With another Nigerian international music collaboration on the horizon, (Wale, Olamide, Don Jazzy,Reekado Banks on Allelu) we take a throw back this Wednesday morning to the history of Nigerian artistes and their many link ups with foreign/globally recognized artistes.
It is worth a note that most of the songs Nigerian artistes have done with American acts, especially are very forgettable and the ones that last the test of time on radio and TV can’t do more than 4 weeks at best. Remember Ice Prince had a song with French Montana? Recall Wizkid and Wale have 3 songs?Olamide has 2 with him, Davido had one with Akon? Jerimih, Ice Prince, Wizkid on the same song? Timaya featured Sean Paul!
Do you remember? You probably won’t remember what any of these songs sounds like anymore because they don’t last on the shelf.
While we eagerly anticipate Wizkid and Chris Brown collab, Davido x Drake, Trey Songz, Meek Mill, Walewe take a look at 4 of the Nigerian international records that turned hits at the very least if not classics.
2face Idibia – Nfana Ibaga (Remix) featuring Beenie Man & Reggie Rockstone
Part of the hundreds of reasons why Innocent Idibia a.k.a 2face Idibia is a music legend is this international collaboration which came at a time when there was no Twitter for communication, e-mails barely work down here and things weren’t particularly easy. Beenie Man was at the peak of his career when Nfana Ibaga (remix) was released.
The song came on the international pack of 2face Idibia’s classic album, Face2Face. Unlike many international collabs these days, the video for this song was shot in motherland, Ghana to be precise and it features then, best rapper in Ghana Reggie Rockstone.
If you listen to this record right now, it still sounds gold.
P-Square – Chop My Money (Remix) featuring Akon & May D
29million views on YouTube + Vevo and counting, the remix for P-Square’s hit Chop My Money was released following the mainstream success of their 5th studio album, The Invasion which was released in 2011. P-Square recorded the song, Chop My Money (Remix) shortly after signing a partnership deal withAkon’s Konvict Muzik.
Upon its release, the song was met with positive reviews. The music video was directed by Jude Engees Okoye and Ben Marc.
Chop My Money (remix) may not pass as a classic in your books but you can’t deny the fact that it was a monstrous nationwide hit.
D’Banj – Mr Endowed (Remix) featuring Snoop Dogg.
Mr. Endowed is a single by Nigerian recording artiste D’Banj which was released May 23, 2010 and was meant to be the lead single of D’Banj’s third studio album tagged “Mr Endowed”. The tracklisting for the album was released but it never happened following the fall out of D’Banj and Don Jazzywhich led to the fall out of their hit making label Mo’Hits
Mr. Endowed was recorded after D’Banj’s failed recording deal with GOOD Music. The remix of the song arrived 5 months later, October 2010 & was an instant hit with the Sesan directed video coming shortly after.
D’banj and Snoop Dogg performed the single at the 2013 MTV Africa All Stars Concert held at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, South Africa.
The remix for the song is widely believed to be Nigeria’s most successful international collaboration to date. The song won “Most Gifted Male Video” award at the 2011 Channel O Music Video Awards.
https://youtu.be/diNW3D4SfRc
P-Square – Beautiful Onyinye (Remix) featuring Rick Ross
This is the most surprising collaboration on the list. It was alleged that P-Squarepaid Rick Ross $100,000 for the verse he slammed on the remix of their love song Beautiful Onyinye, another song off their 5th LP, The Invasion.
Beautiful Onyinye generally met positive reviews from Nigerians especially as it came when Rick Ross was in his prime shortly after the release of his album Teflon Don.
During an interview with Okay Nigeria TV, the duo said they were with Akon in Atlanta when Rick Ross visited the studio. While playing the original song, Rick Ross told them that he loves the song’s vibe. Akon then suggested to the duo that they collaborate with Rick Ross. The duo agreed and told their manager, Jude Engees Okoye. After speaking with Rick Ross’ manager, the deal was finalize. When asked how was it like filming the video, the duo loosely said: “we shot Rick Ross’ scenes in Miami and shot the rest of the video in South Africa in order to maintain our african identity”
The video for the song has since amassed almost 30million views on Youtube and Vevo
