The phenomenal musical talent, actor, comedian, and apex entertainer Abdul-Ganiu Olanrewaju Fasasi more popularly known by his stage as Sound Sultan passed away Sunday, July 12, 2021, announced by his family in the person of his older brother Dr. Kayode Fasasi. He died after battling Angioimmunoblastic T-Cell Lymphoma at the age of 44. 
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He is seen as one of the pioneers of the modern-day Nigerian music industry, the generation that ushered in the Hip Hop genre and culture while helping to evolve the Afrobeat genre too. Some of those like him who helped evolved the contemporary Nigerian music industry include;
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- 2Face:
2baba Idibia is actually one of his closest friends in the industry. They both broke out and have been in the music industry since the 1990s when the Nigerian music industry’s new age was laying its foundation. 2baba was a leading face and remains a living legend. - Nomoreloss:
The singer Muyiwa Osinuga is another like Sound Sultan who sang, acted, and did comedy the generation of truly multi-talented contemporaries who redefined the Nigerian music industry. Nomoreloss died in 2016 we miss him too the Iyawo Asked crooner. - DJ Jimmy Jatt:
You can’t talk about Nigerian hip-hop music without talking about uncle Jimmy. He helped pioneer, lay build the foundation of the Nigerian music industry of today that the whole world has come to love and embrace, another living legend.
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The “You Don Hit My Car” crooner is another of that generation that must always be remembered and kept in peoples minds for his great service for the industry in the late 90s and early 2000s for his works with the Remedies and after he left the group and went solo. A king we stan. - Daddy Showkey:
The Galala king of the late 90s and early 2000s was the first of numerous musical talents to emerge from Ajegunle. He serenaded the Nigerians with an Afro-Reggae style that dominated the Nigerian music scene in the early 2000s before passing the baton to Afrobeat to fly the flag the Nigerian music beyond the Nigerian shores and across the globe. - OJB Jezreel:
Another contemporary of Sound Sultan whose influence still lives on in the industry years after his passing. Babatunde Okungbowa was a singer, songwriter, and record producer who died in 2016 due to kidney disease. He is another that must stay in our hearts long after his demise. - Eedris Abdulkareem:
Controversial figure, a rapper, and a political activist Eedris Abdulkareem are another of this era of contemporaries who helped redefine the modern-day Nigeria music industry. The rapper was one who used his music to talk about societal ills and issues. Though he is an opinion dividing figure, his influence in the late 90s and early 2000s cannot be dislodged. - Azadus:
This is maybe one name on this list that little might be known about but his influence certainly can never be underestimated. Azadus another that helped the rap and hip-hop culture evolve in the Nigerian music industry he is worthy of this list. - Olu Maintain:
The “Yahoozee” crooner is one of this generation of singers who helped fight, redefine and evolve the Nigerian music industry for the modern generation of musicians. He was one the first to have popularly acclaimed to have received a music contract worth 1 million dollars in the industry. Another whose few years in the industry left an indelible mark. - Finally The Kennis, Baba Keke Kenny Ogungbe, and Dayo D1 Adeneye:
You can’t talk about the modern Nigerian industry without knowing the story of these behemoths and legends. Their work made the works of most of the other legends on this list come to fruition.
- 2Face:
This piece isn’t trying to say people’s work was bigger than others, but just a celebration of life and those who did their thing in the Sound Sultan generation. Ciao
Photo Credit: Getty
