Though the Nigerian music industry continues to play a significant role in the African music space, there are tales of talented artistes who once reigned supreme struggling to stage a come back
Olu Maintain
Olumide Edwards Adegbulu, aka Olu Maintain once serenaded the Nigerian music industry with hit songs like Yahooze and Nawti.
However years after, the former member of the defunct pop group, ‘Maintain’ has found it hard to bounce back into reckoning. The last song posted on his YouTube Vevo account was in 2018 with over 18,000 views.
AY.com
Little or nothing was known about the singer, Ayoola Johnson, fondly referred to as Ay.com till 2009, when he released the hit song, ‘Pass Me Your Love,’ which featured Terry G. Fast forward to 2020, the artiste is yet to release another hit song.
In an interview, he noted that he was distracted after he got married.
“I got married after my first album; I was a bit distracted. I was a young man when I got married; I got married at the age of 25. My wife and I attended the same secondary school, we were both young people who were in love and we had the opportunity to get married. I have produced more songs after that, but the industry is messed up now. I’m not desperate about music. I am doing music for the passion”.
Klever Jay
“Koni Koni love” is a phrase used when one lover manipulates the other in a relationship.
Klever Jay banked on the popularity on this phrase to push himself into reckoning with the song “Koni Koni Love”. It instantly became a street anthem. He followed up with “Igboro ti daru”, produced by Ksolo. Fast forward to 2020, Klever Jay has however not been able to replicate that success.
The last song posted on his YouTube channel was ‘Owo’ ft Koker released in 2016.
Kel
When Kelechi Ohia a.k.a Kel burst into the music scene over 12 years ago, she was touted as the next big. Armed with an undeniable talent, sex appeal and delivery, Kel had the perfect recipe for success. However, after the release of her ‘Wa waa alright’ single , Kel lost her momentum.
The busty rapper recently released a new single titled ‘ Credit Alert’. We hope it shoots her back into reckoning.
Chidinma
Since leaving her former record company, Capital Hill Records, Nigerian singer, Chidinma Ekile, has been struggling to stay relevant in the music industry.
After she won Project Fame West Africa in 2010, music pundits predicted that she was going to be the next big thing. Though Ekile has achieved what her age-mates will only dream of, she is yet to release any hit song in years.