For the first time in a few years, we’ve not had to endure the “Is Hip-hop dead in Nigeria?” conversation. Multiple Hip-hop projects from the likes of Blaqbonez, Jeriq, and Odumodublvck have touched the pinnacle of Apple Music Albums charts and stayed there in the face of competition from pop projects. A rap act, in the form of none other than Olamide Baddo, scored a nomination at the forthcoming Grammys. But even more exciting is the crop of upcoming rappers we have right now. Arguably, at the top of that food chain is the brilliant and impossible-to-resist OluwaMillar.
Born Favour Joshua Oparemi, OluwaMillar is an emcee breathing a new lease of life into our indigenous Hip-hop scene. In the same year of the pandemic, when so much was coming to an end, OluwaMillar’s career took its first few baby steps. Firstly, he went viral on social media by taking advantage of the Room 306 trend, doing an insane freestyle on the theme. This was closely followed by his participation in the Voice2Rep competition, culminating in an appearance on the platform’s compilation project, “For Her.”
If science could somehow find a way to fuse the DNA of Olamide, Reminisce, and Mojo, the product would be an OluwaMillar clone. He blends all that is good from those three acts and adds his uniqueness. Academic excellence is by no means the only marker of intelligence. Still, the fact that he’s a first-class graduate from OAU tells a lot about how highly cerebral this young man is. It shows in his songwriting, which often shines thanks to relatable bars constructed around topics like football, the Yoruba culture, and everyday life. It’s why you would seldom stream an OluwaMillar track without leaving with a quotable that sticks to your mind for weeks. Whether or not you can decipher the Yoruba in his rap, you’re sure to stay for the energetic flow he consistently brings.
Considering the above, it’s not surprising things really took off for him in 2022. In February, he released his debut single, “Menu,” featuring Droxx, and that banging track set the tone for the rest of the year. He further entrenched himself in the growing #234Drill community with guest appearances on VRSD’s “Kokoka” and Blvck Oreo’s “Fake Heads.” 2022 ended with a remix of the track he started with, this time featuring Emaxee, O’Shea, and Paybac Iboro.
More impressive guest appearances have followed this year, but OluwaMillar outdid himself in October when he dropped two stunning singles, “Agbalagbi” and “Beef Deyy.” The former is the standout of the two. It builds on an iconic sample of Baba Suwe’s “Agbalagbi to j’agbalagba lo” line. With one brilliant line after the other, he established himself as a force to be reckoned with. That track is most representative of his growing brand – crazy punchlines and infectious energy – and the audience has responded ever so well, streaming the track over 12,000 times on Spotify alone.
OluwaMillar’s debut project should arrive sometime next year and will undoubtedly be filled with scintillating rap music, so it’s one for you to watch out for. And as his stocks continue to rise, there should be more features of increasingly higher profile for him. If 2022 was the year his flame was ignited, 2024 might just be the year it turns into a wildfire. So, if you still have any fears for the future of Nigerian Hip-hop, and indigenous rap in particular, put them to bed now. The culture is safe in the hands of OluwaMillar.
