOHNNY.When people start to think Korede Bello's GODWIN is a good jam,then you know we are in trouble.Only a handful of naija hits are worth my Nike this year.Songs like Kiss Daniel's WOJU and maybe Patoranking and Wande Coal's MY WOMAN MY EVERYTHING.

2015 kicked off for me with Yung  6ix's THIS YEAR which is a song I still love to bits.Speaks to me directly.The only person who believed in me probably more than I did was my momz.Sometimes I wonder if I would have made it this far if she didn't.Always told me the only problems I had were ones I made for myself and that it was in me to soar high if I give my life 100.
Well, these days its something like that Biggie Smalls JUICY line-'she loves to show me off of course, Smiles every time my face is up in The Source'.Yea, her boy doing big things now.Lol.
I showed 6ix some love a while back and he let me know the video will be out on December 31st.Can't wait.
Then Kid Ink's album dropped.Kid looked like he had something great up his sleeves and I couldn't wait to see Wassup.After all said and done, you'll tag him talented, not one to make it off a unique style in a saturated market but.....he really needs a good dose of cutting edge.It is better to have a single monster hit than have an album full of great songs.Wasn't disappointed though and I hardly go too long without listening to LIKE A HOTt BOY Feat Young Thug and Bricc.The punchline referenced Cash Money's Hot boys.Lil Wayne belonged to the group and created the slang 'Bling Bling'.Thugga came through in some style,great song.
Then you have Thugga's BARTER 6. 2015 was the year to see just how many shots on wax the Cash Money/Young Money feud was going to give us and it did a few...and then some from a gat as well.Wayne's tour bus was shot by an associate of Thugga's who claims he acted on Stunna's instructions and that was after Young Thug had named his mixtape BARTER 6 in what was perceived as a blatant mockery of Wayne's predicament-unable to release CARTER V till he sorts himself out with Cash Money.Thugga made a strong impression with that mixtape and NEVER HAD IT feat Young Dolph is one of my best songs this year.Made me look deeper into Dolph.Loved his style. KNOCKED OFF feat Stunna was dope as well.The boss strutted on it like one as usual and don't we all love him for that?.Well,It was time Thugga made a statement alone and Boy, did he make one?.
The much anticipated Phyno and Olamide 2 KINGS album dropped and it fell way short of expectations.It felt like a contract marriage where both spouses couldn't wait to get it done with and move on.It was that bad.But...I say this again BUT it had one of the best bangers this year-LADI which just happens to be one of the very few timeless dance tracks made here over the years. Their guest, Lil Kesh delivered a verse to further cement his status as Baddo's natural heir.Song made you want to forgive them for the other 'skippables'.
In Young John and Pheelz, Olamide Baddo has two of the very best chefs in his camp.Those guys make very insane beats.Lil Kesh's EFEJOKU was doing justice to one of such beats and quite incidentally, most of the club songs that measure up to or surpass it came from the YBNL camp.Had a long phone chat with my little sister and while I was singing along to her LADI acapella, she switched to OLAMIDE's BOBO.One of my fav songs out this year as well, nothing like a feel good song that really makes you feel good.Had another chat with her days later and she drew my attention to his MELO MELO, a song I hadn't heard before then..Nice to hear those lines that reminded me of Baba Fryo's hit when I was her age-'I no dey denge, denge, I no dey pose!!'.If there is an award for Camp/Crew of the year, It won't go to Don Jazzy's MAVINS, it will go to Baddo's YBNL (Yahoo Boy No Laptop.Lol).Nothing is reliant on massive promo, star power or anything of the sorts, it was just quality shinning through.
Anybody who thinks Big Sean's DARK SKY PARADISE isn't the best rap album of 2015 will really have to go a long way in convincing me.Dude stepped up big time without really changing much about himself.I always say Sean is the only testament to Kanye's talent-spotting skills-Signing him after listening to his 15mins freestyle at a radio station.Other than that, every other thing suggests 'Ye's business acumen sucks.All 'em other cats had something major one way or the other going on.BLESSINGS Is the most popular song off the LP feat Drake.The video had an extra Ye verse and if you watched Little Riley Curry interrupt her father's post-game news conference to say 'Waaay up I feel Blessed!!!', you know irr is warh irr is-Blessed!!.Strong message.
Then you also have STAY DOWN, a really dope song.Word in some quarters is that Sean's 'I gotta a million dollar chic with a billion dollar pu***' line caused his break up with Ariana Grande.A collabo was expected from both and they nailed it real bad.The RESEARCH song is maaad.The girl can really sing.
ONE MAN CAN CHANGE THE WORLD feat Kanye and John Legend is Grammy nominated and one of my favs for the year as well.It was a tribute to Sean's grandma and well....It had me emotional at times.
JJC aka Mr Skillz dropped THANK GOD feat Boi Wonda and Ice Prince during Ramadan.Boi Wonda was super-splendid on the hook and Skillz aka Mr Abdul Bello Dan Kano dropped lines strong enough to remind you just how grateful you should be.If No Be God.....
OT Genasis's DO IT feat Lil Wayne effectively pulled him out of the One-hit wonder ranks.Things with guys like that who stroll into the game with a distinctive style is they find it hard to last staying true to it.They tend to live off just that one minute of fame and fortune till they wither away (Mims,Trinidad James,Cash Out & 'em).So i was glad it just wasn't COCO and Bye bye from OT.
I love DO IT to bits and something like the song itself, it gives you that 'Pa Pa Pa' feel.Lol
Choc Nation dropped their compilation album titled INDESTRUCTIBLE and though it was safe to get into it with expectations of a heavy commercial content coz of 'market forces', you just knew you had to get a coupla good rap songs out of it.Why?.Choc Boiz is Hip Hop and Hip Hop is Choc Boiz round here.I wasn't disappointed.
DJ Lambo feat Milli and Moti Cakes-DRANK is my best naija song for 2015..Words can't possibly explain how I feel about that joint... $90 Billion is my best attempt.Critics always felt Loose Kaynon wasn't lyrically tight and didn't have it in him to make up for it in other departments like the Sinzus of this world but he had arguably the best showing of his rap career on GO HARD feat Milli and Ice Prince...'Kd boy, u f...ing wit a Kd boy, been about the flow since you was a baby boy.From city to city, am notorious no biggie now they got me in Gidi and nobody F wit me'.Loose had my best stars for his verses.Milli came through with a great hook and Ice...seems to have come full circle.Nothing good out of him these days.Last I felt was the verse on Kida Kudz's LE BOO Rmx.
Jesse Jagz RESTORATION is a purists' collector's item.Talk about Jagz strolling majestically back to the Choc City fold.Dude was on some Space issh and whenever I get talking with the pure heads, a lot of references will be made to this song.
Thugga's SLIME SEASON came in 2 installments and the only joint good enough for my archives was MY BABY; a bonus track off the 2nd part.There is just something so real about the 'hooooly ghost with an angel, hooly moly mingle' exclamation in his hook.Something like our 'Baba God you too much' reaction to a gorgeous lady on the streets.
2015 Young Jeezy season was most memorable. Foreplays don't come better than his POLITICALLY CORRECT mixtape.STREETZ is as crack as it gets with a really great slow feel to it.My best song off #JeezySeason was WHERE I'M FROM...we'll definitely be together for a really long time.There was so much talk, a lot of it from his camp about Jeezy switching up before the CHURCH IN THESE STREETS album dropped.The cover art for it suggested so as well..It was 'corporate' Jeez.But little change if you ask me coz Jeez stayed 'Streets of ATL' all through the work.My pick of the pack has to be NEW CLOTHES, he drags you into it till you start to sing along.
I have always felt Orezi was one of the most slept on artistes in Nigeria and the GHEN GHEN album release had me very excited.Asides BIG SOMETHING Feat MI and Flavour, other songs worth saving were ones I had listened to much earlier.His version of SHOKI and RIHANNA.Oh how I love RIHANNA...My Banana na na!!.Lool.Crazy stuff.
Weezy dropped 2 mixtapes and an album this year.A strategy maybe-flooding the market and creating a positive vibe till things are sorted out with Cash Money and CARTER V is released. Wouldn't be fair to keep the fans waiting just to create the right publicity when things are, so 'Considerate' Wayne wouldn't need anything extra before dropping it coz he never shied off the mainstream.Just Maybe.
Another thing about Wayne is he really loves the art and could do 2 songs everyday for years so it might also be a case of utilizing his creative zeal to the max.The FREE WEEZY album wasn't good and I have no memories of it in my playlist while the last offering, NO CEILINGS 2 mixtape was wack.
A lot of people base their criticism on the heavy and perhaps bad use of Future and Drake beats but mine is on the sheer lack of lyrical ingenuity we all love Wayne for.A trait only 2chainz and Tunechi can boast of right now-witty and hilarious lyrics.Dude seemed like he was teaching my lil sis nursery rhymes at times.FINESSIN is the only thing reminding me of it and its basically coz of the guy singing on it.But..i say this again ladies and gentlemen, BUT...the very first Wayne offering this year stood out.In other words, it was outstanding.
The SORRY FOR THE WAIT 2 Ep makes you want to give his 'I am not human' declarations a serious thought.From COCO to ALPHABET, it was a master painting a masterpiece. His HOT NIGGA is one of my best songs of 2015 and Whoever said Wayne takes your beat and makes it his was right here.
I always wondered what there was to love in Bobby Shmurda's original version other than the shmoney dance and King Carter came through with the right schooling.The energy made the beat his and not forgetting he dropped some bars for the archives...'Moneybags under my eyes, money over rest...Mama jumped outta the plane I was air born...Favourite subject was PE-Pablo Escobar!!'.Tune was on some star trek issh.
He also remade HipHop Royalty's DRUNK IN LOVE with his (ex?) boo, Christian Milian and it was just as hilarious as it was creative!!.Wayne had so much fun on it or better yet, skated real hard on it.Lol.
NO HATERS is HIV sick and will get played for a long time...'I got the hook up on 'em rocket launchers, I told Obama F wit me, you know I got it!!'..Crazy stuff.
BADDEST 2.0 by Ink Edwards feat Mi, Falz and Flavour was a great song and I hope to see more of him.Migos released its YUNG RICH NATION album and RECOGNITION is my number one off it..'same people doubted see me on television'.Crack joint.It had this really funny line-'I still get recognised by my old patients, with a snag or two, Smiley said he happy that I made it'.
Cynthia Morgan had a great year.A much lesser number of people argue with me now when I say she is the best reggae/dancehall artiste round here, not Patoranking.COME AND DO blew me away and almost as bad as her BABY MAMA song did.The cover art for BM was greeted with much controversy. I guess the sight of a Benin girl holding a baby and puffing spliff with the other hand didn't sit too well with many.Gal stood up to her critics and pulled an 'Only one I know' on Caroline Ekanem Danjuma...Rude gyal said the 'only' Danjuma she knows is Daisy.(Remember the MI line dissing Kelly Hansome on Choc Boiz's-NOBODY TEST ME..'Only one Kelly I know-Kelly Rowland?').
Loved her on Illbliss's JAMO and talking about 'Illy trafficante', he had a coupla good songs out but is still being slept on.I really felt the first verse of his MUNACHIMSO joint..Serious Boss issh right there.He also had a great collabo with Black Magic-FUNDED which had a fresh outta the bank feel to it.
Heard this song just weeks back and I have been tripping since-Chyn's BIG feat Falz.Dope!!..fiending for Falz's verse and the tight hook.
MGK's GENERAL ADMISSION was making a grand entrance and his MAKE IT HAPPEN officially supplements Eminem's LOSE YOURSELF as my 'Go get 'em ' song.Psyches me up with the right dose of adrenaline and WORLD SERIES is
one crazy Pac issh.Didn't let me down, great album.
In my opinion, Di'ja is the most talented artiste in the Mavin crew and her AMEN song was the best from the camp this year.Though Don Jazzy tries hard to give every artiste due attention very much unlike his old boss (abi na slave driver sef?); Kanye West, you can't compare hers with that of the other bankable artistes (and am not talking Dr Sid!!).She deserves a lot more for her game.This song is good and even passes a stronger message than Korede Bello's GODWIN if you ask me.Who God dey fight wey him win?
Then to WHAT A TIME TO BE ALIVE; a lot of people's album of the year.Future and Drake made collaborative EPs fashionable with this awesome piece of art.SCHOLARSHIPS was great.Hook was like tea on a winter morning and BIG RINGS had a great 'team' vibe to it.Future shone brighter and his JERSEY is my lucky bride.Song drives me Yaba nuts and has been my ring tone for quite some time now.
French Montana and Fetty Wap dropped theirs soon afterwards having been bitten by the EP bug, COKE ZOO they called it.
French went alone on FIRST TIME which I give bright stars to for creativity.Nice stuff.GANGSTA WAY feat Chris Brown is my fav song off the project coz Brezzy brought that Brezzy I love so much.French and Fetty went in alone on ANGEL.Though a really nice song, I found it hard to fight the thought that it wasn't just a glorified imitation of Fetty's break out hit-TRAP QUEEN coz It just kept reminding you of it.Mad love for them though when you finally remember to judge it on its own merit.
I used to think Ace Hood was the most underrated rapper in the game till I heard his 4da F OF IT mixtape and STARVATION 4 album. Guy sang more than he rapped for the most part and it made you wonder if someone was trying to be a Gangsta Drake.The other part was more an experimentation of a new rap style; shedding some punch for a more laid back delivery.Yea, you beat me to it-perhaps Ace was influenced by Caitlyn Jenner.Lool.When a rapper with a voice tailor-made for his delivery and a way more than decent lyrical prowess does that, you have to reassess.2015 Ace was not the one that made what I consider one of the best albums this decade few years ago-TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS..HAVE MERCY off that LP still remains one of my best Hip Hop songs of all time.
Well, 4DA F OF IT was average with 2 great songs out of a possible 5.Caught glimpses of the real Ace on CLARITY, a rapper's rapper and transgender Ace on COLD BLOODED MURDER..Sang really well on it.Kinda reminds you Caitlyn Jenner isn't that bad a chic...Need to get some therapy for my homophobia coz on the real, she still feels Bruce to me.Lool.
And as for STARVATION 4, its not half as good as TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS. Its one thing to not measure up to the standards you set for yourself and its another to fall too far below it.But thing with genuine talents like Ace is that one way or the other, they just have to leave you something to remember them for.It all boils down to creativity sometimes and even if everything fails, it won't fail them.
954 Is also up there with my very best songs this year..the laid back delivery thing was on red bull here.Tight!!.A lot of people test the waters before a drastic change in style..like a few singles to see the fans' reaction; Memo To Ace Hood.i remain a fan. 

Phyno's CONNECT is a feel good song I really felt to the bone marrow.Gets me in the right mood.Tekno had 2 great songs out as well-DURO and WASH.Luv it when I hear him say- 'My love na Karate combo!!'.
And to other shores,Meek Mill dropped a bomb LP.Probably the most slept on for the year 2015.He matured from that rapper with nothing going for him other than a peculiar voice and an MMG affiliation to one who is a much better all round artiste.
Before now the only shred of Meek i still had left was his verse on the Classic Remix to Ludacris's MAD FO, arguably my best rap collabo in recent times. 2015 saw a new Meek; much better composition.Guy worked hard on himself and ended up with catchy hooks, far better lyrics and the ability to make it all come together for him.RICO was everyone's favourite even before it birthed the beef with Drake but there were other great joints as well.CHECK is a DJ's favourite and one for the clubs; conventional and unconventional alike.Check! Check!...Classic pole stuff.Lol.
I GOT THE JUICE is as insane as it gets and THE TRILLEST has an excellent 'We made it this far against all odds' feel...In his words-'Shii I had to work for it, they talking about taking trains and taking planes, i put the work in and made a name'..Capped it off in some style as well.Millie had a lot to prove and he did it on 'em real bad.
Omeeka has his entire first name so ain't no doubting who the man is....even though Drake had to go say 'hit him with a pre-nup'.Loool.Memorable album.
Dbanj's FEELING A N***A was a really nice song.Like it a lot and also 50's GO LOW feat 2chainz, TI and Jeremih.Slim Thug stayed a bonafide OG through and through on his HUSTLER OF THE YEAR album and GET IT IN feat Beatking had me lit as F.
Then you had Dre's COMPTON soundtrack which deserved all the positive reviews it got.How the Doctor was able to do him and still stay 2015 will never cease to amaze me.Dre is day and night at the same time-timeless.He featured the right artistes and on the right songs.ANIMALS was my best of them all.
Ask me to tell you my best song of 2015 and I just might tell you Dave East's KD.Some cats don't really try to hard to show you their trap roots.Dave is certified trap.Copasetic Joint..from the lyrics to the beat and composition, it was simply flawless.The HATE ME NOW album was dope and hate him or love him, you just had to respect what he put together.

I will tag Maye Hunta's NAIJA BLOOD feat Eldee, Sinzu, Morell, Bils and Kelly Hansome my best naija rap collabo.
Waited for almost 6 years before I got what could go toe to toe with Choc Boiz's NOBODY TEST ME and lucky me didn't miss it when it came along.Every verse was tight.
I have only two songs by R&B artistes and they are Trey Songz's #FWYB (which is pop by the way..Vintage Trigga.Great song) and Justin Bieber's SORRY which technically is my only slow song for 2015.My player dudes just got another 'game' anthem; a JB formation.Lol.Love it to bits.
Flo Rida's WOBBLE is my joint best pop song of the year along with FWYB.Awesome stuff.
Fabolous remade the LL Cool J Classic-DOING IT WELL alongside Nicki Minaj and Trey Songz.I remember listening to the original non-stop on the cassette player as a kid..'She represent Queens and i was raised outta Brooklyn'.Made me fall in love with LL.
Fab retained the best part of the old beat and killed it cold-Murder one!!.Nicki did her thing and Trey brought his A-Game..It was Hiroshima on wax.
And to albums like Asap Rocky's A.L.L.A, Snoop's BUSH and Kendrick Lamar's TO PIMP A BUTTERFLY (Yea, you heard right) that chopped my barex and data,I say- God pass una.Lool.