GRNDMSTR clinches ₦1m at Chocolate City’s #CC20LegacyVerse Challenge

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.

After thousands of submissions nationwide, GRNDMSTR’s verse stood out for its authenticity and lyrical skill, according to a statement. 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, in the statement 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.”

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 programs and championed fair deals, helping shape industry standards across the continent.

Ugwu reflected on the journey:”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: discovering exceptional talent and creating an ecosystem where artists thrive commercially and creatively.”

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.”

According to the statement, the official cheque presentation took place at Chocolate City’s Lagos headquarters and the 20th Anniversary Album, releasing soon, will feature classic tracks, new collaborations, and special projects showcasing the label’s evolution.