Rap Joint Isn't All About the Culture, It’s About Good Food Too
At a corner of Norman Williams Street in Ikoyi is a cultural centre that, in my opinion, is a haven for anyone looking to experience a retro Hip Hop and vintage Lagos.
Rap Joint is all about celebrating the glory days of Hip Hop, by creating a unique experience around rap music — from the life and style around it, right down to the food. Who can say no to nostalgic music, a library and a lounge with good grub all in one place? The Isale Eko breakfast with a side of Illbliss’ album in the background? Yes, please!
Before checking out this spot, here are a few things you should know about Rap Joint first — including what to order off the menu.
If Hip Hop was a place
The ambience at Rap Joint, with murals of Nigerian Hip Hop icons like Dagrin, album listening events, books about rap and Lagos culture, and local and international politics, really sucks you in.
It’s a place for anyone, from anywhere in the world, who wants to connect seamlessly with the rich elements of modern music from an African viewpoint.
A menu that breathes Hip Hop
The menu at Rap Joint includes meals named after iconic artists or coined from local pop culture slang, like:
Isale Eko: A breakfast of Akara and vanilla bean creamy ogi or tapioca
Young Gs: A mouthwatering sandwich with lightly toasted bread, juicy chicken breast, avocados, tomatoes and caramelised onions
Owanbe Finesse: A spread of small chops (but gourmet style), for a tasty appetiser
Dagrin: A soup and salad meal of lettuce, bell peppers and red kidney beans, topped with pan-seared prawns, deep-fried bits of fish and calamari rings. This eponymous meal is served with olive and lemon vinaigrette
Pac Burgers: Layers of crispy lettuce, grilled tomato slice, cheese slice and a juicy, flavourful beef/chicken patty, with OG/honey mustard dressing, sandwiched in freshly baked buns
Kalakuta: A meal of pan-seared croaker fillet, marinated with sweet chilli and spices, served with lemon butter sauce
The Notorious: Slow grilled juicy and herby roast reef, on vegetables served with garlic chilli jus and chilli garlic butter
RAPJOINTLAGOS.. Sandwich 2500N
— Bluechiibz🇯🇵 (@bluechiibz) April 11, 2022
Grilled chicken lap.. 4500N
Platters..5500N pic.twitter.com/b26LoOkJ5v
Iconic for a reason
The memory of legends like Fela and Dagrin, the success of modern-day hip-hop artists like Burna Boy and Wizkid, and the influence of Hip Hop on young people in Nigeria make the efforts of a place like Rap Joint noteworthy. Inspired by a love for music and Lagos life, I feel like it’s the culture hub we didn’t know we needed.
The detailing
When I visited here, another small, but important detail that caught my eye was how their staff dressed — in a white shirt with black dungarees, a bandana and sneakers. Rap Joint’s branding is consistent down to how the servers look, which I love.
Always at your service
Their opening time is another testament to Rap Joint’s readiness and commitment to the gospel they preach. You can visit from Monday to Thursday, anytime between 8am and 10:30pm, and from Friday to Sunday, it’s open from 8am to 11:30 pm. To me, this shows they mean business and they’re serious about what they do.
For more inspo on what to eat and what to do at Rap Joint, check out their Twitter!
When Israel isn’t at a desk w̶r̶i̶t̶i̶n̶g̶ having fun, he’s outside having some more fun. He loves Lagos, simply because it’s Lagos and the buzz never stops, and he could never turn down an opportunity to write about the city’s wonders.