“It’s like listening to someone speak to you in a tone and language you understand,” Olamide tells Apple Music of the power of street-hop. “Street-hop sounds resonate so well with the Nigerian youth because the sound, language, rhythm, style, lyrics and everything around it are deeply rooted in culture, a culture which they understand and identify with. The music talks about the struggles and wins of the youths in relation to literally every sphere they find themselves in daily living. So while they listen to and enjoy the music, there’s also that bit of it that aids introspection.” For Oshe Naija, our celebration of the sounds of Nigeria, we asked some of the country’s most pioneering acts to explore how their genres have evolved—and to spotlight the emerging artists they’re most excited about. When it comes to street-hop, few fit the bill better than genre heavyweight—and one of Nigerian hip-hop’s most influential forces—Olamide. His playlist features tracks by world-conquering artists including Fireboy DML, Tiwa Savage, Asake, Ayra Starr, Burna Boy, Wizkid and Rema, as well as wave-making younger voices, from Bnxn to Victony and Young Jonn.  As a purveyor—and pioneer—of indigenous rap and the street-pop sound, what changes has Olamide witnessed? “Our production has evolved and is way better than it used to be,” he says. “Back then, there weren’t a lot of producers who understood the street sound, and it was also not as generally accepted as it is now because it was seemingly categorised to be for ‘certain people’. However, now we see street-hop as the order of the day in mainstream music. As a matter of fact, your music has to be accepted and loved by the streets in this age and time for it to be considered ’successful’.” For the emerging artists following in Olamide’s footsteps, he has a word of advice: Relentlessly push street-hop forwards—then pay it forward. “I hope they understand the importance of staying rooted in what they believe in and that they keep working hard to get what they want while ensuring that street-hop is being pushed forward,” he says. “They are responsible for not only making their own successes but also creating a path and paving the way for those coming behind them.”
 Discover the rap giant’s picks here—and if you hear something you like, add it to your library.