Afro Hip hop in Nigeria dates back to the late eighties and early nineties. Groups and solo artists during that period include the likes of Junior & Pretty, Daniel 'Danny' Wilson, Plantashun Boyz, Remedies with members Eedris Abdulkareem, Eddy Remedy & Tony Tetuila.

The late 90s and the early years of the new millennium saw the outburst of artists and groups like Eldee da Don of Trybesmen, Naeto C of W.F.A, JJC and the 419 squad and P- became a part of mainstream Nigerian music after the collapse of pop trends like Yo-pop. Other notable Nigerian Hip hop artists include Modenine, Terry tha Rapman, O.D, Six-Foot Plus, M.I, Naeto C, Ruggedman, Styl-Plus, eLDee, African Kings, Blak Jesus, Whiteboy Pee, Sauce Kid, Ikechukwu of W.F.A, Mastaplan (MP), Kraft, Pherousheouz, Freestyle, Ill Bliss, Elajoe, Sasha, B.o.u.q.u.i, Tony Merlot, Jesse Jeggs, A2 BrothazZ (Afro-Asian BrothazZ).

The availability of computers and cheap music editing software in the late 1990s and the 2000s enabled Nigerian musicians to achieve higher quality recordings which quickly won over the Nigerian audience. As Nigeria's Nollywood movies have done to Western movies, Nigerian hip hop has begun to displace Western popular music. Distinguished magazines have also influenced the music industry in Nigeria.

Hip-Hop World Magazine, based in Nigeria, is a prominent and the most authoritative publication that has helped fashion the orientation of the HipHop culture in Nigeria and across the continent. African Beatz, Blast and Bubbles magazines are other major Nigerian Hip hop publications that are leading a similar course. More recently the Nigerian Hip hop industry has witnessed a rave of top brand artists which include Weird M.C, Jazzman Olofin, Baba Dee, The Mo' Hits crew, Faze, 9ice, Blaise, Chemistry, Lord of Ajasa, Skuki, Darey Alade. In general, most of Nigerian music is considered to be hip hop music with a fusion of other native genres like Fuji, afrobeat, and hi-life.

There are a couple of American Hip hop artists who have included and been influenced by Nigerian music. For example on an episode of the radio show “The Let Out,” there was a “Nigerian Gangsta Remix” of the Jay-Z song “Roc Boyz” which features Fela Kuti, one of the most influential Nigerian musicians of all time.

Nigeria has grown over the years to become the 'seat' of Hip hop in the African continent. Contributors to this 'success' includes the production skills of the likes of ID Cabasa, OJB Jezreel, Paul 'Play' Dairo, Don Jazzy, Ugly Beatz, Y.E.M.I., Puffy T, Cobhams Asuquo, Terry G, Big Lo as well as outstanding performers like Tuface, P Square, Naeto C, 9ice, Sasha and others.