“Street music is the sound of the moment.”

Music history is littered with record labels whose specific focus helped elevate genres and heighten the hype of subcultures. Think Motown in the 1960s/70s and Soul Music, Def Jam and the early days of Hip-Hop popularity in the ‘80s, Death Row and West Coast Gangsta Rap in the ‘90s, Kennis Music and the foundational era of Nigerian pop post-mid-‘90s, and several more. In just a few years of becoming a mainstream fixture, Dvpper Music already fits the bill of similar labels—as label services, artist management and distribution company—through its clear dedication to amplifying Nigerian street music.

Over the last three years, Dvpper Music has digitally distributed music for a range of artists, from the emo-pop of Omah Lay to the accessible pop-rap of Falz to Savage’s omnivorous curations. However, its primary identity these days is hitched to its affiliation with street music acts, evident in current roster of Dvpper signees and partner artists: the irreverent and ultra-prolific Seyi Vibez, Benin-raised street-rap hit-maker Shallipopi, the self-professed ‘Trench Kid’, Balloranking, the poignant crooner TI Blaze, and many more.

 

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The current phase of Street Music, broadly and alternately referred to as Street-Pop and Street-Hop, has seen an influx of stars emerge from the grittier areas of Nigeria’s southern hoods, southwest especially, hitting regional success, viral nationwide attention and, in some cases, veritable global popularity. Post-Covid, Dvpper Music has become synonymous to street-pop, a frontline player in arguably the most defining part of secular youth culture and music. With its track record of breaking out and supporting street-bred artists, a tangible show of domination during the Detty December live shows and music festivals period seems appropriate and well-earned.

On December 20^th, at the Palms, Lagos, Dvpper Music and Entertainment, through its subsidiary Dvpper Live, is curating Trench Fest, a concert experience featuring live performances from artists on the label services company’s packed roster, alongside other stars and related street-pop acts. Seyi Vibez, Shallipopi, Balloranking and TI Blaze are undoubtedly on the bill, and they will be joined by street-rap superstar Zlatan, UK-based group and self-acclaimed ‘Area Boyz’, NSG, neo-Fuji singer Barry Jhay, Ghanaian pop breakout act Lasmid, Nigerian rap OG Ice Prince, popular singers L.A.X, Skiibii, and Bad Boy Timz, and more. The bill also features emerging Dvpper artists like Zerry DL, Kashcoming, and TML Vibez.

Trench Fest is set to be a celebration on several levels: of some the artists who currently are defining Nigerian music through musical style, slang and substance; of the places and environments that have informed street-pop; of an entertainment company with an in-the-moment yet forward-facing agenda. In a time where achievements in Nigerian pop are viewed through an outward-looking, globalised lens, Trench Fest is the perfect avenue to celebrate the deeply-rooted parts of music culture.

You can buy your tickets ahead of December 20^th here.

 

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