Movie sequels, secondborns and remixes prove that some things are best left at the original. In this article, we’ll be highlighting seven Nigerian hit songs that were better the first time. 

Abracadabra — Rexxie ft Wizkid 

Can someone ask Skiibii what type of anointing makes women suddenly feel the urge to shake their booty in your presence? Or what business brother Naira Marley had following a woman around Lagos, talking about, “Anywhere you go, I’m going“? The trio did a number on this song, and Big Wiz had no business replacing Rexxie on the remix because what did he add to it?

Calm Down — Rema ft Selena Gomez

Divine’s Holiday is enough reason for us to write off all his wrongs. But it’d be unfair to leave the “epic” Calm Down remix with Selena Gomez out of this list because while this collaboration exposed the song to a new global audience, both artists tried too hard to sync, and it lowkey felt like two different songs fused together.

Peru — Fireboy ft 21 Savage and Blxst

You know how you make banging concoction rice one day and are eager to recreate it, but it never ends up as good as the first one? That’s what happened with Peru. After Fireboy finished cooking Peru, everyone wanted a piece of it, from Ed Sheeran to 21 Savage. But while Ed Sheeran’s had people questioning who the actual owner of the song was, the 21 Savage and Blxst remix should’ve stayed on their hard drive or with their close friends circle on Instagram.


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Bloody Samaritan — Ayra Starr ft Kelly Rowland

We were so obsessed with Bloody Samaritan that we started a full-ass trend around it. Seeing Kelly Rowland and Ayra Starr in a shoot a year later, Nigerians held on to their seats in anticipation of a collaboration that’d break the internet. But it’s been months later and no one seems to remember this remix even happened.

Get it Now — Tiwa Savage ft Omarion

It wasn’t a flop but wasn’t not mid either. It did little to improve on the original song. And the fact that you didn’t know about this remix until now further proves our point.

5 Star — Adekunle Gold ft Rick Ross

AG Baby let us in on his life, discussing his health challenges and struggles, on 5 Star. And frankly, he had us eating from his palm by the end of 2022. Every end-of-year reel had people talking about how they’re VIPs and their life was “5 star”, but Rick Ross jumping on the song probably reduced it by two stars.

Ku Lo Sa — Oxlade ft Camila Cabello

From TikTok challenges to acoustic covers, if you were near Obasanjo’s internet in 2022, you’d know Nigerians played this song enough times to give Oxlade a cracked voice. However, the one exciting thing we got out of him bringing the former Fifth Harmony singer for a remix is the music video.


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