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Chocolate City Music has crowned GRNDMSTR (Imade Prayer Osarodion) winner of the #CC20LegacyVerse challenge, awarding the rapper ₦1,000,000 and a feature on the official “Legacy” remix.
The competition, launched in 2025 to celebrate the label’s 20th anniversary, invited artists to record their best verse over the instrumental featuring Jesse Jagz, Ice Prince, and Blaqbonez.
Connecting Legacy with the New WaveAfter thousands of submissions nationwide, GRNDMSTR’s verse stood out for its authenticity and lyrical skill.
His winning entry will appear on Chocolate City’s forthcoming 20th Anniversary Album, connecting two decades of Nigerian hip-hop history with its future.
Abuchi Peter Ugwu, CEO of Chocolate City Group, said: “For 20 years, we’ve been at the forefront of identifying talent that defines generations. GRNDMSTR embodies what we look for; authentic talent, lyrical prowess, and hunger to push Nigerian rap forward.
“This challenge connected our legacy with the future, reminding us why we started: to give voice to exceptional talent that might otherwise go unheard.”
20 Years Of Building Nigeria’s Music Industry
Since 2005, Chocolate City has grown from an independent startup to one of Africa’s most influential music companies, launching careers for M.I Abaga, Ice Prince, Jesse Jagz, Dice Ailes, and Blaqbonez.
Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2025, the label has pioneered artist development programmes and championed fair deals, helping shape industry standards across the continent.
Ugwu reflected on the journey, saying, “We set out to build an institution that could evolve with the industry. We’ve weathered countless changes in how music is created, distributed, and consumed.
“The key has always been our core mission by discovering exceptional talent and creating an ecosystem where artists thrive commercially and creatively.”
To shape the next generation, Moyosore Olumodeji, Head of Marketing, emphasized the competition’s broader impact: “The response was overwhelming. We saw submissions from Lagos to Port Harcourt, Abuja to Calabar.
” What struck us was the quality and diversity. GRNDMSTR’s win is well-deserved, but this challenge revealed something bigger: the future of Nigerian rap is in excellent hands.
“Our responsibility is ensuring platforms like this continue to exist.”
Cheque Presentation and Anniversary Album
The official cheque presentation took place at Chocolate City’s Lagos headquarters.
The 20th Anniversary Album, which will be released soon, will feature classic tracks, new collaborations, and special projects showcasing the label’s evolution.
Leading Creative Industry Evolution
Beyond music, Chocolate City has advocated for fair royalty distribution, intellectual property protection, and professionalized business practices.
Ugwu noted: “Sustainable success requires building systems, not just signing artists. We’ve worked with stakeholders, government bodies, and platforms to create an environment where creativity flourishes commercially. The business models from 2005 don’t work today, and today’s models won’t work in 2030.
“Our job is staying ahead while ensuring artists have the tools for lasting careers.”
As Chocolate City continues beyond its 20th anniversary milestone, the label remains committed to discovering exceptional talent, creating timeless music, and building a sustainable ecosystem for Africa’s next generation of artists.
