REPLAYTUNES Top 10 Artists That Rocked Cyprus In 2016.

The year 2016 has finally come to an end and aside the fact that it was a crazy year with a lot of weird things happening all over the globe, it was also the year that shook up the African music scene in Cyprus and introduced us to new and fresh faces. One thing we can say about the new wave of African artists in Cyprus is that their music is definitely a bit better than their predecessors, probbaly they learnt a thing or two looking up to those that came before them.

Now ReplayTunes Magazine brings you the list of Top 10 Artists That Rocked Cyprus In 2016 and before any one feigns politics here, below are the list of factors that were considered before this list was put together.

i. The artists must be currently based in Cyprus.

ii. The artists must have released one or more official singles/videos than really got the listeners attention as well as commendable media coverage from blogs as well as a good amount of downloads and plays  in the last 12 months.

iii. The artists must have been featured as a headline performer in over 5 music/comedy concerts that took place in Cyprus in the last 12 months.

iv. Artists that were featured on songs released by other artists definitely had more reach and stand to get a higher placing on the list.

v. Artist that organically built a movement or set a trend also have a higher standing on the list.

vi. Artists that was booked for a lot of shows over others also get a high placement on this list.

vii. Only the artists success and exploits in Cyprus was considered while compiling this list.

So with all the above clearly stated and well examined, below is the list of Top 10 Artists That Rocked Cyprus In 2016.

1. KEVIN TITA

When you talk of concerts, dope collaborations, extensive music promotions and making headlines this year, in fact when you mention 'Cyprus music' as a term, one name that comes to mind is Kevin Tita among others. He started off the year with the release of his single 'I AM THE MAN' which crossed the 2,000 downloads mark and was played over 4,500 times on SoundCloud. Although he did not win an award by himself this year, he still managed to pick up the ASGA Award for Song Of The Year for his contribution to female artist, JayBlinkz smash single 'Million Dollar Movement'. He featured on a total of 3 songs this year namely 'Be Like Me' by DET, 'New Level' by HeirNxt and 'Make Sense' by DJ Activityz. In the summer, he was interviewed on DAU 106.5FM's Friday Night Show and also made interview appearances on Couch TV's The Hustle as well as Yoriec TV.  He rounded up the year by dropping what might be his biggest song to date in Cyprus 'WAIT' which is currently topping the charts with over 3,000 downloads and 29,000 plays on SoundCloud. There is a mixtape hosted by DJ Activityz that has the song on multiple rotations that is currently circulating in Cyprus as we speak. There's also multiple videos of people singing and dancing to the song posted on his Instagram page. It's his first song to be released as an independent artist since he left his former label, Babylynn Entertainment. He performed as an opening act for Phyno and Mr Eazi when they visited Cyprus this year among many other performance this year. He literally did a show or two every week end.

Check out all his songs and feature for the year 2016.

2. HEIRNXT.

Ernest Orie otherwise known as HeirNxt went from a completely unknown artist in 2015 to becoming a potential number one artist next year. He started off the year with the release of the visuals to his hit song 'Mrs. Portiphar' which he followed with the release of his sophomore single 'VSM (Victoria's Secrete Model)' which had us thinking he had a Victoria's Secrete Model girl friend when it dropped. He made his debut media appearance on iLite TV and then picked up the award for Song Of The Year for 'Mrs. Portiphar' at the ASGA Awards 2016. He followed up yet again with the release of his third single 'New Level on which he enlisted the help of Kevin Tita and Flamez from DET. He performed as an opening act at Phyno and Vanessa MDee's concerts. He landed features on The BowyGolden's 'Love You Right' and DET's song 'Litty'. Check out all his songs for the year below.

3. VERSACEBOYZ.

The duo which consists of long time friends, Procam and KurtoNeway not only landed a massive collaboration with one of Nigeria's buzzing artists, Skales but also rounded up the year on a tumultuous note by starting a two weeks long beef with fellow rappers in Cyprus. The beef involved their rival hiphop nemesis, DET as well as Kevin Tita and SYKO.  They released a video for their collaboration with Skales 'My Darling' as well as their diss song 'OOUUCH''. They also released other songs like .'Malo Nene' and 5 Minutes freetyle which served as a continuation and final song from the beef saga. The only thing that stops VersaceBoyz from ranking higher on this list is the fact that they did not get nominated or win any awards in Cyprus in 2016. Every other box is completely checked. They also performed as opening acts for Mr. Eazi and were billed to perform at Phyno's Concert but didn't make it to the show on time for their performance. Check out all their 2016 songs below.

4. JAYBLINKZ.

She is currently the only female artist in Cyprus to be signed to a label, drop a video, headline major shows and win big at the ASGA Awards. JayBlinkz is undoubtedly one of the most successful artists in Cyprus as it stands. She started off the year by winning the awards for Artist Of The Year and Song Of The Year for her smash hit 'Million Dollar Movement' featuring Kevin Tita and El Bee at the ASGA Awards. Although she went radio silent on dropping songs for most of the year, she still did shows here and there. She performed an an opening act at Phyno and Mr. Eazi's shows. She rounded up the year by releasing a follow up single titled 'What Do You Want From Me' which came with a video that featured Kevin Tita and TBonez playing her love interests. All boxes checked, she won in the most critical award categories and headlined major shows and released a single with visuals. She also was interviewed on DAU 106.5 FM's Friday Night Show. What more can you ask for?. Check out the song and video below.

5. DJ ACTIVITYZ

Yes after winning the award for Best DJ of The Year at the ASGA Awards 2015, it seems DJ Activityz will be a contender for Artist of the Year in 2017 as he has completely made a transition into becoming an artist. He started off the year with the release of his debut single 'All The Praise' which currently has above 1,000 downloads from Cyprus alone and was featured on major Nigerian websites. He then followed with the release of two more songs 'Rolling Stone' featuring TBonez and 'Make Sense' featuring Kevin Tita and Bushel TMT. The song trended on Twitter in Nigeria at No.1 and has been getting a lot of attention from the Afrobeats listeners in Cyprus. He performed as an opening act at Vanessa MDee's concert and other shows in Cyprus through out the year. He is currently a nominee at one of Nigeria's viable award shows for rising artists, Top Naija Music Awards in the category of Best Foreign Based Nigerian Artist and is the only artist from Cyprus to make the list. If he keeps pushing the way he is doing then he might just  be the biggest Cyprus based artist come 2017. Check out all his songs for the year below.

6. TBONEZ

Tbonez is unarguable one of the most like-able artists in Cyprus at the moment, he stays clear of controversies and isn't too much of a social media kind of guy but these might have taken a little away from his reach as an artist in Cyprus. After departing from his former label, Ofhand Entertainment in 2015, he took some time off from the scene to get his affairs in order and then signed to Music Mansion Entertainment and wasted no time in releasing his first single for the year 'Underrate' featuring former YBNL artist, Chinko Ekun. Tbonez would have placed higher on this list but quiet a number of factors contributed to why he comes in at No.6. First one is the fact that he didn't get nominated or win any awards this year and secondly he only released one official song this year., thirdly he didn't perform at many shows this year as well. He still landed a collaboration on Yung Zil's 'Ibadi' which came with a visual and on DJ Activityz's single 'Rolling Stone' and that is a major look for the former Ofhand General. We are sure in 2016 he has some hits coming.

7. D.E.T

Finally, one of Cyprus' illest rap groups of all time makes their mark in the game all thanks to the recent beef that rocked the hiphop scene and social media recently. But it didn't all start wit the beef and definitely will not end with the beef. They have released quiet a number of songs this year including their summer release 'Be Like Me' featuring award winning rapper, Kevin Tita. The song currently has 3,321 plays on SoundCloud and  a little above a thousand downloads on MyNotJustOk.com. They released two tracks 'OOUUU' remix and 'Crazy' aimed at VersaceBoyz which both have been played a thousand times each on SoundCloud which they followed with a remix to Meek Mill'zs'Litty' featuring HeirNxt and 'Short Story'. If they keep this buzz going with more songs and more promotions they will definitely own 2017. Check out all their songs released this year below.

8. FK Wizzey.

2016 introduced us to a new energetic rapper that is creating his own lane by choosing to rap in his native tongue, hausa language. He started off the year by releasing his debut single 'Banana' which garnered enough buzz to get him a record deal with Odogwu Entertainment and damn well oh damn, the young lad went to work right after that by following up with multiple singles including 'Mr. President' and 'Gashinan'. 'Mr, President' is currently his most successful song till date with 2,546 downloads and even got a retweet from ace Nigerian rapper, M.I Abaga. His only weak points is that he didn't get nominated or win any awards this year and did not perform at any of the major shows that were held in Cyprus this year. He still performed at numerous shows around but not just the major ones. If he put in more effort in 2017, he will surely place higher on this list. Check out his 2016 songs below.

9. YUNG TIZZER.

After taking a long break from dropping songs, interviews, shows and just anything that had to do with music through out the year, Yung Tizzer re-entered the scene by first shorting his name to just Tizzer, rebranding his image, revamping his social media and hiring a new team. He then released his currently buzzing single 'So Beautiful' which is cover of Ali Kiba's smash hit 'Aje'. The song is currently gaining a buzz with about 1,700 plays on SoundCloud.  Had he released 'So Beautiful' earlier than he did, he might have checked the box on most of our requirements including awards, collaborations, major shows and award nominations or a possible win. Better late than never. Check out the song below.

10. MASSCUT.

Masscut is definitely one of the most talented rappers in Cyprus at the moment and he has the bars to back that up. In 2016 he has released a number of songs that were packed with punchlines and metaphors but for some reasons didn't get enough promotions to catch the ears of listeners outside his core fans. The biggest splash was with his song 'FaqBoys' on which he dissed fellow rapper, Kerry Wayne. Like a number of artists on this list, he did not place higher because he did not nay nominated or win any awards this year and did not perform at major shows through out the year. The honest truth is, Masscut needs to get a better team around him and he needs to probably work with better producers and put more effort into his promotions and his stock will rise. He made this list off the strength of the amount of songs he put out this year alone. Check out his 2016 songs below.

Honorable Mentions.

1. Mimi.

Mimi is fast creeping into our conciousness especially after she released her latest effort which is a cover of Reekado Banks' hit song 'Problem abd the song currently has been played 1,423 times on SoundCloud. She performed at Mr. Eazi's concert and has already been interviewed on DAU 106.5 FM's Friday Night Show. You can definitely say she is moving fast.

2. Prove Box.

Prove Box is a gospel rapper so automatically we expect his audience will be limited a bit but he still put in a lot of effort this year. He performed at the Spring Festival in EMU this year as a few other shows. He released two single 'Holy Ghost Fire' and 'Loke' which were gospel fans favorite in some parts of Cyprus.

3. Kerry Wayne.

Kerry Wayne looked to have a big year after he announced that he will be releasing several songs but only came through with one song 'Bless Boys' which just dropped four days ago and the downloads numbers ain't looking too good either. He was involved in a controversy after he stated that no Cyprus rapper can see his back which prompted response from a number of fellow rappers in Cyprus. He performed at Phyno's concert and a few other shows.

4. Dudu.

Dudu is also another gospel artist that did a great job this year. He released his 'The King Is Here' EP which was packed with a lot of good songs but the project didn't get the exposure it needed to get the attention of the audience that needed to hear it. He totally didn't perform at any concerts that we know of as of yet. 

5. M-Rhymez

M-Rhymez is another talented artist that is not getting his due credits in Cyprus and it's real painful to us. He released his debut project 'CULTURE EP' and shot a video for the lead single 'Story' but both efforts didn'y garner enough attention to get the reception they deserved. Hopefully in 2017 he can get his big break.