Top 10 Richest Rappers In Nigeria (2024)

When it comes to music and Afro beats in Africa, Nigeria will always dominate. The Giant of Africa is not just a powerhouse of music but also a breeding ground for some of the most talented rappers on the African continent.

These rappers have not only amassed significant wealth but have also solidified their positions as influential figures globally. In this article, we will be looking at the top 10 richest rappers in Nigeria and their estimated net worth.

Top 10 Richest Rappers In Nigeria

1. Olamide – $12 million

Olamide Gbenga Adedeji, aka Olamide Badoo, is a Nigerian rapper, singer, and songwriter. He kickstarted his music career in 2011 with his debut album “Rapsodi” while signed to Coded Tunes of ID Cabasa. Olamide’s songs quickly resonated among the audience and gained widespread recognition that his second album, “YBNL,” was released under his label – YBNL Nation. This showed how quickly he progressed.

Olamide’s third album, “Baddest Guy Ever Liveth,” further solidified his position in the Nigerian music scene in 2013. He made history by becoming the first Nigerian to sign an endorsement deal with Cîroc that same year. Today, Olamide has not only restructured how people see Nigerian street pop but has also trained and helped other uniquely talented artists including Lil Kesh, Asake, Fireboy DML, Lyta, Adekunle Gold, and Chinko Ekun. With a net worth of $12 million, Olamide remains the richest rapper in Nigeria.

2. Phyno – $10 million

Chibuzor Nelson Azubuike, aka Phyno Fino, is the second richest rapper in Nigeria, thanks to his estimated net worth of $10 million. He is known for his unique blend of Igbo and Nigerian Pidgin languages in his music, similar to Olamide who blends Yoruba and Pidgin instead. Phyno discovered his passion for music during his secondary school days and began pursuing it seriously in 2010. He gained recognition with the release of his debut studio album, “No Guts No Glory,” in 2014.

The album featured hit singles like “Ghost Mode” and “Man of the Year (Obago),” which propelled him into the limelight. In addition to his solo career, Phyno has also worked closely with fellow rapper Olamide, releasing a collaborative album titled “2 Kings” in 2015. He has won numerous awards for his contributions to the music industry, including Best Rap Single at the Headies Awards. Phyno also ventured into entrepreneurship, owning a record label called Penthauze Music which has signed many talented singers and rappers of Igbo origin.

3. M.I Abaga – $8 million

Jude Lemfani Abaga is a Nigerian rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He gained recognition in 2006 with his track “Crowd Mentality” in Jos, his hometown. In 2008, M.I. released his debut album, “Talk About It,” followed by “MI 2: The Movie” in 2010. His third album, “The Chairman,” came out in 2014.

M.I Abaga co-founded Loopy Music in Jos with his brother Jesse Jagz and other artists before signing with Chocolate City, a prominent Nigerian record label. He served as the CEO of Chocolate City from 2015 to 2019. M.I Abaga has received numerous awards, including Best Hip Hop and Best New Act at the 2009 MTV Africa Music Awards. He’s known for his influential role in African hip-hop and has collaborated with top artists like Don Jazzy, Ice Prince, and Wizkid.

In 2020, M.I Abaga launched his record label, Incredible Music, after leaving Chocolate City. Currently, he has an estimated net worth of $8 million.

4. Reminisce – $7 million

Sitting in the fourth position on our list of the richest rappers in Nigeria is Reminisce, aka Baba Afusa or Alaga Ibile. He has an estimated net worth of $7 million. Remilekun Khalid Safaru is a Nigerian singer, rapper, and actor. He was born on January 26, 1981, in Ogun State.

Reminisce started his music journey in 2006 under Coded Tunes but didn’t get the recognition he needed. So, he decided to take a break and complete his education. In 2008, he made a comeback to music by featuring on a track titled “Bachelor’s Life” from 9ice’s album “Gongo Aso”. Then, he went on to release his debut single “Ever Since” featuring 9ice.

At this stage, he started gaining popularity both locally and internationally. In 2014, US-based TIME Magazine named him one of the seven “World Rappers You Should Meet”. Since then, he has released a lot of hit songs, including “Local Rappers,” which earned him several endorsement deals, increasing his net worth.

5. Ice Prince – $5 million

Ice Prince, whose real name is Panshak Henry Zamani, is a Nigerian rapper, singer, and songwriter. He gained fame with his hit song “Oleku” in 2010, which became one of Nigeria’s most remixed tracks. Ice Prince released his debut album “Everybody Loves Ice Prince” in 2011, featuring singles like “Oleku,” “Superstar,” and “Juju.” In 2013, he dropped his second album, “Fire of Zamani,” with hits like “Aboki” and “More.”

During his career, Ice Prince collaborated with top African artists such as Sarkodie, AKA, and Navio. He also served as the vice president of Chocolate City from 2015 to 2016. In 2015, he founded his record label, Super Cool Cats, after leaving Chocolate City. Ice Prince continued to release music and expand his ventures, thereby increasing his net worth to $5 million.

6. Falz – $5 million

Folarin Falana, whose stage name is Falz, is a Nigerian rapper, songwriter, and actor. He started his music journey while in secondary school, forming a group called The School Boys with his friend. Later in 2009, he started his music career professionally. Falz became more recognized after releasing the song “Marry Me” featuring Poe and Yemi Alade.

He owns his independent record label called Bahd Guys Records. In 2014, he released his debut album “Wazup Guy,” followed by “Stories That Touch” in 2015. His third album “27” came out in 2017, and he dropped “Moral Instruction” in 2019. Falz is not only into music; he’s also an actor. He appeared in several movies and TV series.

In 2018, he won the Best Supporting Actor at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards for his role in the movie “New Money”. In 2020, he launched his film production company called House21TV, which has gathered over 150k subscribers and over 12.1 million views on YouTube. Additionally, Falz is known for his activism through his music, addressing social and political issues in Nigeria. He takes the sixth spot on our list of the richest rappers in Nigeria with an estimated net worth of $5 million.

7. Naeto C – $3 Million

Naeto C got his stage name from abbreviating his real name – Naetochukwu Chikwe. He is a Nigerian rapper, Afrobeat artist, and record producer. Naeto C began his music journey in 2006 when he joined Storm Records, a Lagos-based record company. He quickly gained recognition for his talent and became part of the World Famous Akademy (WFA) alongside Ikechukwu.

Naeto C worked as a producer with a team called “ET-Quake” and collaborated with various artists under Storm Records. In 2008, he released his debut album titled “You Know My ‘P’,” which showcased his unique blend of hip-hop and Afrobeat influences. The album received positive reviews and established him as a promising artist in the Nigerian music scene.

Throughout his career, Naeto C has released several hit singles and albums, including “Ten Over Ten” and “Tony Montana,” amassing a net worth of $3 million.

8. Lynxxx – $2.5 million

Lynxxx, whose real name is Chukie Edozien, is a Nigerian hip-hop artist and entrepreneur. He began his music career in 2009 with his debut single “Change Your Parade”. This song gained popularity on the radio and in nightclubs, helping Lynxxx build a strong fan base. In 2010, he released his first album titled “This Is Lynxxx,” which showcased his unique blend of urban hip-hop and contemporary R&B, earning him recognition in the Nigerian music industry.

Lynxxx made history in 2010 by becoming the first Nigerian artist to be endorsed by Pepsi, a global brand. Alongside his music career, Lynxxx ventured into entrepreneurship, establishing successful businesses like Syndik8 Denim, Red Room Studio, Happy Teddy Media (HTM), and Syndik8 Films. His innovative approach to music, characterized by what he calls “Jollof Musik,” which blends different genres to create captivating sounds, has cemented his place as one of Nigeria’s most influential artists. Lynxxx is the eighth richest rapper in Nigeria with an estimated net worth of $2.5 million.

9. Lil Kesh – $2 million

Lil Kesh, born Keshinro Ololade, is a Nigerian singer and rapper who gained fame after releasing his hit single “Shoki” in 2014. He has an estimated net worth of $2 million. Lil Kesh began his music journey in 2012, rapping with friends in Bariga, Lagos. He gained attention with his debut single “Lyrically,” which went viral in Nigerian universities.

In 2012, Lil Kesh signed with YBNL Nation, a record label founded by Olamide Adedeji. Under YBNL, he released several hit singles like “Shoki,” “Efejoku,” and “Gbese”. In 2016, Lil Kesh founded his record label called YAGI Records (Young And Getting It) after his contract with YBNL ended. In the same year, he released his debut studio album “Young And Getting It (Y.A.G.I)” featuring collaborations with artists like Phyno, Ycee, Davido, and Olamide.

10. Vector – $2 million

Olanrewaju Ogunmefun, aka Vector the Viper, is a Nigerian rapper, singer, and songwriter. He started his music journey in 2010 with his debut single “Kilode,” followed by “Mary Jane” in the same year. Vector dropped his first album, “State of Surprise,” that same year (2010) showcasing collaborations with artists like 2 Face Idibia and General Pype. Vector’s singles “Angeli” featuring 9ice and “Mr. Vector” gained significant radio airplay in 2011.

In 2012, he released his second album titled “The Second Coming,” featuring tracks like “Born Leader” with Mavado. He continued to make waves with hits like “King Kong” in 2015, followed by remixes featuring Phyno, Reminisce, Classiq, and Sarkodie.

Vector’s freestyle rap skills earned him recognition, including being featured in Sprite commercials since 2009. In 2020, he signed a record deal with Def Jam Africa, expanding his reach internationally. Vector rounds up our list with an estimated net worth of $2 million.

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Conclusion

Our list of the top 10 richest rappers in Nigeria serves as a testament to the power of talent, hard work, and determination in the music industry. From humble beginnings to dominating the charts and amassing significant wealth, these artists have carved out their paths to success. Their influence extends far beyond their music, as they also serve as inspiration to the next generation of artists to come.