Show Dem Camp (SDC) is one of Nigeria’s most inventive duos. Tec (Wale Davies) and Ghost (Olumide Ayeni) have quietly redefined what modern Nigerian hip-hop and alternative music can be. As both sharp lyricists and canny curators, they move effortlessly between genres, blending rap, soul, and contemporary alté textures with their signature palmwine grooves.
Their ability to confidently navigate these different sounds has cemented their legacy in Nigeria’s music scene.
Their story is a transcontinental one: both members were born in Nigeria but spent their formative years in Europe and the U.S. before returning to Lagos to build a career rooted in authenticity. They started as solo MCs and experimented with names like Loose Cannonz, BlackBoysDown, and Third Eye Renegades before sealing their identity as Show Dem Camp.
Early projects like the Clone Wars mixtapes (Vols. 1-5) established their reputation for thoughtful, socially aware bars and cinematic production. SDC has worked with a wide range of alté and Afrobrats artists like Tems, BOJ, Odunsi, Cruel Santino, Buju, Ladipoe, and Wani.
What makes SDC fun to listen to is their deliberate reinvention. Around 2017, they launched the Palmwine Music series. It’s a conceptual, mellow yet layered project that channels the warmth of traditional palmwine music while mixing modern beats and storytelling. The series feels like a loi radio for urban nostalgia.
It’s laidback, richly produced, and full of intimate vignettes about relationships, city life and survival. Critics praised this series for its balance of accessibility and artistry, and it helped the duo bridge an underground credibility with broader cultural relevance.
Their discography is both prolific and purposeful. It includes Palmwine Music Vols. 1–3, Palmwine Express, and Clone Wars Vols. 1–5, plus The Dreamers Project and No Love in Lagos (2024).
These albums show how SDC alternates between socio-political commentary and soulful escapism. They also collaborate widely across the Nigerian scene by bringing in voices from the alté and Afrobeats community, extending their influence beyond rap circles and into the broader sonic conversation across Africa and the diaspora.
Beyond records, Show Dem Camp has earned respect for the way they frame African rap as both reflective and futuristic. They’re respected not just for their music but for mentoring younger artists and bridging underground rap with mainstream appeal.
Their work proves that commercial success and artistic integrity can coexist when music is made with intention.
If you love music that rewards repeated listens, SDC must be on your playlist! Start with Palmwine Music Vol. 1 to feel the concept, then go for Clone Wars to hear their harder, more pointed rap side. Then you’ll have proof that Show Dem Camp truly brings the juice!
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