Terry G - G.Zuz

This one is for Lazz.   He asked for some modern Hip-Life from West Africa that fuses Hip Hop and Highlife.   I consider this recent offering from Terry G to be prime product of that kind, and it is also a good representation of the grooves that are currently rocking the club scene in Nigeria.   You will hear a strong influence of Reggae (Ragga) here, as well as Highlife and Hip Hop.  I apologize in advance for the sound quality.  The legit CD market in Nigeria has crashed, and CD collections like this one are only sold on the street.  That is where I bought this.   Some tracks come through better than others.

The history of this music in Nigeria really goes back to one individual: 2face Idibia.   By the late 1980s, young Nigerians had turned away from the popular musics of the 60s and 70s (Highlife, Juju, Fuji, Afrobeat), and were grooving in the clubs almost exclusively to foreign Hip Hop and Reggae.   2face launched a distinctly Nigerian approach that incorporates the feel and techniques of Hip Hop with local music sensibilities and Highlife.  The last two decades have witnessed an explosion of this type of music.  While young Nigerians still listen to the latest foreign Hip Hop sounds, their preferred dance music is now made in Nigeria by people like 2face, P-Square, Flavour, D'Banj, Kcee, and Terry G.  

Terry G. comes from Benue State, and cites 2face as his idol and inspiration.   He has a particularly rhythmically charged approach to modern Nigerian music that fuses rap and singing in a seamless way somewhat similar to Ragga in Jamaica.     Nigerian crowds can be very hard to please, however.   Last year, Terry G performed for his fans in Benin City.  Some were not pleased with the the length and depth of the concert.  So they rushed the backstage area and beat Terry G to a pulp.  He had to recuperate in the hospital for some time.

This is not cerebral music.  It is intended 100% for getting your backfield in motion, or as they call it in Nigeria - shake yo bum bum.    Terry G will knock you, Apako!