Today, we shine a spotlight on songs where M.I Abaga has been featured. Such a nostalgic feeling I must say. I remember back in February 2018 when we did a feature on the Nigerian songs that have ‘money’ as their titles, an M.I’s song with the same titled made the to the AOTW segment then. And it was a vibe with Linxx. But this time it’s all about M.I making guest appearances in other artists’ music. He’s worked with and even featured by his label mates and non-label mates talking: Jesse Jagz, Ice Prince, Loose Kaynon, Blaqbonez, Mayorkun, Sinzu, Ycee, VJ Adams, Vector, Waje, Ruby Gyang, among other Nigerian acts.
We’ll be finding out whether M.I he has been featured by some other in Africa, Europe and the world once we start hooking you up with those we have on our list today as well. Before we start playing you those songs, here is a quick touch on M.I’s Journey into music which started about a decade and half ago. Jude Abaga (born 4 October 1981 – about 40), better known as M.I Abaga, is a Nigerian rapper, songwriter and record producer. M.I rose to prominence in 2006 when his song “Crowd Mentality” became popular in his hometown of Jos. He finally moved to Lagos permanently after he signed with Chocolate City in 2007.
He became the Chocolate City’s CEO (Chief Executive Officer) in June 2015 and stepped down in 2019. In March 2020, he announced to have started his own label -Incredible Music. Almost 13 years after being with Chocolate City. The rapper recently released his 10th studio project, “Judah The EP” as his first project under Incredible Music. M.I has got countless number of greatest hits to his name including albums and over 60 collaborations as well as lots of stand-alone singles and collaborative albums.
While he was with Chocolate City, he nine projects: five albums, three mix tapes and one playlist, he churned out quality tunes such as Number One, One Naira, safe, Action Film, Undisputed Champion, Beef, Epic, I’m Hot, You Rappers Should Fix Up Your Lives many of which got massive wins in several awards. M.I appaers to have featured more artists than he’s been featured on songs- he doesn’t seem like M.I has a long list of songs where he’s been featured as guest artist mahn! Artist collaboration is one of the biggest creative forces driving music today; arguably one the best success strategies out there. This is not to say he hasn’t featured at all in any. Here is a song by…where M.I got featured.
No. 4: Link Up – Phyno feat. Phyno & M.I (2019)
There have been lots of ego clashes between M.I and Vector over the years ranging from Vector being bigger than M.I and vice versa. Years ago they used to have a way of pitting against each other. They had some kind of beef that made them appear not to like each other. They have never featured each other nor have a song together. But did you know they been on the same track before? VJ Adams tapped both for ‘Define Rap’ in July 2018 now you know.
M.I has gone from the underdog to the top dog becoming one of the consistent and greatest Nigerian rappers of all time. We’ve seen the Africa’s Number One Rapper, Nigerian Hip-Hop Messiah (in SA rapper, Casper Nyovest voice) M.I collaborating and featuring different artists in his songs but in others songs, M.I appearance is quite small. These days it’s unusual to see a very successful hip-hop artist not to be featured in songs either by being approached by colleagues or through mutual collaborative effort.
Rappers have been teaming up nonstop since back in the day. He has featured many of his label mates in his songs. Choc city has done quite a number of collaborations with M.I being in the songs as well. Right now, we hook you with other songs at #3 and #2 where M.I has been featured in the past and now
No. 3: E Don Dey Madt – Sinzu feat. M.I Abaga, 2 Face, Lynxxx (2012)
No. 2: Know – Lami Philips feat. MI (2009)
Welcome back guys! We have been jamming you songs that have featured M.I in the past as well as these recent times. We cannot talk mainstream relevance in the Nigerian Hip-Hop and Rap scene till date and M.I name would not make the top 5 because he’s arguably the most recognizable rappers in the Nigerian for over decade now.
Y’all remember internet went agog when he was featured in Mayorkun’s Geng Naija Remix as though he’s not been featured in any song before now. Some have also been asking why M.I doesn’t really get featured in songs. Is this personal to him or he just doesn’t get called for features.
While in Chocolate City, MI Abaga won numerous awards and became the most sought-after African rapper at different points and became acclaimed as “Nigeria’s greatest rapper ever” He once revealed that he has five projects to release before his retirement. Does that mean that now that M.I has got his own personal record label, those 5 done and he would retire afterwards?
Going forward do we start the hashtag #GetMIToFeatureMoreInMusic? What do you think guys!
No. 1: Lade – Djinee feat. M.I (2009)
CONTROVERSY
- Some of the biggest controversies in the history of the Nigerian rappers were MI versus Vector, versus Kelly Handsome, versus Icebery Slim versus NotJustOk.
- In a letter to Vector by M.I in 2017 in response to Vector’s claim of August 2017 where he previously said in a comment on Instagram, that both of them have not done any collaboration being M.I’s fault. He tried twice to get M.I on a record according to him. M.I responded to Vector’s the following month (September) saying “This wouldn’t have worked as a DM” He said: “There is no explanation (not even the two song ideas exchanged between you and I) that you and I can offer that would explain why this hasn’t happened. He added: “Any perceived slight is regretted on my part as no ill will was intentioned. Going forward however, I suggest that we have the rest of this conversation offline.”
- In 2017, M.I and his former record label, Chocolate City sued American rapper, Nas (Nasir Bin Olu Dara Jones), after ‘paying him N18 million for a verse’ since 2013. Nas after being paid the rapper $50,000 failed to deliver a verse they paid for and was accused of duping Chocolate City. It was reported that NAS verse was meant to include the lines “M.I, Chocolate City, Nigeria, Queens, New York, Mandela, Trayvon Martin and the struggles of Africans and African Americans” for a song titled, Man.
In January 2018, American rapper, Nas requested that Chocolate City’s case against him be dropped. M.I, claimed that NAS did not give Chocolate City the verse nor refund the money.NAS claims that he did it and sent it over and that the song not getting to them was due to the negligence of third parties or choc city negligence hence the request for the dismissal. Meanwhile Chocolate City said no verse where those lines were mentioned verse was received. He insists that NAS sent a verse but it did not include those lines making him request for another to which he agreed. He hasn’t heard from them since then.
