Africa has influenced Black music since the beginning of humanity and it’s no different when it comes to rap music. Nigeria is Africa’s most populated country and there are many Nigerian American artists that contribute to Hip Hop culture. Here are 5 in no particular order.
Wale
DC’s own Wale is a Nigerian-American. His full name is Olubowale Victor Akintimehin and his parents are Yoruba. He mentioned his motherland connection to OkayAfrica.
“I look at myself as a black man in America, but as a Nigerian first.”
Jidenna
Jidenna Mobisson is the son of an Igbo academic from Nigeria. He was born in Wisconsin Rapids and he grew up partially in Nigeria.
Tyler, The Creator
The IGOR rapper is also the son of a Nigerian father. Tyler Okonma’s father was born in Nigeria to an Igbo family.
Maxo Kream
Houston rapper Maxo Kream’s father Emekwanem Ibemakanam Ogugua Biosah Sr immigrated to the United States from Nigeria.
Lil Wayne
NOLA’s own and self-proclaimed greatest rapper alive Lil Wayne revealed that his ancestry test results are more than half Nigerian.
Read: Rap to Africa: 5 raw rap figures with vibrant Ghanian heritage
Read: Rap to Africa – 5 artists with South African ancestry