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On her debut album, “Born in the Wild,” Tems pays tribute to herself and to her previous state of being. “Wild” suggests a Wild Wild West, perhaps an interpretation of Nigeria, rarely a place for dreamers. But Tems made it out. This album is her musings and good time draped in warm guitar strings, energetic summer vibes, hopeless romantic lyrics, and some busy music.
Tems opens the album with the titular folk ballad Born In the Wild. Coming from a place where showing emotions is usually and unfortunately taken for weakness, she peels back on the trauma endured.
Crazy and wild things may happen, but Tems sees them through to the end. On Special Baby (Interlude), her mum encourages her to continue to find succour in the strength of her name, Temilade (the crown is mine). I hear a mother’s prayer manifestation and moral support. You hear a reiteration of the Temilade Interlude from her 2020 EP, “For Broken Ears.”
The actualisation of one’s dreams and the juicy fast life of celebrity birthed one of Biggie Smalls’ most iconic lines, “It was all a dream.” A sentiment Tems shares about fulfilment on Burning. It soon flips into a brood about human inescapable suffering that’s susceptible to all regardless of fame and wealth. She choruses “Guess we are all burning,” interpretable to “Me sef I be human being o” in simpler language. Tems’ at her best here. I guess uncomplicated, ambivalent subject matters can be blissful and sufferable feelings are convertible to ethereal.
The music gets busy on the next three tracks. The bounce is as alive as her confidence on Wickedest. But the Magic System’s 1er Gaou sample fails to magnify the song. Perhaps that’s owed to the jumble recapture of the Makossa spirit and its tale of betrayal and ironies of success for a bouncy, braggart bop.
Her complete reimagining of Seyi Sodimu’s Love Me Jeje follows before Get It Right (featuring Asake) cues in. They’re party-ready. An adventurous Tems invites Asake into the familiar territory of Fuji-Amapiano-pop.
On Ready, Tems continues her search for higher frequency like a fiend relentlessly finds their high. “No fear in my mind, it’s a new story” and “All grass does is grow, don’t you think so?” are her declarations that she won’t hide anymore. In one word, her new story is “fearless”. She’s a bad girl in need of a badass partner — the persona she embodies in Gangsta, which interpolates Diana King’s L-L-Lies. But in Unfortunate, one can learn from Tems that to be gangsta isn’t throwing fits up and down; it’s detaching from situations where other parties can’t be trusted. She congratulates herself for avoiding an unfortunate issue; that’s gangsta enough.
But this gangsta soon surrenders at the helm of love matters. Boy O Boy puts Tems through a scorned love for a despised lover. Forever burns with the same attitude but funkier. It makes juice out of the ex’s desperation. On Free Fall, Tems finds love again. But one can tell it’s just a forlorn hope robbing her heart. J. Cole’s verse, cute though not striking, doubles down that love experiences calm as much storm.
It gets clinical on the next interlude, Voices in My Head, as Tec — Show Dem Camp member and one of Tems’ managers — offers knowledge about experience, truth, love and motivation as tools to move through life.
The celebration continues on Turn Me Up and T-Unit, which puts Tems in her rap bag and gives a specific nod to 50 Cent’s Candy Shop. Me & U plays next and throws Tems in an upbeat soliloquy about finding faith, the god of self and connecting to the higher being. But looking back at when we first heard this as the lead single in October 2023, it’s more comfortable as an album track than the perfect album taster.
The vibe extends to You In My Face, which speaks to her inner child, a song to go to when everything’s falling apart. The album wraps up in optimism with the closing track. Even when the ship batters, the anchor can still hold. That’s the message Hold On holds onto. It’s giving modern-day negro spiritual with hip-hop and calypso twists.
As tone-setting conversations about Tems’ musical style continue, more critics agree that she’s excused herself from Afrobeats for a larger U.S. audience. But this is an effect of sticking every Nigerian contemporary singer to Afropop, a genre, as opposed to Afrobeats, an umbrella for popular music and culture out of Nigeria.
Released a week apart from Ayra Starr’s applauded sophomore release, “Born In the Wild” may be another cautious win for Afrobeats. It’s vintage R&B and neo-soul adorned in an African night of merriment. It’s enjoyable, and so is its mix. Its production, done majorly by Tems and GuiltyBeatz, is endurable. The lyricism is one-dimensional.
Without the snappy production, it sounds more like a genius’s ramblings, hard to listen to. This is nothing more writers in the room can’t solve. Due to its non-conformity to the Nigerian mainstream sound, the music is understandably unfamiliar — a dilemma homegrown listeners may struggle with. It sounds like a Siamese twin EPs, yoked by Tems’ high-pitched soprano. It can do without some tracks.
Is “Born in the Wild” a flawless album?
A flawless album is loosely defined as a body of work of a captivating and geographic cocktail of shape-shifting songs. By this definition, the answer to Tems’ preoccupation about her debut is in the affirmative: No, it’s not a flawless album. But perfection is subject to different ears.
If this is Tems’ music aftermath coming on top of personal woes, it’s an acceptable offering. She made it through the wild, and this is her post-trauma self-celebration.
Tems Is the Leading Vibe, and We Ranked 8 of Her Best Features
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The rise of female Nigerian music stars in the last few years isn’t only applaudable, it’s also sparked a conversation about a possible female takeover: Lady Donli put out one of the best albums of 2023. In 2024, Tiwa Savage released a first-of-its-kind, well-acclaimed soundtrack album and Ayra’s latest album, “The Year I Turned 21”, received even wider critical acclaim.
The girlies are up and creating their lanes. They bring newness to the game, and diversity in genre, vocal dexterity, delivery and lyrical content. We know seven on the come-up that should be on your radar.
Yimeeka
The combination of a music producer and recording artist in one person is an advantage that usually distinguishes a super-creative individual from an average one. Her musical ingenuity and production skills set her apart among the new wave of Nigerian female pop stars. Her debut EP, “Alter Ego” (2022), expresses relationships, and her latest self-titled EP, “Yimeeka,” explores personal moments.
Syntiat
Syntiat is an impressive vocalist, producer and songwriter who graduated among the best of The Sarz Academy’s class of 2023. Get on her if you’re looking for music to play during heartbreak, as candles burn and you sip wine in a bathtub.
Mahriisah
Mahriisah’s pop style interplays with African rhythms, R&B, Highlife and reggae. Her music is perfect for glamming up to go flex outside or in a speedy car ride with your girlies.
Amaeya
Since Amaeya moved from Delta state to Lagos to push her music dreams in 2020, she has done backup work for A-listers like Tems, Ric Hassani, Tiwa Savage, Asake and Lojay. But she’s fully focused on her thing now. Amaeya’s stories of love, relationships and identity are bold pictures of the spoken and unspoken emotions of a careful romantic turned into music. Since her debut on “The Voice Nigeria” in 2021, she’s stayed true to her soul-drenched Afropop and r&b sound. Singles like On My Own, Delusion and Too Much will get any new listener started.
Aema
From Aema’s solo releases to her notable collaborative work with fellow singer, Kold AF, it’s easy to tell that her alternative soul music won’t be underground for long. When she’s not conquering her ego on No Place to Hide, Aema’s protecting her mental well-being, addressing relationship issues and women’s places in society on “ALT SOUL, Vol. 1” and “No Pity.”
Clayrocksu
In recent times, Nigerian Afrorock music has been referenced to the likes of Neo, Modim, The Isomers and Clayrocksu, among the very few women making music in that scene. Clayrocksu’s style blends rock, metal and alternative with Afropop, with relatable tales of Nigerian dreams and hustle, love and romance, optimism and higher calling. Her new EP “Hate It Here” is a mirror of all these and fun experimentation. One of the tracks, Nu Religion, mixes atilogwu with rock. What’s more daring than that?
Reespect
Reespect is a rapper who brings all her emotions to her songs. It doesn’t matter what kind of production she hops on; she’s going to spazz and bring out the soul in her bars. Her latest performance on Showoff Rap show (one of Africa’s biggest hip-hop platforms) is proof she’ll rap circles around the competition and still spit vulnerable lines if she feels like doing so. Put respect on her name.
Nigerian Women Throw the Most Lit Parties, and the Proof Is Here
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Nobody should get carried away by Don Jazzy’s chronically-online, playful social media influencer personality. That’s all recent development.
This isn’t an attempt at inducing nostalgia. But when Don Baba J returned to Nigeria from London two decades ago, it was the beginning of a journey to becoming one of Nigerian contemporary pop’s greatest contributors, and he changed the soundscape forever.
Don Jazzy seems to have taken a break from actively producing music, but not before making multiple impacts on Nigerian pop music. These eight songs Jazzy produced across music eras prove this.
Tongolo – D’Banj
At a time Don Jazzy and his previous business associate and artist D’Banj were still testing Naija music waters, the latter’s debut album came out with Tongolo as its lead and biggest single. Not only did this song introduce D’Banj’s arrival to Nigerian listeners, it birthed his “Koko Master” persona.
Ijoya – Weird MC
Two years after stepping into the motherland, Don Jazzy produced Weird MC’s Ijoya alongside JJC. This song was Weird MC’s reintroduction to the Nigerian audience in 2006. Till date, Ijoya remains the biggest single from a Nigerian female rapper.
Why Me — D’Banj
Why Me transformed D’Banj from potential entertainer into a national hitmaker. Don Jazzy’s production did that.
Jebele — Kween
Kween had lovers in chokehold with this 2007 jam. Its music video won the Soundcity Music Video Award for Best Female Video and Best Highlife Music Video at the Nigerian Music Video Awards in 2008.
“Mushin 2 Mo’ Hits”
In 2009, Wande Coal released his debut “Mushin 2 Mo’ Hits”, creating a template for how a Nigerian pop album is made. This album has popular hits like Move Your Body, Bumper2Bumper, You Bad, Taboo, Private Trips, Ten Ten, etc. Wande Coal did his thing on this album, but we have Don Jazzy to praise for its stellar production work.
Wind Am Well – Ikechukwu
This song is one of the singles that secured Ikechukwu’s spot in the mainstream. Guess who produced it? It’s Don Jazzy again.
Oliver Twist – D’Banj
Before Don Jazzy and D’Banj parted ways in 2012, they made their last collaboration titled Oliver Twist count. This song climbed charts and did wonders for Afrobeats appeal, even pushing its potential into global space.
Godwin – Korede Bello
It took Godwin three days post-release to become an anthem among Nigerians in 2015. Due to Korede’s resonating lyrics and Jazzy’s production, Godwin is a party jam to some listeners and a testimony song to others.
Also Read About the 14 Times Don Jazzy Proved He’s the Master of Hooks & Choruses
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On the first weekend of April 2024, Dwin, The Stoic and Rhaffy had a big win. Their 2022-released song, Streets, grabbed the attention of Nigerian music legend, 2Baba, and gained a heavy rotation. As of April 8, Streets had climbed to 13 on the Viral Songs Nigeria chart on Spotify.
With Rhaffy’s reliable music production and sound engineering and the St. Claire team’s effective operations, Dwin, The Stoic, has established himself as an adept songwriter-singer and stage performer over the last decade. But just in case you’re unfamiliar with these guys and their music, we bring you a deep look into their music, work chemistry and viral single, Streets.
www.stclairerecords.com St. Claire Records, an indie record label based in Lagos, Nigeria, wants to make undeniable art — the soundtracks of human lives. Home to Rhaffy, Dwin, The Stoic and Ignis Brothers, the music company has dwelt on that philosophy since it launched officially in March 2023.
Before Dwin founded the record label and became a “dada” boy, he debuted with The Lonely featuring 3rty (also produced by the two of them) exactly ten years ago. SoundCloud aficionados will remember this. Then between 2014 and 2017, he disappeared into the 9-5 world.
Dwin, The Stoic But his 2018 series of releases like Stay the Night, Are You the One, Take Flight and Happy Song finally led to “Heavy Heart” — his first studio album. This 13-track project introduced Dwin’s emotional brand of music to Nigeria’s predominantly club music-heavy soundscape. Music for longing, love, loss, heartbreak and sonder, his sound warmly takes in listeners like a home does. His relatable lyricism and soft vocals are seeds he’s planted on the ploughed genres of soft rock, Afropop, alt-pop, chamber pop, folk, house, EDM and so much more.
His music style doesn’t fall among the popular ones, but still he stands out with it. Ask Adekunle Gold, Jessica Bongos and Ibejii who have credited him as a songwriter on their projects.
Rhaffy Adding Rhaffy, a music producer and singer-songwriter, into the mix has enriched Dwin’s sound. When he isn’t cooking for Dwin and other artists like Oxlade, Saucekid, Konga, DanDizzy and Otega, Rhaffy is banging out beats for rappers to “SHOW OFF” on AktivatedTV’s rap show on YouTube.
Since Rhaffy and Dwin bonded in a recording studio somewhere on Victoria Island in 2018, their duo has produced fan favourites like Ifunanyam, Gkw, Allez and the Streets that got a placement in DisneyPlus’ new docu-series, “Madu”.
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Last week, 2Baba shared Dwin’s Streets performance video on his InstaStory. “That video is a specially documented moment and lived experience of the audience at Dwin’s Acoustic Christmas show in December 2023,” Timilehin Osinowo, PR and Comms Lead of St. Claire Records, stated.
Creating content is constant for them, as is finding new ways to push it out, whether old or fresh. It’s all part of the team’s intent to be undeniably excellent as artists and, in the present consumer term, content creators. Even more impressive is that Streets was made in 2019 and only released two years later. And it’s still in motion.
The now-viral track has all the charms of an Afropop love jam. But honestly, it’s still vulnerable at the core. It sings of a love that’ll never come to you unless you break the silence and state your intention: “Baby, see, won’t you please come cover me? / See, these streets don tire me / We get things to do.”
Dwin and Rhaffy’s drive to become undisputed musicians also means doing meaningful collaborations. Hopefully, we’ll soon hear Mr Innocent admonish guilty parties to go home and snuggle into their lovers’ loving arms instead of gleefully slamming different genitals in different area codes.
Rhaffy and Dwin, The Stoic Their transcendental music chemistry has poured into WeTalkSound’s “Lofn 2” and “Lofn 3” albums in 2019 and 2020; and “The Cost of Our Lives” by Ignis Brothers (an indie group made up of Dwin and Ruth Zakari), an album released under St. Claire Records. It came out during the quiet COVID-19 period, a medley of legacy, ambition, uncertain relationships, loneliness and anxiety. For some listeners, “The Cost of Our Lives” gave them the thirst for more music by the collaborative singer and producer.
In 2023, Rhaffy and Dwin did their first joint project, “Love Lane”, a five-track EP, housing Streets and others like Without Your Love and Allez — their highest streamed songs.
For their next act, according to Timilehin Osinowo, Rhaffy is preparing to put out his debut solo single on April 25, 2024. It’s called Serenade. There’s also an intimate show in the works — you heard it first. But catch him at Zikoko’s Strings Attached event on May 11, 2024.
Dwin and Rhaffy aren’t the most popular duo, but their joint quest as flagship artists of an indie St. Claire Records is leading them to the forefront of Nigeria’s bubbling music renaissance. Respect their grind.
Our Combo is Like Messi, Suarez and Neymar in 2015 — Rhaffy and Dwin, The Stoic
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Questions
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“Bana” is a song by one of these artists
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When Nigerian artists, especially rappers, get older, an uncommunicated hiatus or retirement lurks around — impacts of personal decisions and the fickle nature of an industry that lives in the moment.
But should whatever new music they make remain in the vault indefinitely because they’re no longer the rave of the moment? Will anyone give them any time of the day if they release new music?
Let’s look at these issues, using Nigerian Hip-Hop artists as case studies, in this piece.
In-between the general banter and check-in between Vector tha Viper, Sinzu and Ikechukwu in a recent 11-minute long screen-recorded IG live video, the three rap veterans discussed their status as older artists and renewed focus to make more music. The core of their conversation bench-presses on this year’s Nigerian unofficial watchword: “No gree for anybody”, which can be colloquially interpreted as “to stand on business.”
Evidently, these three rappers are standing on business: Sinzu is posting new music snippets, Ikechukwu released a new album, “O.G.Unkle.Killz” on March 15, and Vector, who hasn’t stopped releasing music in the last six years, is ready to go harder.
During the IG live, Sinzu mentioned that Gen Zs act like they don’t know him, which is almost true. Sinzu (FKA Sauce Kid) hasn’t been in the spotlight in almost a decade, not since his 2017 run-in with the law in the U.S. His last EP went by without a noise in 2021. On the other hand, another colleague put out a project without much care for Gen Z’s acceptance. Breeze, a song on Ikechukwu‘s new album has been labelled a fresh breath of air since its release.
But I think that instead of being hyper-focused on Gen-Z, OGs should direct their energy to their dedicated fans. They’re familiar with the brand and will listen to the music as long as it’s great. While life, family and other things may take priority, if a released music resonates, new fans will pick it on the way. In November 2023, Reminisce released “Alaye Toh Se Gogo”, seven years after his last album. Fans’ demand inspired the project and the reception he’s since received has surpassed his expectation. Four years after “ILLY CHAPO X”, rapper Illbliss put out a new album, “Sideh Kai” in February 2024. Modenine is still active and catering to the fans who enjoy his art.
The “small” matters of finance and profitability can’t be ruled out, though. Nigeria is a poor country and has no industry structure and funds for OGs to stand on. Here, people make money when they are on top. Diminished star power and fanbase and intangible streaming revenues aren’t enough fallback options either. In markets like the U.S., artists can do 500-1000-capacity halls because investment in infrastructure supports them — Older international acts like Sisqo can still go on tour simply because there’s a structure to cater for him. The opposite is the reality that plagues the elderly class of contemporary Nigerian music.
There’s no need for OGs to force or recreate what they were widely known for anymore. Identity crisis, fear of ageism and criticism should go out the window. No one will be on top forever. But the grace is always there. The veterans may not be popping like they used to but their core fans — their community — will always listen.
The realisation and acceptance of everything above comes with an openness to tell new stories in tune to their current reality. This has played out in the case of Reminisce who’s embraced fatherhood since “Baba Hafusa” till “Alaye Toh Se Gogo,” which talks about getting older, navigating relevance and putting on the next generation of artists.
Illbliss’ “Sideh Kai” is a testament to giving back to his fans and importantly, being a family man and a dad. Vector and M.I have also been on self-discovery yet triumphant journeys— it’s clear in the content of their new music. This openness pushes their art to more impact and opens them to more interpretations. This is the only way they’ll possibly make music that gets finer with their age.
The beauty of making music at an old(er) age is rooted in the purpose and passion of the artist. So, instead of worrying about investing in streaming farms to push albums like Ikechukwu jestingly said on the IG live, he should double down on the newly found purpose that’s fuelling his passion.
As we go deeper into the year, more veteran artists should quit watching on the sidelines and get back into the game. Not to prove a point or dump stashes of stale music on us, but to find love in what they do again. People are still cheering.
We Wondered Where These Nigerian Artists Are, So We Went Digging
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We came into 2024 demanding for new sounds, a breakaway from Amapiano for good. And last week, a rising singer named taves went viral with his pop-alt singles Folake and Bodija, which people called a breath of fresh air in the Nigerian music space.
The clamour for more unconventional music set us into action to bring you some of the other new artists that aren’t on your radar.
Wapo
Wapo’s music sounds like a big, shiny disco ball in a large ballroom. One can clearly hear his experimentation with African rhythms, ‘80s pop and R&B on songs like No White Tees, Bleed and Walk on Water. Wapo’s music is similar to Runtown’s recent album, “Signs”. His latest, “Afraid of the Dark”, is heavy on synth and fearful emotions like he’s running through the dark woods. His music is an interesting and comfortable deviation from the formulaic logdrums the Afrobeats industry is plagued with.
Odenose
Are you looking for a genre mixologist? Odenose (formally OD) is the answer. From jazz to hip-hop to spoken word, neo-soul and afrobeats, the Abuja-based musician is capable of blending genres into a refreshing African music cocktail. Let her recent album “MissChief” lead you into endless flavours of Afro-fusion and live instruments.
Seanmichael Ike
It’s time to discard the family situation that turned the lights on Seanmichael Ike and shift the focus on his artistry. He’s a singer-songwriter making the chill Afropop of a shy and hopeless romantic with enough rizz to steal people’s babes. While we wait for his 2024 releases, his songs, Shy Shy and Stargirl, are good places to start.
Bagetti
Entering into 2024, Jonzing introduced its latest signee, Bagetti, with Hard Girl, and it’s now a viral TikTok jam. On March 12, she followed up with Dawn, the last single before her debut EP drops on March 15. Bagetti explores familiar territories like dancehall and Afropop, but her confident and non-conforming delivery make the difference.
Tega Ethan
Tega Ethan is an Ibadan-based singer-songwriter and guitarist making records about love, longing, hope and other fleeting emotions. If you’re looking for some delicious poetry and soundtracks that say a lot without saying too much, Tega’s music is where it’s at.
Modim
Modim has found a way to synthesise Afrobeats, African folklore and alternative rock into one electrifying performance. Complex guitar riffs, evocative vocals, thoughtful lyrics interspersed with local stories, and catchy hooks make his music wholesome. Songs like Eko Meji, Eni Aráyé and Emini Nii will light up any stage if given a moment.
Ayo Maff
Street-pop music constantly breaks the stereotype that its artists have to be rogues and good-for-nothings. Ayo Maff’s take on it goes far beyond the penchant for street upbringing and hustle life; he poignantly sings about his background, dreams, fears, deceased loved ones and the lives of ordinary men. Ayo Maff isn’t political, but he sounds very much like the “voice of the people”.
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We made a list of Nigerian songs that recognise, celebrate and honour the spirit of motherhood.
“Iya Ni Wura” — Dele Ojo
Dele Ojo and his Star Brothers Band released this Mother’s Day celebration staple 74 years ago. Iya Ni Wura (meaning “mother is gold”) talks about the strenuous nine months of pregnancy mothers endure, describing them as jewels of inestimable value.
“Sweet Mother” — Prince Nico Mbarga
The lyrics, “Sweet mother, I no go forget you” quickly rings a bell in the minds of most Nigerians. In this evergreen song, Prince Nico vows to always remember his mum’s sacrifices for him.
“Mummy” — Jesse King
Jesse King, AKA Buga, made one of his biggest hits with Mummy in 2006. The contemporary highlife song prays that mothers enjoy long life without discomfort. Any hater can take it up with God.
“Unconditional Love” — 2Baba
2Baba appreciates his mum in Unconditional Love in 2017, attributing his calm and collected demeanour to her. 2Baba expresses unconditional love at home, and he has his mum to thank for it.
“So Beautiful” — Asa
Off Asa’s debut titular album, she dedicates a five-minute track to her mother. Asa sings of her beauty, strength and love. If we all agree mothers are goddesses, this is one of their worship songs.
“Mama” — Flavour feat. Chidinma
Over warm, serenading piano riffs, Flavour and Chidinma praise their mothers in English, Igbo and Yoruba. They remember her sleepless nights during sick days and pray for blessings for her. The 2016 song appreciates motherhood and promises mothers that they can have anything in life.
“Mummy Mi” — Wizkid
Mummy Mi is the fourth track on Wizkid’s 2014 album, “Ayo”. Even if you don’t have life’s finest things to give your mum like Wiz promised his on this song, you can sing along and count it as speaking them into existence.
“Ochie Dike (Mama)” — Phyno feat. Onyeka Onwenu
In 2016, Phyno honoured his mother with this emotive song in undiluted Igbo. He partnered with the legendary Onyeka Onwenu to deliver one of his best songs ever.
“Mama” — Adekunle Gold
“This is not a regular song, oh mama”; in Yorùbá, AG Baby hails mothers as superheroes and intermediaries between heaven and earth. The refreshing sounds of Gangan drums, guitar and other highlife elements will keep any mum dancing.
“Iya Mi (My Mother)” — Lanre Teriba
On this song, Nigerian Gospel artist, Lanre Teriba, feels he’s running out of time and asks for God’s blessings to come quickly. His mum is getting older, and he needs to spoil her with life’s best things. If you’re looking for a song with a twist of gospel to honour your mum, this is it.
These Are 6 Other Special Ways to Celebrate Your Mother -
Music groups may be be popular thing in Nigeria right now, but some guys dropped hits like Yori Yori, Olori Oko and many more. Which of them do you remember?
Take the quiz:
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Because it’s the weekend, you love Nigerian music and need perfect playlists for everything from praise and worship and genital collision to hot girl moments, here are eight curated playlists from our #BumpThis section.
Salary week gbedu
It’s that last week of the month, and you must dance in that incoming salary. Have you seen the economy? Do you want inflation to have the upper hand?
For the hot girls
We curated this playlist in April 2023 to celebrate our hot HERtitude babes. The hottest all-women party will make a return in some months, so get on this to be ready for it.
The “My Bro” playlist
This is a special playlist of male artist put together to share with your guys and celebrate male friendships..
Dream Wizkid x Davido setlist
We’re still keeping faith that Big Wiz and OBO will announce the dates of the joint tour Wizkid teased in 2023. To manifest this, drink anointing oil, whisper their names thrice, and rinse this dream setlist of their best jams. Repeat until the tour happens.
A break from Amapiano
The current soundscape of Nigerian pop music is heavily influenced by Amapiano. But it’s a new year and people want to hear new Afrobeats sounds. While we wait, enjoy this playlist we curated one Friday in June 2023 when Naija artists dropped zero-amapiano tunes.
2024’s first weekend
Meet the year openers on a playlist of the outstanding songs that came out in the first week of January, 2024.
For your praise and worship
Need a minister or choir to lead your personal devotion? Press play on this praise and worship list.
The cunt-iest 2023 afrobeats songs
This is for all the freaks in the house.
Hey, you! Yes, you. The third episode of our Valentine Special out. We brought back two best friends to share how their relationship has evolved in the last five years. Watch below:
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Knowing only songs isn’t enough. Can you glance at these album arts and guess the year they were released?
Psst! Have you seen our Valentine Special yet? We brought back three couples – one now with kids, one now married and the last, still best friends – to share how their relationships have evolved in the last five years. Watch the second episode below:
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Psst! Have you seen our Valentine Special yet? We brought back three couples – one now with kids, one now married and the last, still best friends – to share how their relationships have evolved in the last five years. Watch the first episode below:
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Are you a big music lover and you think you’ve rinsed every album Nigerian artists have put out? Show us if you remember these guys’ debuts.
Take the quiz:
Psst! Have you seen our Valentine Special yet? We brought back three couples – one now with kids, one now married and the last, still best friends – to share how their relationships have evolved in the last five years. Watch the first episode below:
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Another Friday, another day of fresh music releases. We handpicked the seven most chill drops to enjoy this weekend.
Listen here:
PALMWINE IN A BENZ — 02Morse
Don’t be disappointed if this song doesn’t welcome you with the Highlife guitar riffs we’ve come to associate with the palmwine sound. The rich flow, sandwich of bars and chorus make PALMWINE IN A BENZ highly digestible. IB City’s 02Morse signals to the rap scene that it’s open season as listeners throw their hands to the intoxicating bounce and hi-hats of this trappy song and its sticky lyricism.
No Gree for Anybody — Oladips ft. Otega
Drill music is one of the rap sub-genres that best documents crime, but the Nigerian spin to it takes it from fist fight and violent rhymes to relatable stories of dreams and money chasers. With this, rappers, Oladips and Otega, jump on Nigeria’s unofficial theme of 2024: “No gree for anybody” (meaning “don’t let anyone mess with you”). Since Oladips’ “Lazarus moment” in 2023, he’s made a consistent effort to prove he deserves as many ears as his contemporaries. His latest drops perhaps articulates this resilience.
IMAGINE SAY — AfroSelecta-BBK ft. Reeplay & Laxy-BBK
Reeplay opens this song with a chorus imagining if he was broke. This song implies that “You’re nobody till people speak highly of you”. Laxy-BBK performs alongside him on this song off the fourth installment of the Driller and Vanilla projects produced by AfroSelecta-BBK.
P.P.P (Puff Puff Pass) — Bahd Man Niko
P.P.P isn’t just a cannabis anthem. Bhad Man Niko is unapologetically a product of the trenches, delivering on sexual adventures with detailed imagery. His sonic connection with white garment churches and Islamic Yorùbá music offer melodies reminiscent of older Streep-pop artists like Oritsefemi, but he’s carving a niché for himself. True to his hunger to be in everyone’s faces, his latest EP, BOYAHNAH, is here 19 days into the new year and barely three months after his Off The Planet EP dropped in November 2023.
Skata — Funfillage ft. Adam Srae & Luka Pryce
Funfillage’s Skata is a song on their new seven-track Smile on Sofa (SOS) EP featuring artists from Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa. Naija singer-songwriter, Adam Srae, and Mzansi’s Luka Pryce coast together to create a love atmosphere on this Afrobeats instrumental. Altogether, Skata is smooth, jazzy, groovy.
Lady Fiona — Cobhams Asuquo ft. Sauti Sol
Lady Fiona opens with guitar medleys that brew with Cobhams’ soft vocals. “I feel all my chains breaking, ‘cause since I met you, it’s been freedom from the start” is the kind of heartfelt line that distinguishes him not just as a talented singer and producer, but as a seasoned songwriter. Interestingly, the song features the defunct Kenyan music group, Sauti Sol.
50-50 — Vasa
Teenage singer, Vasa’s first song of 2024 is an emotional take on life’s possibilities. On 50-50, Vasa sings about the uncertainty that comes with being a dream chaser. The youngster is focused on climbing to the top and is ready to take his chances — goals realised or not. If you’re at a similar stage in your journey, you’ll vibe to this.
You Should Also Dive Into The Best Afrobeats Songs of 2024’s First Weekend
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In the last decade, the documentation of Afrobeats has thrived on X posts and threads, Instagram reels, Prime Video and Netflix documentary series, published books, articles and podcasts.
Now, it’s time for our sacred genre to transcend beyond literature to a physical structure for its immortalisation. A museum people can visit to dive into Afrobeats’ historical, artistic and cultural journey.
To any true follower of Afrobeats commentary, this won’t be the first mention of the concept of an “Afrobeats museum”. Nigerian pop conversation often tilts toward preserving the artists and music we currently feel deeply, a yearning for what the industry may not know it needs.
Rock and Roll has its museum in Cleveland, Ohio. Hip-Hop, in the Bronx, New York. While its longevity may be called into question, in over 20 years of existence, Afrobeats has achieved global impact and maintained its deep roots in its home base.
Our artists perform to thousands of people from all over the world in local Nigerian languages at sold-out international venues like the O2 Arena, Barclays Center, Tottenham Stadium and Madison Square Garden. Afrobeats has bridged cultural gaps, from the U.S to the U.K, down to South Korea and India, collaborating with global superstars and mixing with foreign genres, like the Afro-swing of the U.K.
Afrobeats has integrated regions on our continent, from Ghana to South Africa, opened up more job opportunities for young people through the music industry. We have music pop schools like The Sarz Academy and Music Business Africa, powerhouse labels like Mavin Records, distribution companies like Dvpper Music and Notjustokdistro, and have attracted foreign music companies like Empire and UnitedMasters to establish their business in Nigeria.
Why shouldn’t this genre have a dedicated home?
The absence of an Afrobeats museum hits harder inside Hard Rock Café on Lagos Island, whose walls are filled with memorabilia of renowned western musicians like Madonna, John Lennon, Robert Cray and Eric Clapton. It’s inspiring, but it also puzzles the average Nigerian as to why Afrobeats legends are glaringly absent from the walls. An American franchise that’s made its name off all-American cuisine and live music — originally Rock and Roll — the café is a prime example of what successfully preserving music culture looks like on a global and diversified level.
X.com: @ENOCX In June 2023, Alara, a Nigerian contemporary retail store, showcased West African fashion, design and art at the Africa Fashion exhibition in the Brooklyn Museum. Among the displays was an image of Asake’s Native Mag cover. The singular addition offered a glimpse of how impactful it would be to have a permanent showcase of our music — the visual and written stories of its top creators — for generations of aspiring musicians, listeners and tourists to experience.
Fuji Opera has achieved this to some extent for the iconic Nigerian genre. Dedicated to Fuji music and its history, this multidimensional platform, which includes a museum in London, celebrated the genre at The Africa Centre in August 2023, three years after its first independent exhibition in Nigeria.
Today, Afrobeats has garnered a wider appeal than Fuji. Every December, Lagos — the centre of excellence and Afrobeats — is abuzz with Afrobeats shows and festivals; Nigerians turn up in multitudes. Outside Nigeria, foreigners love Afrobeats and are interested in where the music comes from. Recent global accomplishments at awards shows, festivals and stages, publications, charts and streaming platforms are all the evidence we need.
Image source: Medium
Afrobeats concerts and pop-up shows are great social tools, but the impact of a museum will be generational. Imagine Terry G’s first bell, 2Baba’s original Grass2Grace album copy and Jide Taiwo’s “Efile Fun Burna” — the lives and works of our most prominent musicians of all time — all in one place.
This museum must come to pass for the preservation of the genre and its impact on the music industry, Nigeria itself and Nigerians everywhere. If we wait too long to immortalise Afrobeats’ history, accomplishments and memories, we may turn it into what the Yorubas call a snake that crawls on a mountain and leaves no trace.
Take A Sneak Peek Into Our Hypothetical Afrobeats Museum
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Artists come and go, but the exceptional ones stick around to build name and relevance. As we wave 2023 goodbye, we’ve marked out ten new cats we believe will seize 2024.
These artists made our list because of their talent, uniqueness, consistency and quality of the music they put out this year.
Pop
Kold AF
The light has been on Kold AF, born Aninooritsewarami Alero Oritsesesan, since she and French music producer, BGRZ, put out the six-track EP, KOLLIDED, in October 2023. Almost every stage that gave space to upcoming stars this year — The Future Award Africa 2023, Jameson Distillery On Tour and Indie Vibe House Party — has seen her in action. She was one of the highlights of Aristokrat Records’ Open House Volume One album, which showcased some artists on the come-up in December 2022. In the same month, Kold AF released a two-song pack called Kold Szn. Influenced by Burna Boy and Cynthia Morgan, her voice and vivid storytelling distinguish her from the crowd.
Image source: Kold AF Morravey
Morravey is more than just Davido’s latest signee. She’s one of the brightest talents out of one of Nigeria’s biggest breeding grounds for talent, Port Harcourt (PH). With a catchy delivery and vocal range, her impressive performance on Davido’s IN THE GARDEN introduced her to a wider audience. In November 2023, Morravey released an introductory album called RAVI, and with her label’s backing, she may be everywhere in 2024. Based on the project and with her PH background, the singer-songwriter is set to tell Afropop stories in new and interesting ways.
Instagram: Davidonews Qing Madi
Qing Madi’s See Finish (2022) enjoyed some viral moments this year and earned her a position as Spotify Africa Equal Ambassador in June 2023. Madi has since released other singles like Why, Ole with BNXN and Journey, and finally, her self-titled debut EP. At just 17 years old, Qing Madi’s music has peaked on popular charts like Apple Music chart, Turntable Official Nigeria Top 100 and Official Charts Afrobeats. With this trajectory, she’ll only get bigger in 2024.
Instagram: @aijaupdates Rap
OluwaMillar
Favour Joshua Oparemi, AKA OluwaMillar, penetrated the underground rap scene in 2022 with a series of songs and features. He was on For Her (Voice2Rep’s compilation album), Menu with Droxx, Kokoka with VRSD, Fake Heads with Blvck Oreo and a remix of Menu with Emaxee, O’Shea and PayBac iBoro. In 2023, he came out with a two-song pack titled Agba Beef, which featured the songs AGBALAGBI and Beef Dey. The beautifully unique delivery of Yorùbá language in his music sets him apart from the many rappers springing up these days.
X.com: @llarim9 Jeriq the Hustler
On December 10, 2023, Jeriq the Hustler filled the 15,000 capacity Okpara Square in Enugu for a concert. The Igbo-speaking rapper’s catalogue goes back to 2018 with releases every year till date. With upcoming features and co-signs from top industry people, Jeriq is about to be in our faces in 2024.
X.com: @the49thstreet Droxx
Only a few artists can boast a solid streak of up to 20 guest features in a year. Droxx, AKA African Chief, has long proved himself as one of the pioneers of Drill music in Nigeria and a top contender for most revered new rapper in the country. He opened for Davido’s “Timeless Concert” alongside Rebelwav in Abuja on December 15, 2023. With every performance, Droxx showcases true passion, consistency and his charisma places him as one of the coolest young emcees who’ll make 2024 a year to remember in Nigerian Hip-Hop.
Image source: Droxx R&B
Brum3h
Brumeh Oghenekaro is a singer-songwriter, record and vocal producer and sound engineer who calls himself “Emo Boy”. The name accurately describes the deep feelings Brum3h expresses on his songs. As the R&B scene returns to its purest form in Nigeria, you’ll find acts like Brum3h in the frontline, uncompromising and passionate with his rhythm and blues. In September, he released Typewrit3R Volume One — a set of love letters to a difficult lover.
Image source: Spotify Rukmani
Rukmani is managed by Cokoon Records (sister company to Aristokrat Records). Straight out of Port Harcourt, Rukmani masterfully renders intimacy, vulnerability and youth onto her soul-searching audio material. And her debut album, Angel On the Run (2023), encompasses these elements perfectly.
Image source: Spotify RnB Princess
Staking her claim as a singer and storyteller capable of deep emotion and soulful melodies, RnB Princess’ voice carries a warm appeal. Her dear diary EP, produced by Beezyx, proves this point.
Image source: Spotify Alternative
DoTTi the Deity
Forever Sweet (2022), a neo-folklore jam that’s been reigning at wedding parties all year, has solidified DoTTi the Deity as an amazing songwriter, singer and performer. More than that, his lyrics showcase him as a Yorùbá language custodian for the new generation. In 2023, DoTTi released another EP titled For You Knew Me, giving us a peep into the greatness the singer will unleash in the coming year.
Image source: Spotify Bizzonthetrack
With Bizzonthetrack, you’ll get a mix of pop, R&B and lo-fi influences. You’ll also get simple lyrics that cover hustle culture, good life and sensuality. If you want to relax and have a good time or marinate in your feelings, Bizz is the guy. Start with his latest, Sir Jaiye Kuti, or attend his concert in Ibadan on December 23 to experience him live.
X.com: @bizzonthetrack Ravington
Sitting at the intersection of rap, singing and music production, Ravington has conveniently designed his own brand of alternative music. Borrowing from Cruel Santino, Odunsi the Engine and Black Magic, Ravington adds in his abstract style of production to go with his deep vocals. After his Retrograde Blues EP dropped in 2022, he put out five songs and produced for fellow up-and-comers in 2023. We look forward to his 2024 offerings.
Image source: Ravington Production
Afroselekta-BBK
An Abuja-based music producer and artist, Afroselekta-BBK has collaborated with EESKAY, Zilla Oaks, Reeplay, Laxy-BBK and more of the city’s finests. His expertise is an alternative blend of Afropop, Amapiano, EDM and Hip-Hop sounds like drill, grime and trap. His music projects like AED & AMAPIANO (2023), DRILLER & VANILLA (2022), Dangerous (2021) and AED (2019) helped establish him as an expert on these sounds. We can’t wait for what he’ll bring in 2024. He’s also carved a dynamic spot for himself as an animator, writing scripts and animating videos for his music releases.
Image source: The Guardian Nigeria Kemena
Some may recognise Kemena as a recording artist, songwriter and sound engineer, but he’s also a music producer with credit on all the tracks off his projects, Bond (2020) and Guitars and Malaria (2023). He creates and arranges his music from scratch and has produced for Joeboy (The Best For You), Badboywilz (Agbalagba) and Music Business Africa 2022 finalist, Jola Bello (Rain). His style swings between Afropop, R&B and alternative rock music.
Facebook: @Kemenamusic NYRP
NYRP is an Afrobeats music producer making his name underground after he left the Sarz Academy in 2022. His soft popping beats have earned him production credit on songs like Jimni Abdul’s Royal Rumble, Söulaar’s Balance, Muis’ Saati Ramoni and The Lemon Vinyl’s Majo and Tomorrow.
Instagram: @nyrp_szn DJing
WEAREALLCHEMICALS
When she’s not modelling or working on Dencity, her skateboard collective focuses on empowering women, Blessing Ewona AKA WEAREALLCHEMICALS, DJs. She has Gen-Zs spellbound with her Afrobeats, electronic dance (EDM) and House music mixes. You can catch her performances at every cool youth party in Lagos, such as Activ.Yard, Science Club and MELT. She’s on to something incredible with her unique mix style, and the mainstream will soon get fixed on her chemical doses. It’s only a matter of time.
Instagram: @blessing_ewona DJ Kiss
Anyone who’s paid attention to DJ Kiss since her Unilorin days circa 2018 knows she’s cut from a different fabric. She never misses with her selection of romantic early 2000 pop hits, both local and foreign. She also works with afropop and rap jams of the 2010s, and a slew of current Afropop, Amapiano, House and Hip-hop hits. Kiss has worked stages like the Jameson City Takeover, Afrobeats in the City and even her very own U.K. Summer Tour from August to October 2023. But no matter the size of the venue she plays, her set always brings the crowd alive.
Instagram: @celebritydjkiss DJ 212
DJ 212 is popular in the NYSC orientation camp and corporate events in Lagos for hot playlists of Afrobeats and Amapiano mashups. He’s the guy for anyone who needs twedding turn-ups and themed parties. After his Press Play Party 2.0 featured Asake and YhemoLee in February 2023, he’s set to have a blast with parties next year.
Instagram: @dj2.1.2 -
Bump this:
Once in a blue moon, Afropop artists take breaks from singing about love, sex, money and parties to give us Christmas songs. After scanning through the few we could find, we compiled a solid list of nine for your listening pleasure this festive season.
Keresimesi — Skales feat. Wizkid
Coming off the buzz of Mukulu, Skales released Keresimesi with Wizkid under Empire Mates Entertainment in November 2011. In his I’m-better-than-most-rappers bag, Skales flowed smoothly on Sarz’s production and dropped three verses, while Wizkid’s chorus emphasised on eating Christmas food till he could barely move.
Jingle Bell — Tunde Ednut feat. Ice Prince, JJC, Davido & Lynxxx
In the early 2010s, when most Nigerians juggled between free music sites for access to their favourite songs, Tunde Ednut was an upcoming musician. His most notable song, Jingle Bell, came out in November 2011. “Everywhere I go, it’s jingle, jingle bell, bell,” Ednut repeated throughout the song. On the verse spaces in between, Ice Prince, JJC, Davido and Lynxxx shine with enough Christmas rhymes, puns and punchlines to make anyone merry.
Ovation Red Carol Theme Song
Dele Momodu’s Ovation International made one of its greatest contributions to Afropop with the evergreen Christmas song that brought top artists together in 2011. The 2011 Ovation Red Carol theme song featured Wizkid, Sir Shina Peters, Yemi Alade, Waje, Ice Prince, Chidinma, Eva Alordiah, fuji music star, Malaika, and more, with late OJB Jezreel on production. It’s not every day we get an all-star lineup performing an eight-minute long Christmas jam.
See Mary, See Jesus — DJ Kaywise feat. Olamide
When the Shaku Shaku sound was still the toast of the mainstream, DJ Kaywise grabbed Olamide for a club banger that alluded to Mary the mother of Jesus and Jesus Himself. “See Mary, see Jesus,” as Olamide sang, is a figurative expression he likened to getting unexpected bank alerts. This is a great go-to for when surprise Christmas gifts begin to roll in. It was a jam in 2018; it’s still a jam now.
Jolly Christmas — DOTTi the Deity
On December 15, 2019, DOTTi put out Jolly Christmas, in which he wrote a letter to his babe to convince her to spend the holiday with him. From buying the same fabric to wear on Christmas Day to the general feeling of excitement, DOTTi brought all the nuance of the festive period to life on this song. Highly recommended.
Christmas Sometin — Simi
Christmas Sometin was Simi’s holiday gift to her fans in 2022. It’s a soft, jumpy dance record with moody guitar strings and logdrums wrapped with her infectious tiny voice. This song is the perfect background music for when you unwrap gifts or pour a glass of festive wine this Christmas. You can even hold your lover’s waist and dance to it.
Merry Christmas, Darling — Timi Dakolo feat. Emeli Sandé
In 2019, Timi Dakolo made an 11-track Christmas album. Its opening track, Merry Christmas, Darling, about long-distance lovers connecting to each other emotionally, features Scottish singer Emeli Sandé. Together, they made a beautiful and cozy record suitable for both family listening and romantic activities. If you’re seeing your partner this Christmas after a long time, here you go.
Merry Christmas — Waje
In a mix of English, Pidgin English and Yorùbá, Waje soulfully narrates the birth of Jesus, the celebrant of the day. In a perfect Nigeria, this song produced by TY Mix would’ve been an icon for the bubbling Christmas period. But regardless of the situation and time we find ourselves in, Merry Christmas remains a groove — the needed delulu of a perfect Christmas we all wish to have.
Hope We See This Christmas — 234rnb
234rnb is a community of new generation Nigerian R&B artists. In less than four minutes, members, RnB Princess, Givens and Emk the Genie put butterflies in our bellies with their dream-like lyrics about a love that’s gone but the memories still linger around. If you miss someone, this 2023 drop may make you call them. I hope the person picks up with the same energy.
234rnb’s just released four-track EP titled Christmas < U will get you in a full Christmas mood.
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Many end-of-year music festivals and concerts will likely not happen this year because the promoters can no longer afford to book our afrobeats artists.
But that isn’t reason enough to give up on your December enjoyment. If you really want to be in party mode throughout your holidays, you can still have maximum fun these ways.
DJ and hypemen parties
Since artists are now too expensive to book, it’s the turn of the DJs and hype-men to take centre stage. No lip-syncing or waiting for an artist to come three hours after the show starts.
Indie shows
If an artist you like, whether they’re C or Z-list, has a show, go and enjoy watching them live. There are many independent musicians and upcoming acts throwing shows this December. You get to support them, and they get to make enough money to put back into their music to make more music you lowkey love.
Spend time in clubs
You already know you’ll enjoy loud music, alcohol and dance. You already know your favourite club gives you joy every other weekend. But it’ll be pro-max in December. You’ll get to party with invited celebrities and all the big ballers in your city for longer than the usual party hours because it’s the holidays.
Or go to the beach
Lagos beaches move like clubs, with their own celebrity DJs.
Throw your own parties
Gather your family, friends and loved ones and load up your favourite jams. Make it old-school, and everyone will be high on nostalgia, singing along till fuel finishes inside the generator (if you like, trust NEPA).
Street carnivals
If your street or estate has no plan to organise one, call a general meeting and give them the plan. Everyone will come together, have a good time and get to know that neighbour no one sees. You guys can even make estate merch to strengthen communal relationships.
Do “Home Alone”
If you want to be by yourself, that’s cool too. Eat some home-cooked food, drink up and turn up the music. Somebody say, “Macaulay Caulkin, we wanna party.”
There’ll be music at our meat and grill festival in Lagos this Saturday. Get your ticket and enjoy the biggest meat cookout in Nigeria.
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Creatives often share their life stories and experiences through their art, and musicians are no different.
Here are seven songs that reveal these Nigerian female artists’ experiences and the emotions they’ve left them with.
“Loaded” — Tiwa Savage
Tiwa Savage hopped on “Loaded” with Asake and not only delivered one of the hottest verses of the year but addressed her sex tape. In a country like Nigeria, women are expected to walk humble paths and accept the shame of others. Tiwa Savage’s verse on this song shuts all of that down as she refuses to let the unlawful release of her sex tape take the crown off her head.
“Charlie” — Simi
After years of trying to write a song that explains how she’s felt since the death of her father, Simi finally put out this song. From the soft instruments to the raw emotions you can hear in her vocals, “Charlie” speaks on all the events he’s missed, big and small, and the mix of emotions it’s left in her.
“K’uchi K’uchi” — Jodie
Jodie waxes lyrical about the birth of her child and the love it filled her with. “K’uchi K’uchi” tells a tale of motherhood, the love and indescribable connection that binds mother and child in the midst of laughter and tears.
“Olorun mi” — Tiwa Savage
Tiwa Savage released “Olorun mi” in 2013, a year that saw the death of many notable Nigerian celebrities. The song touches on grief as Tiwa sings about missing the ones we’ve lost, asking God for comfort for the ones left behind.
“Promise” — Simi
In the midst of numerous rumours about her relationship status, Simi dropped “Promise” to announce her marriage to Adekunle Gold. The song, just as its title suggests, is Simi and Adekunle Gold promising to love each other and grow old together.
“Cast” (Gen Z Anthem) — Ayra Starr
These days, people have termed the younger generation of adults (Gen Zs) as impulsive, strong-headed and uncontrollable. Seemingly in response to this, Ayra Starr dropped “Cast”, the first song off her debut album “19 & Dangerous” in 2021. Ayra sings about the importance of living your life for yourself, ignoring what others might think. She shares how she’s shed the shame of others to live at her own pace.
“Duduke” — Simi
This song is famous for being Simi’s pregnancy announcement. In it, Simi shares the love she already had for her very first unborn child and how excited she was to finally meet her.
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We have English-speaking rappers people often mistake for “hardcore rappers”, and Ibile United — an umbrella term for local Yoruba rappers. Although some of them mix some pidgin here and there, they’re not the same as rappers who strictly rap in Pidgin. Also, these pidgin rappers don’t enjoy as much attention as their counterparts expressing through other tongues.
This is a list of seven hard Hip-Hop artists who rap in Pidgin. You should be rinsing and repeating their work.
Erigga
Erigga, a.k.a. Paper Boi, is highly revered for spitting in Nigerian pidgin, telling relatable stories from the streets of Warri. When Erigga flows on soulful Hip-Hop beats and reflects on his life or talks about the ills of the music industry, he’s a different beast. Please start with the intro, Industry, and Death Bed on his Okorowanta album.
DanDizzy
DanDizzy,a Port-Harcourt-born artist, became famous for his impeccable freestyle ability.
Get a music box and play DanDizzy any instrumental, and he’s ready to go on and on. It’s interesting how he switches flows and makes bars out of anything in pure pidgin and PH slang.
His studio releases include Who Goes Der!, Denge Pose feat. BadBoyTimz and Yawa feat. Skales. DanDizzy sings, too, a lover at heart on Garni.
ODC
If soulful, Boombap and Lo-fi raps is your taste, ODC is the guy you turn to. His hard-knocking delivery and classic Hip-Hop samples, but the stories come from the gritty streets of Surulere.
ODC kicks knowledge, lifelines, hard punchlines, and puns that make you go “Ugh”. Yes, that’s how crazy he goes with the bars. He has The Illest series (three volumes) with South-African-based Nigerian producer MHP. They are a perfect pair because their styles are complimentary.
Abstraktt
If you see Abstraktt, you’ll think he’s never stepped foot on Lagos mainland or heard of Ikorodu. But when he drops his pidgin lamba, a big surprise hits you. Trap, drill, and afro-swing are his usual play stations.
[ad][/ad] Bops like 2Fresh, Guyman, and Allow Me to Rap will convince you on the first listen due to their relatability and fun choruses. When you see Abstrakkt outside, hail him as one of the unique rappers out right now instead of confusing him for DJ Consequence — he remarked on No Wahala.
Knowledge (of Ajebo Hustlers)
Knowledge weaves words together in pidgin and Port-Harcourt dialects, handing you vivid imagery of his socio-political thoughts, relationship issues, and his raunchy side. He’s also comical, which makes his raps more digestible. Most of his verses are on songs and projects like Kpos Lifestyle Volume 1 and Bad Boy Etiquette with his fellow Ajebo Hustler, Piego.
hyph!
hyph! has a mystical personality; there’s no face to the brand. hyph! just drops the music. He spills his mind on moody beats that sound comforting, especially after a weary day. hyph! has three tapes to his name — Bicycle Lane, blue+black and [h.i.M] on which he showcases his production skills and tells stories of his unemployment, the 2020 lockdown, cash chasing and lost faith.
His music is currently available on Soundcloud.
Reeplay
Straight out of Abuja, Reeplay has made a name for himself as one of the distinctive spitters in the federal capital’s music scene. Although he’s humourous, Reeplay raps in an aggressive way that amuses and keeps the listener engaged — every bar is either a claim or a brag or just a funny comparison of something. You want to hear what more he has to say. In songs like Comot for Sanko, Na Now, Not Sorry and Who Is Reeplay, he details his time in jail and the tough streets of the Buj.
Yo, ICYMI, our Burning Ram Fest is coming soon.
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Ruger has been talented from the jump. The self-titled afro-dancehall artist didn’t break into the mainstream until his 2021 single, Bounce, took off few months after his debut. But he only had to put out song covers on IG for nine months before he was discovered in 2019. Since then, he’s gone on to make hits, creating a unique spot for himself among peers.
As we prepare for his forthcoming debut album, RU THE WORLD, let’s dive into his musical journey.
When Michael Adebayo Olayinka began his journey to becoming a recording and performing artist, he was sure he’d make hits. But he didn’t know he’d have to be Ruger — a highly fatal firearm used at close range — first. The Nigerian artist FKA Mikky Drey got his current name because of his habit of making gun fingers in the studio. By 2019, afrobeats had another bad boy on its hands, with a name-change, pink-dyed hair and an eyepatch reminiscent of Baba Fryo.
After waiting three years for a university admission, Ruger got serious with his music while learning to repair phones at the popular Computer Village in Lagos. In November 2019, former Mavin artist, D’Prince, saw his content on IG and has since put him under his wings, talent management and music label.
Throughout the 2020 lockdown, Ruger recorded across music studios and hotel rooms and underwent some artist development. And in January 2021, Jonzing World released One Shirt on which Ruger led the first verse and chorus. This afropop song about humble beginnings and disappointments was his official musical introduction, a showcase of the youngster’s head for captivating lyricism and vocals. D’Prince put down gems and Rema delivered a beautiful verse, but Ruger carried the song on his back. He didn’t even need anybody else on the song.
A proper introduction came with a self-titled single, Ruger. Ru Boy, as he’s fondly called by fans, glided over the African percussion fused with 808 drum kicks, likening his arrival in the industry to the deadly coronavirus. The track opened his EP, titled PANDEMIC, a month later. On this EP, Ruger swam in and out of different sounds from the second track to the sixth, including uptempo afropop (Monalisa, Yekpa) and dancehall (Bow and Bounce). He sang exclusively to women, showing off his patois, pun strength, good-boy-gone-bad charisma and hypersexuality.
PANDEMIC came out to mild reception and didn’t cut deep into the mainstream until Bounce took on a life of its own and turned into one of the biggest songs of 2021. It went on to debut no. 39 on TurnTable’s Top 50 Chart and number two on the Apple Music Top Afrobeats Songs, giving Ruger his first global recognition, after which he linked with Jamaican artist, Projexx, on the mid-tempo dancehall Sidepiece remix.
Ruger closed 2021 out with the release of The Second Wave (four-track EP) in November, around the time COVID-19 made a comeback. On Champion, Ruger accepts his newfound stardom, expressing this through an afropop flavour similar to his early One Shirt jam. Useless has a dancehall-galala vibe that’ll get even Daddy Showkey up from his seat, throwing the popular “konto” dance.
He put the TikTok-friendly closing tracks, Snapchat and Dior, with the smash hit Girlfriend, WeWe and Warning — on which he mentioned his influences, like Lucky Dube, 2Baba and the late Sound Sultan — on a deluxe album in June 2022. This move gave Dior its time in the sun as it became a hit. At this point, Ruger had morphed into a full-blown bad boy, accepting his wayward playboy role. Girlfriend had everyone tilting their waists anytime it came on, and with it, he owned the IG, Snapchat and TikTok streets for a while.
Then came the back-and-forths with BNXN which birthed Asiwaju, a track on which he claimed superiority over his peers. However, the public accused him of making a campaign song for the agbado government. The hit song was rich in replay value with dramatic lyricism and all the nuance that make certified Naija jams.
Red Flag was his last drop of 2022 — a problematic song that saw him relishing in toxic masculinity, with lines like “you saw the red flags, baby, but you ignored the red flags / baby, you con dey vex, see, I can’t change / baby, you better rest or end this now” — maintaining the honesty of a villain who’s come to terms with himself. But on his first offering of 2023, Ruger took a U-turn from his Red Flag confessions to become a preacher of sweet love on DJ Neptune’s Bienvenue, without losing his sensual one-liners. You know you’re a hitmaker in the Naija music scene when popular DJs feature you on their songs. That’s how far Ruger has come since 2019.
On May 12, 2023, he began the journey to his debut album by releasing two singles: the amapiano-inspired, booty appreciation song, Bun Bun with Jugglerz; and Jonzing Boy, an allegiance record to the label that pays him. Jonzing Boy later appeared on a two-song pack, Kristy, that came out in July.
It’s clear that fun, hedonism and dancehall-galala aren’t leaving Ruger anywhere anytime soon, not even with his successful tours across Africa, Europe, and currently, the U.S. Since his nationwide six-concert deal with Eko Hotel & Suites and opening performance at Burna Boy’s 02 Arena concert, both in 2021, Ruger has been booked and busy on the road.
And he has managed to turn every performance to a debauchery show, grinding and dry humping willing fans, dressed in his iconic singlet, belt and ripped jeans. Just two days after his U.S tour, he announced his debut album, titled RU THE WORLD, drops on September 1st.
Ruger shared that his most stressful session on the album was with Legendury Beatz, as he was under pressure to deliver a great record like the other heavy hittas — Wizkid, Wale, Bad Bunny and Seyi Shay — who have worked with the production team.
We’ll also get some relationship confessions, like Dear Ex, an unreleased song he described as an apology to three babes he’d led on. In the announcement video he posted on his socials on August 28, he shared a preview of a drill jam we first heard on his Boston show.
We believe Ru To World will be multi-genre as he continues his penmanship flex as a wild, sweet-tongued singer exploring his youth. While he builds a solid CV as a stage performer, Ruger would finally have a full-length project to present on tour. The 23-year-old looks to be slowly bringing dancehall music back to the mainstream, following in the footsteps of Yung L, Patoranking, Timaya and General Pype.
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After dropping Hello Lady and My Ability earlier in the year, Abuja-born singer-songwriter, Lady Donli, has taken to her socials to announce a studio album release date. As always, we’ve broken down the gist of it.
Her first album in four years
Lady Donli made the very first announcement on June 14, 2023, after a four-year break since releasing her debut album, Enjoy Your Life (2019).
Pan-African Rockstar
The album title, Pan-African Rockstar, seems worlds apart from Enjoy Your Life, but they’re actually quite similar. She’s been pushing the narrative since 2019 when she dropped EYL.
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It’s her seventh project
In 2014, she debuted with a 12-track EP Love or War on SoundCloud. We witnessed her bedroom pop, neo-soul and R&B era as she strummed her guitar with a mixture of singing, rap and spoken word. She continued with What Is Perfect? EP (2015) and Wallflower EP (2016).
Letters to Her EP (2018) was her departure from the sound, and in 2019, Enjoy Your Life ushered us into an experimental and African side of Donli. EYL was such an era, from the retro aesthetics to her outfits to the album marketing. And two years after the iconic EYL, she put out a six-track response to those asking Where Is Lady Donli? (WILD), on which she took us back to her smooth vulnerable music days mixed with more afropop and dancehall than before.
She’s back now with her Pan-African Rockstar and we look forward to what the era will bring.
September release date
Just like her first album came out in the second-half of 2019, Pan-African Rockstar will be out on September 22, 2023.
A new fan club
Donli put out a link for those willing to become members of her Pan-African Rockstar club. Reminds us of the Enjoy Your Life era when we all became ministers of enjoyment.
The rollout is rolling
She started with short teasers before putting out a video with her Pan-African Rockstar album release date announcement. Using comments about her fall-off since her debut work, the promo has been gripping enough to guilt-trip even an uninterested listener to look out for her new project.
Merch!
You’ll have to join the fanclub for access to tote bags, cassettes, CDs and one of 100 limited vinyls with special edition tracks.
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Burna Boy’s seventh album, I Told Them, is the shiny new object everyone is all over since its release on August 25, 2023. We sat down, pressed play, and this is what we thought on first listen.
I Told Them starts with its titular track. After 24 seconds of instrumental and chants that give Caribbean bonfire vibes, Burna Boy, in his natural cocky state, begins to reiterate that he announced his own greatness even when people didn’t believe in him.
Towards the end of the 3:09 track, a kung-fu movie skit comes in, to indicate GZA’s presence on the song — his group, the Wu-Tang, is heavily associated with Chinese martial art culture. In a deep 16-bar delivery, GZA spits “I’m in a place where perception is developed / If you can’t walk in these shoes, then your feet would swell up / A medium by which thoughts are made clear / Beneath the surface, but only hurting the inner ear” to summarise why Odogwu grunts at the “little thanks” he gets from his fans.
Normal opens with a hyped Burna tearing through the beat, talking about counting money, being rich even before he signed to music labels, keeping few friends and how the perks of being a star are now normal to him. On Form plays next, and it’s groovy AF. Odogwu is obviously having fun, but his lyrics aren’t lighthearted; his current phase is just a start and anyone who dares to fuck with him should expect a dangerous reaction.
On track four, Burna hangs with 21 Savage who opens his verse with “I can help you shit on anyone you ever hated.” Who asked him? I guess it’s easy to do when you’re Sittin’ On Top Of The World.
Tested, Approved & Trusted is Burna giving a review of his game to a babe in three words. On the Dave-assisted Cheat On Me, Burna realises how he’s been cheating himself out of opportunities by putting others before himself. The seventh track is an interlude called Virgil — in honour of the late Virgil Abloh who Burna name-dropped on his 2021 single, Want It All. The song features a voice note from the iconic designer, analysing the art of traditional album promotion.
Big 7 comes after, banging with heavy hip-hop influence in sound and delivery. Burna Boy is intoxicated, living every day like a holiday and celebrating himself. Dey Play is a sarcastic statement to whoever isn’t on the same wavelength as him and his wealthy guys. Next is City Boys, an anthem he previewed on August 19, 2023, for young, rich boys living wildly in the city.
If this Burna album gets a Grammy nod, Seyi Vibez will join the list of new cats Odogwu has taken to the prestigious global awards, after Zlatan (African Giant) and Victony (Love, Damini). On Giza, he and the self-acclaimed Vibe Boy sing about smoking sativa and other hedonist pursuits.
Next, RZA, another founding member of the Wu-tang Clan, gives Burna the 12 Jewels — a list of important acquisitions every man should strive for — knowledge, wisdom, understanding, freedom, justice, equality, shelter, food, clothing, love, peace and happiness.
The album gets closer to its end on If I’m Lying, which goes acoustic as Burna Boy gives gratitude to his creator. He offers his shoulders to those crying and begs birds to stop flying, seas to stop flowing and trees to start dying if he’s not sincere about the things he says. Well… these things are scientifically impossible.
On the 14th track, Thanks featuring J. Cole, Burna Boy brings up his club incident of 2022 and the never-ending rumour about his mum dancing for Fela Kuti. He’s allowed to address these issues, but he insults us when he goes on reduce the huge love and pride the motherland shows him to rumours about him. We first heard Taliban II in July when Jamaican artist, Bryon Messia, brought Burna on it. Now, it’s the bonus and final track on I Told Them, as the well-rounded album completes its spin.
Burna Boy’s early hip-hop, reggae and dancehall influences are present in the sound and vocal delivery on this latest body of work. However, it becomes clearer that the afro-fusion narrative is more a means of standing out under the saturated umbrella of “afrobeats”, as Burna expands and penetrates different cultures. His “afro-fusion” comes from smoothly fusing elements of foreign genres with African classics, the same components that make up afrobeats.
But, I Told Them is still a tale of fun, celebration, brilliance and I-told-you-I’m-the-fucking-best-ism at its best. -
Since the current government came into power on May 29, 2023, it’s been from one shege to another for Nigerians. If it’s not skyrocketing fuel prices, it’s skyrocketing exchange rates, electricity tariff, food, rent and everything else.
An era as notorious as this deserves its own theme songs, so we did the honours with the Nigerian drops of 2023 that best fit the vibe.
Yakubu
If you’re still angry your candidate didn’t win the elections, find comfort in yabbing Mr. Yakubu. Maybe if the man did the right thing, we wouldn’t be in these agbado times at all.
Ask About Me
Foreign currencies are currently telling naira to “Ask about me. Won tin le mi, but won mumi,” which means “They’re chasing me, but they can’t catch up.”
Ogaranya
While some people are suffering, others are making easy money. Like Adekunle Gold and that politician’s daughter on Naira Life.
Sitting on Top of the World
In this era especially, receiving credit alerts does something to your spirit. Anytime it happens, the world becomes your big stool — for the five minutes before it disappears once you step outside your house.
Who Is Your Guy (Remix)
If you have one or two friends who are always there for you, this is the time to hold them close without making their lives difficult. I can’t remember who, but a wise man once said, “A friend with too many needs can kill.”
NDI IKE
Only strong people can survive such hardship. “Ndi Ike” means “The strong.” Now, you know why Falz made this song during this period.
Sability
Only sabi girls can effectively dodge billings and remain “unbelievably liquid” in this economy.
Unavailable
Unnecessary outings or billings? You’re not at home. People who ask, “Have you eaten?” instead of just sending money, nko? Dem no dey see you. Davido knows ball.
Stamina
This is ginger for when you’re about to give up. If you sing this song three times early in the morning, you’ll finish your week’s KPI in a day.
No Worries
For the broke days of empty wallets. Just like Olamide sang, you know it’s only God that gives wealth, so you can count on Him as your CBN.
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Olamide just released his 10th studio album, “Unruly”. While we admit the album lives up to its name, this isn’t the first time Olamide’s made us feel unruly with his songs, and we have proof.
Poverty Die
The entire song was Olamide binding and casting poverty. Is it really a shock that it had the entire country binding and casting with him?
Jinja
Something about the beat and Olamide’s extra smooth vocals gingers everyone to get up and break their waist to this song.
First of All
This song had every Nigerian wrapped around its finger in 2012 and beyond. At some point, all you had to do was shout “First of all” in public, and everyone would belt out the rest of the song.
Wo!!
From the beat to Olamide’s “Oya, wo” at the beginning of the song to “aunty shakira dance shakiti”, Olamide had us all willing and ready to lose what little home training we had the moment this song played.
Kpe Paso
Every song Olamide so much as breathes on reminds us that he wants us to just have the best time. But this one? Olamide strutted all over the song, threw up gang signs and left us wondering WTF just happened.
Science Student
A song that had the streets in a chokehold and the government pressed? Olamide dropped Science Student and had everyone’s parents dropping think pieces about everything from the lyrics to the video.
Who You Epp?
It was compulsory to catch an attitude while singing this song. Who You Epp? dropped and became the unofficial response to anyone trying to do more than they should.
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After putting out a slew of singles and features, Nigerian reggae-dancehall artist, Patoranking, is set to release a new studio album. On August 15, 2023, he announced the forthcoming album via a video he posted on his IG page. This is everything we know about it.
The album is titled “World Best”
Patoranking is coming for global acclaim. With such an album name, it’s safe to assume he’ll use this project to prove he’s a world class act. Balloon D’afrobeats >>>
He hinted it in 2021
On June 1, 2021, Patoranking first declared himself “EL World Best”. Is this to say he’s been working on the album for over two years?
Release date
According to the artist himself, World Best will be released on September 6, 2023.
His fourth album
The last time we got a full-length project from Patoranking was during the pandemic lockdown in 2020. Fast-forward to 2023, Pato is ready for his world domination.
The Higher single
The same day he announced the new album, Patoranking put out Higher, his third 2023 single, on which he gives gratitude to God. This gospel-esque record could be a taste of what to expect on World Best.
No Dancehall?
From Abobi to Tonight (featuring Popcaan) to his latest single, Higher, we’re yet to get the signature reggae-dancehall Patoranking. This could mean that World Best will be his first afrobeats body of work.
It’s about to be a movie
We can expect cinematic visuals after seeing the Nollywood-esque announcement video, in which Osas Ighodaro updates her driver about Pato’s new album. Not every time big bumbum and bottles; give us Nollywood music videos too.
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Olamide announced on Threads that his latest album Unruly is only for baddies and men who love baddies, not for those looking for moral lessons. It’s out now, so we decided to rank all his albums according to their attention to baddies.
Rapsodi
Wrapped in hustle mode, his debut album had few women-centered tracks. Although Dirty Rock and Omo To Shan used to get the baddies throwing it down, Rapsodi still gets last position on this particular ranking. It’s not hard to see that Olamide also had long talking stages that make you feel like a journalist doing an interview.
Baddest Guy Ever Liveth
Still deeply in love with the streets, Baddo painted tales of hustle and triumph. The popular hit, Durosoke, is the closest to “baddie”s music on the album. He had babes from top Nigerian universities on roll call, further solidifying especially “Babcock girls” (means the hottest babes) in the Nigerian pop culture.
Eyan Mayweather
This album is loaded with viral hits like Say Something, Lagos Boys, Melo Melo and Bobo. We broke our backs to Don’t Stop, but it failed to deliver for the bad bitches.
The album was fully for the streets, and there’s no single woman in the crowd on the album art.
The Glory
His sixth album spread a messages of motivation with dashes of braggado, except Pepper Dem, which became the hottest slang for “slaying” at the time .
Lagos Nawa!
Also known as “Wobey Sound”, this album attempted to give the girls a dancehall tune with Bend It Over (featuring Timaya and Reminsice), but it just didn’t hit. Fine Fine Girls with Tiwa Savage tried to come for the waist beads too, but it wasn’t giving. The titular track, Lagos Nawa!, was the only track that made the baddies active for a while.
YBNL (Yahoo Boy No Laptop)
Baddo was still neck deep in the hustle, fully representing the streets on this album. But he still managed to deliver solid jams like Ewo Idi, Stupid Love and grabbed Dammy Krane for the fuji and EDM-infused Fuji House that made the girlies take off their heels.
Street OT
Olamide’s fourth studio album announced its business early. While it’s not his most enjoyable body of work, the highlight is his rawness on tracks like Up in the Club, Skelemba, Falila Ketan and Story for the Gods. “Monkey Tail” was in full effect that year.
Carpe Diem
Even on the album art, Baddo is pictured amongst four beautiful women all glammed up. The tracks covered themes of triumph, good life and spending money, but Green Light, Eru and Shilalo are about the fine women in his life.
UY Scuti
UY Scuti came out in 2021 and followed the direction of Carpe Diem, leaning heavily towards sensual lyricism. From start to finish, UY Scuti gave sugar daddy vibes, telling babes to run away from broke niggas on Rock. On Pon Pon, he went rogue and said he wants to do his babe like Big Sean does Jhené Aiko.
UNRULY
He opened his latest album with Celebrate, reminiscing on his journey from Shaku Shaku to the top as a successful music executive and label owner. UNRULY is a fusion of afrobeats and log drums backing up his playful, raunchy lyrics and street yarns. With guest features from the new ladies’ men of afrobeats: CKay, Rema, Asake, Fireboy DML, etc., UNRULY makes Olamide’s most playable album in the strip club. The music is mature, lush, flirty and easy on the ears — all the elements that get the baddies’ attention.
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Burna Boy, a.k.a Odogwu, concluded the final lap of his year-long Love Damini tour at the GelreDome Arnhem stadium in Netherlands on July 23, 2023.
After breaking and setting records as the first African artist to sell out four stadia shows in less than a year, he took to social media to announce the end of the tour and a brand new single in the same tweet.
But the biggest excitement was the news of his forthcoming album.
According to Chuka Obi, who worked as a creative director on Burna Boy’s Twice As Tall album, all ‘Outsiders’ should get their plates, Damini is coming again with a fantastic feast. Here’s what we know about the coming album.
It’s out in August
Burna Boy’s new album arrives in August, although the exact date hasn’t been revealed yet. Would it be odd to note that Burna has put out his last three albums (African Giant, Twice As Tall and Love, Damini) between July and August of 2019, 2022 and 2022?
He’s not resting after tour
I’m beginning to think that Burna Boy doesn’t need rest, it’s rest that needs him. He just finished his tour a few days ago, and he’s already gearing to drop a new music project. You know what that means? Another international tour is just around the corner.
His 7th album
When this album joins his discography in August, it’ll become his seventh studio album. His eleventh music project if we include mixtapes like the 2011 Burn Notice (2011), the 2012 Burn Identity (and 2016’s Redemption and Steel And Copper with DJDS in 2019. Workrate >>>>
There is no title or tracklist yet
Trying to predict what the album title could be futile because Burna is unconventional. Burna Boy’s albums usually have between fifteen to twenty tracks. If he can’t perform it for almost an hour at his show, it’s not Burna album material.
Exciting features
There’s news of heavy international features from J. Cole and legendary Wu-tang members GZA and RZA. With these names on deck, Burna Boy might be rapping this time. You can hear J. Cole’s voice rapping on what seems to be their collabo in the background.
American producer Swizz Beat also previewed a song with Burna; it sounds like a summer bop. Time is going, they should drop the new album quickly, we can’t wait to hear it.
Only one Naija feature
Since 2019, Burna Boy has featured only one Nigerian artist per album — Zlatan Ibile (African Giant) and Victony (Love, Damini). It’s been pointed out that he’s doing the same thing this time, too. We just have to wait and find out which Nigerian act it is.
The singles
Before Sittin’ On Top Of The World was released on June 1st, 2023, he played the song for RZA in a video he posted on social media (the linkup makes sense now after hearing the Wu-tang member is on the album). On June 22, Sittin’ On Top Of The World was re-released with a guest feature from American rapper, 21 Savage; we hope it makes the album. If not, maybe the Big 7 single coming out Friday, 28th of July, will.
Looks more like Hip-Hop than Afrobeats
We might be getting a Hip-Hop album from Burna Boy. All the signs are there; from the sounds of his latest single to the features from American rap titans. Also, he’s one of the few Nigerian artists that can’t be boxed in. Give Burna any style or genre of music; murder is the case. It’s not hard to tell African Giant is about to feed us ferocious rhymes and bars.
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Afrobeats isn’t just on Obama’s annual playlists or making the British break dance to it, it’s also given birth to sub genres that are easily recognisable by their lyrics and delivery and vibes.
Many listeners relate to artists by their songs and what they talk about the most. These sounds are labelled by the audience based on the stories they hear in the songs.
Afroadura
This style is a combination of touching and relatable stories, motivational one-liners and prayer points. Afroadura boys are always relatable. Best listened to in the morning, preferably Barry Jhay’s music.
Afroyahoo
Afroyahoo a.k.a yahoopiano is a genre of music that glorifies cybercrime and gets inspiration from it. Shallipopi is currently the face of this movement, but Naira Marley deserves some accolades for popularising a message Olu Maintain first spread some sixteen years ago, with his smash hit Yahooze.
Afrocultism
Being a real-life cultist is not a requirement to make afrocultism. Just talk about beating your enemies and pushing them to the curb. Also, have a dictionary of strong slang people won’t easily understand. You may jam real cultists though. Better run to live to fight another day if this happens.
Afrodepression
If you’re seeing ‘shege’, and you say afrodepression thrice, Omah Lay will appear to hold your hands and cry with you. This music style is best described as crying on the dance floor, with a half-filled cup of Gordon’s in one hand.
Afrotrenches
Do you remember those times you had one red shoe and couldn’t afford one Red Bull? Or whenever sapa won’t let you see front, afrotrenches music is what’s best to hold your body. T.I Blaze for the morning, Seyi Vibez in the afternoon and Balloranking at night.
“Mama tell me say” boys >>>>>
Afrorave
Popularised by Rema, Afrorave is high-energy, fast-tempo music. Moshpits are never not found at rave parties. Rema is who Playboi Carti thinks he is.
Afrowahala
You’ll find the one and only Portable Baby at the core of this sound. If you don’t have the penchant for chaos, leave it for this man.
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Among the current leading voices in the Nigerian music scene is the charismatic Somadina, a young female musician slowly penetrating the mainstream with radical, afro-psychedelic, emotion-lifting rock music.
I first came across Somadina’s music in 2021. Her now deleted-off-internet debut EP titled Five Stages is a beautiful and melancholic musical interpretation of the stages of grief. It quickly became my life’s soundtrack for a few months, during a dark phase. Sometime in 2022, she shared that she doesn’t identify with the project anymore, hence its takedown, but she’s found a new channel to fully express herself.
Off the strength of the cult-following she’s been building since her first official releases, IHY (I Hate You) (2018) and Lay Low (2019), she presented her album, Heart of The Heavenly Undeniable (HOTHU) in 2022. Ever since, she’s been going to music shows and on tours, from Lagos to Paris, Berlin to Accra, music taking her everywhere.
Somadina was born in Garden City, Port Harcourt in 2002. She spent a year in Nigeria before going to the Netherlands to school and to stay with her dad. After going to London to secure a Sociology degree, she finally came back to Nigeria to pursue music in 2018. Her access to music as a kid was limited. She listened to Asa, Beyoncé, Rihanna and John Legend, only the music her dad listened to. But on coming back to Nigeria, she connected with the Alté community, collaborating with artists such as SGwaD, Lady Donli, Adey, etc.
She’s breaking barriers and trailblazing her own path with her afropop fusion of R&B, punk and alternative rock music, and taking it beyond the barriers of Africa. In less than two weeks from now, (August 3 – 6, 2023), she’ll be performing at the 2023 Lollapalooza, Chicago, along with other Nigerian musicians like Tems and Rema, as well asinternational acts like Kendrick Lamar, Billie Eilish, Lana Del Rey, etc. On February 5, 2023, a month before her collaboration with NATIVE Sound System, Somadina played her first show in Los Angeles, courtesy of RnB Brunch. Between May 10-13, she took her Nollywood-punk sound to The Great Escape Festival 2023 in Brighton. On May 18, she was live at Live Nation UK; an event that brings artists and fans together to celebrate live music. On the 25th of May, the Kitty Amor remixes of her I Saw An Angel On The Roof & Wept song came out — the same day she was on the Royal Albert Hall stage in London, opening for her childhood hero, Asa.
On July 12, the Gen-Z musician received the mainstream nod when The Headies, Nigeria’s most popular music award show, nominated her album, Heart Of The Heavenly Undeniable as one of the best Alternative albums of 2022. It’s an impressive feat, as it sits among strong contenders like Basketmouth’s Horoscope and Obongjayar’s Sometimes I Dream Of Doors.
READ: “Mami Wata” Is Taking Nollywood Around the Globe
Unboxed by mainstream pressure and the dictates of the commercial market, Somadina forges ahead one release at a time, with her beaming falsetto. Somadina grew from a nomadic teenager who toured the UK with Odunsi the Engine and opened for Davido in Port Harcourt in 2019, to a songbird taking Nigerian pop culture to one of the world’s biggest festival stages in 2023. Go Somadina!
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These last three weeks on social media, we’ve seen an interesting back-and-forth between Nigerian street-pop musicians, Seyi Vibez and Portable, with Zinoleesky somewhere in the mix.
In these episodes, they get into a dick-measuring contest about who has the better music, biggest cars, most money and street credibility. You know, the usual beef topics; but do you know how it all started?
What started the fight?
2023 started hard, and it wasn’t hard to tell people were too frustrated for drama. But not for Portable, who anytime he turns his camera to himself, chooses “chaos”. On January 30, 2023, he posted some video on his IG page where he subtly called Seyi Vibez a beta version of Asake.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CoElbOjtGCG/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Using Seyi’s Chance music video as a point of comparison, Portable pointed out that it was an obvious play on Asake’s style. He didn’t stop there. He went ahead and accused the video director, TG Omori (director of most Asake MVs) of working with a copycat, then warned artists to leave music alone if they can’t be authentic.
In the aftermath, fans began to air their views about Seyi Vibez, supporting Portable, and even started a “who is better (Seyi vs Asake)?” poll.
Fans were still expecting a response from Seyi when Portable went to fix fake grills just to clown him.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CrQR32aNoUW/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Wahala x2.
Drama inside drama
While Seyi Vibez was giving Portablebaby the silent treatment, he was getting into a battle of words with Zinoleesky. How did that start? In December 2022, Zino posted his new house and two cars on IG. In May 2023, Seyi posted his own new crib and two rides too, sparking a debate among their fans, about who’s the better and richer musician. Before we knew it, the two artists were throwing subs.
Zino went off first:
Seyi Vibez called Zino a chained Django. This is Seyi’s way of saying he’s independent and has all his creative control unlike Zino who’s under a contract has to get his boss’ approval first before releasing a song.
And even reminded Zino that he doesn’t have chart-topping projects like his debut album, Billion Dollar Baby, its deluxe version and EP, Memory Card.
Then it turned into a snippet war.
Portable:
Instagram Zino said he’ll never have a number one record — then Seyi Vibez got his number one record with his single, Hat-trick, surpassing Young John’s Aquafina, Asake and Olamide’s Amapiano, and particularly, Zinoleesky’s A1.
Zinoleesky said, hold my loud and let me show you what this slavery money can get. He got a Ferrari.
Seyi Vibez after seeing the Ferrari:
Portable gleefully subbing the new car owners.
These guys have a kink for unrest
Seyi Vibez, quiet but…
Then, he dropped his first album of 2023: Vibez Till Thy Kingdom Come.
Two weeks after, Seyi Vibez released his second album of the year, Thy Kingdom Come.
On Flakky, the eighth track off the second album, he opened by talking about an artist’s car being pushed on the street just three days after purchase:
“G-Wagon, Brabus B
Ojo keta ni won pada ti Brabus B”
You know who has a Brabus B (even though he calls it a G-Wagon)?
“Your whole career is a debt,” Portable fired back.
Then went ahead to preview a Seyi Vibez diss track while promoting Brabus B.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CuUhDvOtbyb/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Seyi Vibez:
After letting things cool for a few days:
On June 8, 2023, a few hours before his homecoming show in Ikorodu, Seyi went to his former hood to share money.
Portable clowned him again.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CufD2-5LR32/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
At his homecoming show at Ikorodu on Sunday, Seyi Vibez sent jabs at Portable and Zinoleesky.
Portable threatened to polish Seyi’s teeth with three or four punches.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cug8JpNxarG/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Seyi Vibez, AKA Para Boy, fired back:
When will an end come to this cinematic drama?
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This 2023, Olamide made his grand return to the music scene as a recording artist with singles Kpe Paso, Trumpet and New Religion. And two years after dropping his last album, UY Scuti, he announced via Album Talks HQ’s tweet that he’s releasing a new one on August 10, 2023.
He’s spent the last few years supervising the success of his label signees, but it’s about time he fed his own fans. So here’s everything you should know ahead of the release.
It’s titled UNRULY
From Rapsodi to Baddest Guy Ever Liveth to Eyan Mayweather to UY Scuti, Olamide has the most unconventional album titles. But the common themes have always been street orientation, the hustle spirit and his confidence in his own supremacy. With UNRULY, are we getting a wilder version of Baddo? We hope so.
New album release date
Originally, he announced UNRULY would drop on July 12, 2023, but due to reasons unknown, he’s moved the release date. We’ll just have to trust Olamide’s process and timing.
The tracklist
Olamide hasn’t released a tracklist yet. So ignore the fake ones, like this one that’s been flying around Twitter as if it’s the gospel.
Two snippets dropped today
Two snippets connected to UNRULY are being circulated on the internet by The Upper Ent account. First snippet is a laid-back rap song.
The other one, NATI, is pure Amapiano, produced by Asake’s go-to producer, Magicsticks. Olamide previewed it in August, 2022, but he’s been hoarding it. We hope it makes it to the UNRULY, the demand is high.
The album cover is out
In what appears like a framed picture, Olamide is in a suit, a cigar and looking like an Italian mob boss. The Unruly album art gives absolute unfuckwithable vibes.
UNRULY is for baddies only
In his Threads post — on the day the new social media app launched — Olamide warns critics that his album is only for bad bitches and those who love them. He called it strictly “bo pata” (“remove your pants”) music. Looks like he’s about to give double of what he served on Story For The Gods. Baddies stay winning.
It’s his 10th studio album
UNRULY will become Olamide’s tenth solo album when it drops in August. 13th, if we include his EP and collaborative projects. Olamide’s work-rate is insane. With every music release, he’s demonstrated dedication and consistency. But please, Baddo, let August 10 be August 10.
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Back in the day, TV adverts were usually so good that parents would buy the advertised product just to know what the fuss was about. As kids, we knew the melody, drama and almost every line delivered in these ads.
But they didn’t just promote products. To boost your nostalgia, we compiled 14 of the most unforgettable Nigerian ads from the early 2000s and the moral lessons behind them.
Mama Do Good — Indomie
In October 2010, Indomie launched the Mama Do Good campaign with a jingle so good that if they remade it in 2023, millennials would still eat it up. In a campaign to display the mother-child bond, Little Miss Do Good asks why they’re the Do Goods. In response, Mama Do Good extends love to all the children in the market. They all hail her as she shares plates of the instant noodles she prepared. It was such a fantastic feast that they surprised her with a sing-and-repeat song: “Mama too good o (she too good). She cook us Indomie (Indomie). Indomie good well well (Indomie).” But what can Mama Do Good do in these agbado times than jejely sit in her house and face her front?
Bam Bam La La — Honeywell
This advert begins with a guy swaggering in the middle of the road with headphones on, no road safety or fear of speeding vehicles. He must be a cool egbon adugbo because all the kids begin to follow him down the street singing: “Bam bam la la.”
We still don’t know what “bam bam la la” means, and this guy’s shakara and chaotic dressing was a little too much, but the ad was still better than the product, which soon left the market. But you know what hardly fades? The love children have for nice and friendly adults.
I Wish — Skye Bank
Before I knew this jingle was from a Skye Bank commercial, it was my dad’s old Motorola ringtone. A touching, motivational song about investing and making better financial decisions, it was melodious and easy on the ears.
Even though Skye Bank said they were there to say yes to our dreams, the song now feels like their cry for help. By 2018, CBN had revoked their banking license and delisted them. But at least, their jingle still lives on in our minds.
Sky — Guinness
This jingle is recognisable from its first words, “My friend Udeme is a great man.” The inspiring African epic — the story of Udeme, a delivery service worker with dreams of flying planes — captured the country’s attention. The narrator, Udeme’s friend, didn’t care to show or explain to us how, but Udeme got his jet sha. And that’s what matters. Udeme flew across Africa, delivering goods and mail. He even had a stopover to eat and chat, “And at the end of the day, friendly lights guide him home” to have some chilled bottles of Guinness with his friends. With that great line and others like: “And so we gather at the bar… Let the beer see the sky, he says…” and “My friend is a great man, but then, there’s a drop of greatness in every man”, this ad remains an aspirational classic.
COWEBELLOCRAZY (OYOYO) — Cowbell
Adapting the concept of a street talent show, a Cowbell truck pulls up to a recreational pitch, calls everyone around and sets up the makeshift stage to display talents. The most captivating are the guys who turn the occasion to a promotional performance for the brand. Singing in English and pidgin, the ad visually represents all the Nigerian regions, preaching unity. But what the hell is “COWEBELLOCRAZY”? And “milk of the people”, what kind of Abraham Lincoln wannabe slogan is that? They should’ve just stuck with “Oyoyo”.
Don’t Do It — Royco
If you were there when Royco was the baddie of seasoning cubes, you’re not a new cat like them Chicken Flavour kids. This advert opens with a man who ignores his wife welcoming him back from work for reasons unknown to us and her. Oya, take juice, he said no. Ah, okay. She senses he wants to cry because of food, so she enters the kitchen to cook efo-riro and many other meals. While his inflated ego was pushing him to take his car key and go outside, an aroma from the kitchen stops him and takes him to a seat at the dining table. He shamelessly smiles at the sight of food — the feast his wife laboured to make just to please his lordship. Anyways, we learnt that food is indeed the only way to a man’s heart.
READ: Hits We’re Still Partying to a Decade Later
Kanu (Papilo) — Peak Milk
When life was easier and the dream of becoming a footballer was all the average Nigerian child had, this Nwankwo Kanu advert was a huge motivation. A young Kanu is so in tune with his football that one day, he applies his skill to save a Peak milk tin from hitting the ground, to the wonderment of the milk seller. Then she delivers the classic line: “Papilo, I know say one day, you go make us proud.” Decades later, he did make his community proud. Papilo returns home a football champion, and reminds his mum who he is with the same milk-saving stunt he showed the milk seller. The message: Don’t give up on your dreams.
Kanu and Son — Peak Milk
In this TV commercial, Kanu returns with his son, who beams with pride as he goes through an album of Kanu’s iconic football moments. In his response to the boy’s commentary, Kanu shares the heart disease story that almost killed him and his football dream. Even though medical care and rest was what he needed, he said he was “de-tah-meened” and kept working harder. You can overcome life’s biggest challenges with determination, and apparently that’s what worked for Kanu. For you, it’s not advisable to play with your health like it’s football. Keep your health intact while chasing your dreams. Remember all Nigerian doctors have almost japa. A word is enough for the wise.
Boom Sha Sha — Mimee Noodles
A cultural reset for Nigerian ads, Boom Sha Sha came on the scene and became a viral tune every kid loved to sing and dance along to. The advert follows a family at their daughter’s matriculation event. Friends and family are gathered, everyone is proud. The party is going well until they receive an unwanted guest. But hunger doesn’t make them weak like it should. Instead everyone (daddy o, mummy o, grandma too) started singing and dancing a choreography about a rumble in their tummies. But what’s more surprising is who the hell eats noodles at a party in this Nigeria?
Baba Blue Justice — Vicks Blue
This funny advert took place in a local magistrate court of law. While the defendant’s lawyer was addressing his Lord, sore throat began to worry him, prompting a Blue Vicks cough mint seller — who just happens to be in court that day — to give the lawyer one Baba Blue (can you believe it sold two for ₦5?). Immediately, he licked it, he regained his voice and spoke for his client. The seller then reminds us that proper preparation prevents poor performance. And thanks to the Baba Blue mint sweet, the magistrate “discharged and acquitted” the defendant.
Sunrise (Ooh Jerry) — MTN
Before Jerry turned to idan and Ada became a baddie, they were soft at heart, talking sweetly, dreaming of a perfect future as a couple and dropping mad pickup lines for four hours (12 a.m. – 4 a.m.) over the phone for free — courtesy of MTN Xtra Cool (free night call) plan. Although Jerry capped when he said he wanted to give her a gift as priceless as she is. How can he give her what’s not his? Jerry can lie o. Anyways, she went to her balcony as Jerry asked and what did she see? Nothing but the sunrise that’s available to everyone else in the world. This ad is dedicated to making one’s partner feel special and the importance of communication in relationships.
I Don Port — MTN
It was such a moment when MTN unexpectedly hit us with the I Don Port advert that featured Nollywood actor and comedian, Saka. It was the perfect timing for Saka to be the face of MTN Port, as he was an Etisalat ambassador before MTN pouched him. Saka ceremoniously performs the popular jingle written by Nigerian creative director, Chuka Obi. The subtle message is: Don’t stay stagnant. Go where the grass is greener if it’s beneficial.
To Me, To You — Indomie
How can you make little kids wait so long for food at a birthday party? What manner of unpreparedness is that? The kids eventually got tired of waiting, and without minding that their food was ready, they ran across their street to sing with a street musician. Their voices began to project across the blocks, calling other people’s attention, who joined in with music speakers. Before long, the street singing had become a bigger party. People gathered to appreciate and donate to the musician, while the birthday girl’s mum serves everyone Indomie noodles. And guess what. She’s Mama Do Good from the last Indomie ad.
Energy 2000 — Yemkem International
Obesere recorded and performed this jingle for Yemkem International’s herbal product, so of course, it was iconic. Circa 2002 to 2005, almost all the Yoruba Nollywood films had the advert. I used to buss moves and sing along whenever I heard “Kilo mumi ta ponpon? Energy 2000” (translates in English to “What’s making me strong and bouncy? Energy 2000). The advert was so popular that some churches in South-West Nigeria substituted the “Energy 2000” with “Oruko Jesu ni (it’s the name of Jesus).” It’s 2023, and if I hear this anywhere, I’d still dance to it.
ALSO READ: Which of these Old Nollywood Soundtracks Do You Remember?
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Nigerian Islamic music, AKA Asalatu, is quite popular in South-West Nigeria, often performed in Yoruba sprinkled with Arabic quotes from the Quran. The genre features autotune-filled danceable tunes with lyrics on everyday themes like spirituality, current affairs, family, self-discovery and marriage.
If you live in Nigeria, you’ve probably heard Asalatu music around you and have jammed to it. So maybe it’s time to finally create your own Jumat playlist.
Saoti Arewa
With over 15 albums released, Saoti has built a huge fan base at home and in the diaspora. Like your typical African dad, he drops proverbial gems to guide you from missteps, yet manages not to be judgmental. Since he came into the scene in 2012, he hasn’t gone a year without feeding his audience. His latest album, Igbeyawo, is loaded with wedding tunes for new couples.
Aminat “Obirere” Ajao
Aminat Ajao walked into fame after releasing her fifth recording album, Obirere (2013). The album title has since stuck to everyone’s lips and is now her nickname. With themes revolving around marital relationships and parenthood, she’s built a sustainable following. And in 2022, her discography of 19 albums became available for streaming on all digital streaming platforms.
Bashirat Iya-N-Ghana
Born Bashirat Seyidat Ogunremi, “Iya-N-Ghana” refers to her place of birth — Ghana. She started her career making fuji music as a kid over two decades ago, before veering into what she calls “Zikiri”, an Arabic term meaning “spiritual”, singing soulfully in Arabic and Yoruba.
Tekunbi
“Tekunbi” is Yoruba for “born of a leopard”. Often mistaken for a secular artist because of his dyed hair and earrings, Tekunbi approaches his music with a fusion of soul, alternative and afro-pop sounds. In 2020, he released his debut EP, Amal (Hope), after three years on the scene. The moment I heard the single, Badr, I had to listen to the entire seven-song tracklist. It was worth it.
Awiye Agba
Artist, Awiye Agba, is one of the most exciting asalatu voices you’ll hear in 2023. With a penchant for Nollywood-esque music videos and collaborations with his colleagues, he’s expanded his fanbase and garnered a large following on social media over the last three years. He’s just put out an album, Ileya Special, to celebrate the just concluded Ileya holiday.
Aminat “Omotayebi” Babalola
Alhaja Aminat has been active in the music scene for almost two decades. A one-time backup singer for veteran artist, Alhaji Odunlami Aiyeloyun, Omotayebi has also become an icon in her own rights. A strong representation of family, Islamic faith and women’s rights in her music, unforgettable stagecraft and iconic albums like Ile Eko and Ota, have cemented Omotayebi as a masterful musician in the local scene.
Mistura Aderounmu
She’s popularly known as Temi Ni Success, a nickname she’s had since her introduction into the limelight as a 14-year-old, with her debut album of the same name. In her music, you can distinctly hear her vast knowledge of the Islamic religion, making her one of the go-tos for undilated spiritual messages. Her discography boasts several collaborative albums and seven solo albums. To get into her, start with Osu Aponle, her classic.
READ: Nigerian Gospel Artists That Should Be On Your Radar -
Nigerian music has blown at all fronts, but what about its history and documentation? We have to record our own history, we can’t afford to sit and wait for foreigners to do it. Screaming “Afrobeats to the world” won’t write the story for us. Thankfully, there are a few people who are doing the work.
So, if you’re looking to learn about Afrobeats, its history, significant moments and events, these are the people that are currently working on documenting that rich history:
History Made: The Most Important Nigerian Songs Since 1999
Instead of low-hanging popular songs, this 173-page book, authored by Jide Taiwo, looks into 21 of the most important songs in Nigeria since 1999. This is no casual selection; these songs had massive impacts on the music culture; with history, rare interviews and personal insight tied to them. For anyone who’s loved Afrobeats since The Remedies’ Shakomo, “History Made” is a must-read.
The Sample Axis Podcast
This podcast started in December 2020 and is hosted by Gboyega Adeoya, and Nwaenie Nelson. They travel through time with music and decipher old songs sampled by Nigerian artists today. Each episode focuses on each featured song with the artists’ profiles and impact. To bring the knowledge closer to the masses, The Sample Axis Podcast made its radio debut on Crest 91.1 FM, Ibadan on April 17, 2023.
Afrobeats: The Backstory
This is a docuseries created and produced by Nigerian filmmaker Ayo Shonaiya. On 29 June, 2022, Afrobeats: The Backstory premiered and became Netflix’s first-ever Afrobeats documentary. With 12 episodes, this project clearly distinguishes between Afrobeat and Afrobeats. It also gives up close and personal highlights of the development of the latter, from the golden age of R&B to the Hip-Hop of the 1990s that has a huge influence on it.
Journey Of The Beats
This is another docuseries, produced by music industry executive and entrepreneur, Obi Asika. Its ten episodes explores the origin of afrobeats while going back in time to the black artistic expressions of the transatlantic slave trade days. Nigerian historians and writers like Ed Keazor and Jide Taiwo worked as part of the team that examines the history of afrobeats from times before colonialism. This docuseries is an effort that celebrates current Nigerian music and times before it.
READ: The Zikoko Guide: Nigerian Music Industry 101
Afrobeats Intelligence
This is founded and operated by Nigerian pop culture journalist, Joey Akan; started in March 2020. From a popular music newsletter, Afrobeats Intelligence has expanded into a podcast that talks about the Nigerian music industry, its ecosystem and culture of music. With broad interviews, diverse perspectives and sneak peeks into the industry, it digs into the past, present and future of Nigerian music.
A Music In Time Podcast
This is produced by Global Village and hosted by popular and respected Nigerian entertainment journalist, Osagz Alonge. Taking a break from his other Nigerian music podcast, Loose Talk, Osagz started A Music In Time in July 2022 to focus on Nigerian artists and their music over the years.
Afrobeats Weekly
An educative Afrobeats podcast, also produced by Global Village, is hosted weekly by Tunde and his co-host ShoWontStop. From song and album reviews to conversations around music politics, gatekeeping and cultural appropriation, Afrobeats Weekly informs on the current climate of the genre and offers insights into its future.
ALSO READ: You Should Have These Nigerian Music Album Series In Rotation -
On June 22, 2023, these ten Nigerians were among 3700 music creators and industry professionals who achieved the enviable Grammy membership.
The recording academy membership is usually given to those who contribute significantly to Nigerian music. And popular or not, these chosen Nigerians are an invaluable part of the Nigerian music movement.
Dolapo “tGM” Amusat
tGM uses his WeTalkSound Agency, an arm of WeTalkSound (the biggest creative community in Nigeria), to provide creative strategy, marketing and promotion services to brands and artists (Reminisce, Dice Ailes, Teni, Ladipoe, Davido Music Worldwide (DMW), Aristokrats Record, EMPIRE, etc). Dolapo is also an assistant product marketing manager at Google and a multidisciplinary personality who successfully launched projects like the LOFN album collection, Insert Nights (a networking hangout for creatives and techies) and CampNova (a residential bootcamp for African creatives). tGM is a shining example for young African creatives.
Mariam Aduke Abass
Mariam worked as a pipeline engineer before she delved into fashion styling, setting up Luxe Reloaded — a talent management business, Malc Agency for brand partnership. Her companies are run by women-only staff, boasting clients like Cilla Purple, Mugler, Meta, Spotify and Joeboy. She’s one of the few women making a killing in the men-dominated industry of Nigerian music, and we celebrate her.
Fliptyce
He’s a Nigerian veteran songwriter-singer, composer and music producer behind smash hits like Chop My Money (P-Square), Kissing (Yemi Alade), Ile Ijo, So Many Tinz (May D) and Igbeyawo (Oritse Femi). While he hasn’t been active in the mainstream for a while now, we can’t say he doesn’t still deserve the honour of a Grammy membership.
Osi Suave
Osi is a Nigerian on-air personality who launched his career at Rhythm 93.7 FM Benin in 2008 before he joined The Beat 99.9 FM Lagos in 2010. He’s currently the director of programmes at The Beat 99.9 FM. During the course of his career, he has cemented his name in the Nigeria music industry, establishing important professional relationships and interviewing A-list celebrities such as Fabolous, Wale, Burna Boy, Migos, Angelique Kidjo, etc.
Titi Adesanya
Titi is a Nigerian journalist and EMPIRE Africa’s director of operations — handling its distribution, recording and publishing — with a roster that includes superstars like Kizz Daniel, Fireboy DML and Black Sherif. In February 2023, Titi was named one of Billboard’s 2023 Women in Music. Previously, she was a digital sales and product manager at AFRICORI Music Group and founder/creative director at We Soko Africa. She’s one of the women pushing Nigerian music at the frontline.
Bugo Arinze
He’s the founder of Measurable Accurate Digital Solutions (MAD Solutions), a Nigerian digital music distribution company working at the intersection of creative content and technology. With operations in Nigeria, U.S, South Africa and Canada, Bugo’s MAD Solution has been exporting, aggregating and licensing African music content to the world through digital service providers (DSPs) like Apple Music, YouTube, VEVO, iHeartRadio, Amazon, TikTok since 2017. His company has recorded more than three billion plays, providing services to artists like Ric Hassani, Asa, Simi, Reekado Banks, Okey Sokay, Protek Illasheva. He is a true afrobeats evangelist, so addition to this class comes as no surprise.
Joey Akan
A multi-award winning pop culture and music writer, journalist and podcaster, Joey has been a consultant for musicians, actors and major record labels for over three years, providing professional advice on A&R and PR strategies. Today, he’s the entertainment and culture editor for News Central TV, The Conversations Africa, and founder of Afrobeats Intelligence. With this new position, he can push Nigerian music even further to an ecosystem that aligns with Nigerian music.
Bigiano
While he hasn’t been in the Nigerian music conversation for a long time, in 2022, he broke his music hiatus with an Amapiano refix of his popular 2008 hit single, Shayo, with Jaybreeze. A year before, he launched Connect Core Magazine, aimed to be a well-packaged celebrity journal according to him. Although Bigiano only has one album to his name, Shayo remains a popular Nigerian party hit.
Deola Jayesimi
Deola is a senior label manager (West Africa) at The Orchard. With previous roles in The Zone Agency, The 400 Media Company, Noah’s Ark Communications and Boomplay, he has been able to create a niché that ties music and content creation with advertising and marketing.
Kolapo Oladapo
He’s a lawyer and business and strategic manager at Apple (Platoon) since September 2022. Before then, he worked as head of digital at several radio stations like Wazobia FM, Nigeria Info FM, Arewa Radio and Cool FM Nigeria, and as head of business development at Clout Africa. His podcast, Cold Purewater, Cold Mineral, creates conversations around relevant industry topics with the music industry’s key players. As a new member of The Recording Academy, we hope to see him extensively usher African music, tech and youth culture into the global forefront.
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Adekunle Gold has been on an incredible musical run this 2023. Just six months into the year, he has three hot tracks (Party No Dey Stop, Omo Eko and Do You Mind) that came in a 3-song pack called Tio Tequila — his latest alter ego.
From Adekunle Gold to AG Baby, we’ve witnessed different phases of his musicianship. Right now, it’s the tequila phase and he wants everyone to be part of it. We know the party isn’t stopping, and much more about his coming album.
Drinkwalk with me.What’s T.E.A?
Before you start wondering if AG has started selling beverages or herbal tea, it’s an acronym for: Tequila Ever After — the title of his upcoming album. He decided the title for his album after he drank some tequila for the first time and recorded a hit in the studio thereafter.
He’s set for summer
Like he has been saying in his tweets and from the sounds of the snippets, Tio Tequila is bringing all the drinks and jams to the yard this summer. Summer body or not, I’m ready to throw down some jiggy moves to the new album.
14 tracks
His first and second albums have 16 tracks. On his third album, Catch Me If You Can, he switched to 14 tracks. His forthcoming fifth album, Tequila Ever After also has 14 songs on it. A consistent king. More songs to rock concerts, right?
Release details
There’s no release date for Tequila Ever After yet, despite reminding us everyday on socials, his newsletter and through snippets. This is just like a fowl looking at bottled corn, the closest it’ll get to tasting it is staring at it. Adekunle Gold has been busy appearing at fashion shows. Can this guy put the album out already?
There’s no tracklist either
Since he’s sure it’s 14 tracks, what’s the delay? Are album cover artists scarce? Or he’s stalling the release because he truly wants to handle his album art himself?
The AG x Olamide collabo is due sha
He was signed for two years to Olamide’s YBNL record label, I wonder how AG and Baddo didn’t make a song together. I hope AG will surprise us on the new album.
A Timbaland production on “TEA”?
Sometime in April, 2023, popular American music producer, Timbaland, was jamming to Adekunle Gold’s Something Different and saying they have to work together.
Fast-forward to June, 2023, Tio Tequila is previewing Tequila Ever After for Timbaland. We can feel just how crazy the album is from Timbaland’s reactions to the music.
The TEA party
There’s no better name for the promotional tour of his new album than TEA Party. He’s touring the UK and North America later in the year. While we wait for the album and when it finally drops, drink tequila ever after or responsibly. You can still jam AG’s album without fucking up your livers. Cheers.
Yo.
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Everyone says AI is the future. After all, it can write a 5,000-word essay faster than any human being. But does AI have taste when it comes to afrobeats music? I reached out to ChatGPT — the Beyoncé of AIs — for its top ten greatest afrobeats albums of all time. While the list looks good, I don’t agree with a couple of things.
Let’s get into this ranking.
10. Once Upon a Time — Tiwa Savage, 2013
Tiwa Savage doesn’t get enough credit for how she has and continues to impact afrobeats. At a time when the Nigerian scene was a boys’ club, she came in and disrupted the system.
But while there was a lot of anticipation for her debut album, Once Upon a Time, after excellent back-to-back singles — from Kele Kele Love to Without My Heart — outside of a few standouts like Middle Passage, Folarin and Ileke, most of the non-singles on the album sounded like filler tracks. That being said, an excellent replacement for this album would be Tiwa’s 2020 masterpiece, Celia, which finally found the balance between vocalist and club-friendly Tiwa.
9. Get Squared — P-Square, 2005
Can we go back to the smooth R&B days when men were dramatic AF, break-dancing shirtless in the rain and singing about how they could treat every girl better than their current man? When they made Get Squared, Peter and Paul were knee-deep in their afro-R&B F-Boy bag. They served breakfast on Temptation, got breakfast in return on Omoge Mi, pulled up to the club in Bizzy Body and ended up with the popo on Oga Police. These men didn’t put Mary Slessor to shame with this album, and it definitely deserves to be on this list.
8. Baddest Guy Ever Liveth — Olamide, 2013
Forget conversations about any big three; Olamide has always been an afrobeats icon. Since his 2010 breakout with Eni Duro, Olamide has used his music as a bridge that connected audiences to the streets of Lagos. Olamide made street pop cool, and now, we have artistes like Naira Marley, Asake, Zinoleesky and Seyi Vibez.
Baddest Guy Ever Liveth is top three Olamide, and it’s not number three. With songs like Eleda Mi O, the fuji-inspired Anifowose and Durosoke, Olamide created an album that started his legacy as an afrobeats GOAT deserving of a spot on this list.
7. Mama Africa — Yemi Alade, 2016
Say what you want about Yemi Alade, but the woman knows her sound and audience. Fresh off the success of 2014’s King of Queens, which had her breakout hit, Johnny, Yemi Alade dropped Mama Africa in 2016 and became a Pan-African rockstar. While the album had bangers like Na Gode, Ferrari and Mama, the production sometimes feels repetitive, but how can anyone hate on that with Asake playing everywhere? Yemi Alade deserves her flowers for the colour she brings to afrobeats, and even Beyoncé agrees.
6. A Good Time — Davido, 2019
We all love Davido, but before A Good Time, I never saw him as an album artist, especially after listening to OBO: The Genesis. A Good Time works well because it’s a collection of singles compiled over two years. That being said, the singles, from If to Fall and Assurance, all slap. Davido should also get a lifetime supply of agege bread for putting Wurld, Naira Marley and Zlatan on one track. However, although Davido’s contribution to afrobeats remains goated, this album shouldn’t be on this list. If we were talking about the greatest songs, that’d be a different case.
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5. Superstar — Wizkid, 2011
An album title can describe many things: the emotions the artistes went through while creating it, how they want their audience to feel, or their view of the world. For Wizkid, his debut album Superstar was prophetic.
Guided by Banky W, the singer delivered one of the most impressive debut albums in Nigerian history. With hits like Love My Baby and Pakurumo, and deep cuts like Scatter the Floor and No Lele, Wizkid had the world in his hands and still has it over a decade later. That being said, Made in Lagos, a more cohesive and expansive work, is a better album and should’ve been on this list instead.
4. African Giant — Burna Boy, 2019
Whether or not African Giant is Burna Boy’s best album is up for debate. However, it’d be almost impossible to talk about the trajectory of afrobeats, especially for our generation, without mentioning the album that should’ve gotten Burna Boy his first Grammy.
From award bait collaborations with Damian Marley Jr, M.anifest and Angelique Kidjoe, to viral singles like Anybody, Killin Dem and Dangote, Burna Boy made a statement with African Giant, and the world listened.
3. Expensive Shit — Fela Kuti, 1975
This entry is how you know AI ain’t shit. Fela isn’t an afrobeats artiste, he made afrobeat music.
Afrobeat is a music genre that fuses West African musical styles, such as fuji and highlife, with jazz, soul and funk. The genre is mainly recorded with heavy live instrumentation and was made famous by Fela Kuti, a pioneer. Meanwhile, afrobeats is a term that groups African pop music genres with diverse influences, such as rap, reggae, soul and R&B.
Since Fela doesn’t make afrobeats, he shouldn’t be on this list.
2. Juju Music — King Sunny Ade, 1982
Honestly, I’d never listened to King Sunny Ade’s Juju Music until now — let me tell the truth and shame the devil. However, listening to the album for the first time was a major experience because I realised I knew most of the songs. Living in Lagos and attending events with my mum introduced me to jams like Ja Funmi, Ma Jaiye Oni, and 365 is My Number. King Sunny Ade’s music makes it hard to pick between sitting down to relax and standing up to bust a move. This is an incredible album. However, whether or not it’s an afrobeats album is up for discussion.
1. Zombie — Fela Kuti, 1977
Fela’s Zombie is an iconic album. With just four tracks that last almost an hour altogether, the album is an enjoyable political statement that reminds us that not much has changed since 1977; after all, the government is still fucking us over. But despite being a great album, I’d like to refer to my last Fela entry. Dear, this isn’t an afrobeats album; it’s afrobeat. So much for the “intelligence” part of Artificial Intelligence.
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