Nwoko, C. N. (2019). Multilingualism in Nigerian hip-hop: A potential source of lexical innovations and emergence of Nigerian youth language and sociolect

The overall purpose of this paper is to explore the linguistic contributions of hip-hop music to the Nigerian multilingual society. This objective is informed by what appears to be a stereotyped notion that hip-hop music is all about the use of profane and taboo language. In an attempt to prove such negative ideas about hip-hop wrong, such lead questions as what the linguistic resources that constitute this emergent sociolect in Nigeria are; their sources of vocabulary, vocabulary patterns as well as evidence of lexical innovations it has brought to Nigerian linguistic society are tackled. Employing Exploratory Interview theory and qualitative research approach aimed at collecting data to unravel these linguistic issues, the researcher interacts and elicits information from varied stakeholders in the hip-hop music. Qualitatively, the researcher visited the promoters and fans of hip-hop  in Sabon Gari area of Kano, Nigeria to ascertain orally the varied meanings in the lyrics. The music albums of the current top thirteen Nigerian hip-hop stars were studied as representative samples. It is concluded that besides being a huge source of lexical innovation and a vehicle for showcasing the nation’s linguistic repertoire to the outside world, youth language in Nigerian hiphop, now serves as a bridge that hybridises virtually all the languages spoken in Nigeria.