Nigerian Boy Groups of the Late 90s and Early 2000s

Today, we take a step back to reminisce about the iconic Nigerian boy groups that emerged at the end of the 20th century and early 2000s. These iconic groups revolutionized the Nigerian music scene and made those moments memorable for us.

In no particular order,

• Plantashuz Boiz

Plantashun Boiz was a Nigerian hip-hop and R&B music group started by three college boys with the moniker - 2face, Faze, and Blackface. Their big break came in the 2000s when they moved to Lagos, Nigeria. Some of their hit songs were: "Say You Believe Me," "Ocean of Passion," "Like Her Better," and "Rather Be," to mention a few. Although the group is no longer together, as each member went on to pursue a solo career, they certainly added vibrancy to the music scene in the late 90s and early 2000s. Learn more about the band and its members here.

• Styl Plus

Till date, the nostalgia Styl Plus' Olufunmi evokes is unmatched. Styl-Plus, a four-man band initially known as STYL was formed in 1997 by Shifi Emoefe, Tunde Akinsanmi, Yemi Akinwonmi, and Lanre Faneyi (deceased). The name "STYL" was formed from the first letter of each member's first name. In addition to "Olufunmi," the group served us "Runaway," "Imagine That," "Call My Name," and others. Read more about the band and its members here.

• Trybesmen

Trybesmen, also known as Da Trybe, regarded as one of the pioneers of hip-hop music in Nigeria, came and lit up the rap scene. The members of the 3-man hip hop music group were Eldee, Oladele, and T.K.O. Their releases like "Shake Bodi," "Plenty Nonsense," "Oya," and "Whether You Like Am" were the rave at that time. But what happened to them? Read more here.

• The Remedies

The Remedies, composed of Eedris Abdulkareem, Eddy Remedy, and Tony Tetuila, were a groundbreaking Nigerian hip-hop group in the late '90s. Their hit single "Shakomo" (1999), blending local languages with hip-hop beats, marked a significant shift in Nigerian music. The group split in 2002, with each member starting a solo career. Click to read more. 

• Rooftop MCs

Rooftop MCs’ "Lagimo" ft. Cobhams was a hit. The duo rap group emerged in 2002 with Adekunle Adeyoola ( a.k.a Soul Snatcha) and Olaitan Hughes (a.k.a So Kleva) as members. Though they are still together, they’ve not had any recent releases but we are not quick to forget "Chop Your Mouth," "Shock Therapy," "Elenu," and "Silence." We still look forward to something new from them.

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Yours in African Music,

Librarian