YBNL Outshines Mavin In 2016

Headies will be delighted to welcome back Olamide and Don Jazzy’s crew at this year’s awards ceremony.

The duo’s controversial moment when Lil Kesh lost the ‘Next Rated’ award to Reekado Banks at the 2015 Headies, aired on New Year’s Day, won’t be forgotten easily as fans anticipate what’s in the goody bag this season.

YBNL and Mavin are two of the biggest music labels in Nigeria presently, along with Chocolate City, Five Star Music, HKN and Starboy Entertainment.

But how did they fare since that infamous incident?

Reekado Banks’ Spotlight, which was announced on September 1, is the only studio album released under Mavin Records in 2016.

Mavin Records’ most popular songs in 2016: ‘Bad’ – Tiwa Savage, ‘The Best’ – Dr Sid, ‘Do Like That’ – Korede Bello, ‘Oluwa Ni’ and ‘Standard’ by Reekado Banks.

On April 26, a year after dropping his debut album, Kesh announced his departure from YBNL following the expiration of his two-year contract to promote his music label.

In April, a week after Kesh’s exit, YBNL unveiled their First Lady, Temmie – who used to sing and record covers of different songs.

The label boss via Instagram in August 2015 first contacted the singer who’s in a relationship with her guitar.

She’s released a handful of singles this year.

Olamide signed the fast-rising rapper – who’s popular for his viral cover of ‘Panda’ by American artiste, Desiigner – to his label in November.

Before joining YBNL, Davolee hawked pure water on the streets of Mushin, Lagos, but he’s now eager to sell his music to the world.

Adekunle is one of the major highlights for YBNL in 2016, dropping his first ever studio album that featured viral songs including ‘Orente’, ‘Sade’, ‘Ready’, and ‘Pick Up’.

The singer’s deal will expire this year, but it remains to be seen if he will be renewing his contract, or go solo.

Viktoh is yet to make any major impressions despite Lil Kesh’s depature. His 2015 single ‘Skibi Dat’ is what he still performs at the events.

Chinko is also yet to make any major impression, as he’s survived this year with music collabos and appearances at shows.

Olamide is more active than any other artiste on his record label in 2016.

Over 200 fans of the YBNL crew were denied entry to Hammersmith Apollo in London were 5,000 concertgoers partied as the YBNL boss along with Adekunle Gold, Temmie Ovwasa, Viktoh and Lil Kesh took turns on stage in October.

Olamide is expected to drop his sixth studio album The Glory in the coming days, while his concert is planned to hold on December 26 at Eko Hotel, Lagos.

Tiwa’s second album, R.E.D, was released in December 2015.

She’s performed in several parts of the world this year and in July, she became the first female Nigerian singer to sign a management and distribution deal with America’s Roc Nation.

Korede is still ladies man, his followers online has made him the youngest most popular Nigerian artiste on social media. But his new singles are yet to reach the standard of 2015 hit, Godwin – which has brought in several shows and millions for the label.

Reekado is the most engaging Mavin act when we argue music released in 2016.

He dropped his debut album Spotlight and several singles to justify his Headies 2015 Next Rated award.

Reekado’s Thank You concert will hold at the Afrika Shrine in Ikeja on December 21, and his label mates are expected to perform.

Sid is struggling to remain relevant in the industry presently, but his newly acquired cinematography skill may be what is distracting the ‘Surulere’ singer from giving us a hit song.

2016 has been the most challenging year for the female singer Di’ja who welcomed her first child in July.

Prince welcomed his first child this year, but he was no where to be found in the music industry.

Iyanya joined Mavin in October after leaving his co-owned music label, MMG.

We’ve projected 2017 to see what the ‘Kukere’ singer to offer with his new recording contract.

Jazzy spent most of 2016 working side by side with his artistes as a businessman, leaving Baby Fresh and Altims with the bulk of music production work.