In our article about Nigerian rap in the 1980’s and early 90’s published last year, Emphasis were mentioned. One of them, the artist formerly known as Mouth MC, is making a comeback as a solo rap artist.

While with Obi (aka O.B.) and Okeh (aka Capt OIA), who together were Emphasis, Mouth MC recorded hit songs like ‘Which one you day’ and ‘Cool down no vex’. Their debut album Wazobia pioneered the pidgin English rap genre. After his tertiary education in Nigeria, Mouth MC returned to his native London.

In 2007, he began his comeback under the new pseudonym of ‘K16’ and in 2008, he got signed to Ikuku Records where he released tracks like ‘If you never sabi’ and ‘Ikebe’. He was in the news for the diss track targeted at 9ice who refused to appear for a show in Dublin for which he was booked and paid (read more about the situation in the African hip hop forum).

With a new single off ‘Return Of The Baddest’ debut solo album, he released an EP for free download online titled ‘Tribute To The South’. Recorded entirely with American Producers, it is his homage to the Dirty South/Crunk beats which he fell in love with after listening to the Young Jeezy VS RickRoss mixtape. It features tracks like Naija Stand up, School Daze, Free me Jor and the DaGrin final Yarns sixteen bar freestyle.

The veteran is set for another debut as a solo artiste with his new single Oya, produced by Knighthouse and soon to be released to local Nigerian radio stations and an album tentatively titled ‘Return Of The Baddest’. Earlier in the month of June he put out an EP titled Tribute To The South. Recorded entirely with American producers, it is his homage to the Dirty South/Crunk beats which he fell in love with after listening to the Young Jeezy vs Rick Ross mixtape. The EP features tracks like Naija Stand up, School Daze, Free me Jor and the DaGrin final Yarns sixteen bar freestyle. Download it for free here.