The list of Nigerian hip hop underrated and underappreciated artistes is endless. For one reason or the other, talented rappers like A-Q, Jesse Jagz, Poe, Loose Kanyon and a host of others have gone under the radar. The list looks to be piling up.
The hip hop scene is been put under the shade by the steady rise of Afrobeats. Both commercially and acceptance from the general public. So critical it is that some rappers switch genres.
‘Mo Street Gan’ brought Erigga to national consciousness when he was nominated for Best Street-Hop Artiste and Lyricist on the Roll at The Headies in 2012. In the following years, he released multiple singles, collaborated with other acts and signed with Emirate Empire(E.E).
His debut album under E.E in 2017, A Trip To The South brought more attention to Erigga. The album demonstrates Erriga’s impressive storytelling capabilities. And also explains how life on the streets of worry shaped him and drives his music.
Erigga is affectionately called “King Of The South”. He is the most recognized and talked about artiste in Southern Nigeria. That is just about it. Truth be told, he hasn’t fully gained national recognition. Compare Erigga’s popularity to other star rappers from the West & East like Olamide, Falz, Zlatan, Phyno then you get the bigger picture.
See also: Fireboy DML: The Jewel of New School Afro-pop
Erriga’s biggest hit till date is the song he featured Victor AD in ‘Motivation’. That song was like a street anthem from its release in 2018 through to 2019. That song made Erigga more accepted outside his routes but the song only got one nomination at The Headies.
There is a feeling that his artistry is more appealing to the masses. His flows and punchlines with the pidgin English is frightening. Everybody knows that Erigga can rap. His projects hardly disappoint compared to his peers. We all still know that his name hardly pops up when discussions of the best rappers in the country arise. That is unfair, and so the case has been with Paper Boi for years. He is a perfect definition of an underdog.
See also: Going Against The Norm To Reach The Top: The Meteoric Rise Of Victor AD
Many reasons comes to mind when I ponder why Erigga is so underrated. Could it be the faulty hip hop system in the country? The fans? His record label or money for exposure? While he might be underappreciated, his raw talents can not be denied.
Whenever I hear flows from Erigga, I hope that someday he receives the recognition and respect from all geographical corners his talents truly deserves.
