In 2024, the song of the year announced itself without debate. It was everywhere, impossible to escape, and powerful enough that naming it now would feel redundant. The year belonged to a single record in a way that left little room for argument.
2025 has moved differently. There has been no one song huge enough to shake everywhere and swallow the moment. That absence isn’t a failure of music, but a reflection of its spread. Big songs still emerged, and great ones in abundance, but this year’s listening experience has been shaped less by domination and more by divergence. Personal taste has mattered more than chart position, and attention has been shared rather than seized.
Across genres, there were viral songs, reliable standouts from seasoned artists playing to their strengths, bold experiments from the middle tier, and breakout moments that announced new stars. With all of this in mind, I listened widely and carefully, weighing impact alongside feeling, reach alongside resonance. What follows is not a definitive takeover of the year, but a curated list of what mattered most. These are the 50 Nigerian songs that defined 2025.
50. “AEROPLANE” — Oladips
As a young Nigerian, you might feel like you’re being held back, struggling to reach your full potential. Frustration is at its peak, but deep down, you believe it’s only a matter of time before you secure your green card, process your visa, and japa to your “promised land”. This feeling is exactly what Oladips captures in this song. If this song were an Instagram carousel, it’d be three photos: Oladips at the Muritala Muhammed Airport before he departs Nigeria, Oladips at Heathrow Airport when he lands in London, and the meme of “Welcome to a new dispensation.”
Listen: Apple Music | Spotify
49. “Bere Mi (Reimagined)” — ID Cabasa feat. Zlatan and T.I BLAZE
Veteran music producer ID Cabasa adds “Bere Mi (Reimagined),” a reimagination of 2Phat and 9ice’s “Bere Mi”, to his upcoming album titled Unfinished Business. “Bere Mi” (“Ask me about me” in English) looks back at hard times and celebrates being in a better position. T.I BLAZE handles the chorus, 9ice harmonises in the background and Zlatan lays a reflective verse. If you’re looking for a new song that’s giving all eyes on me when I entered the party, here it is.
Listen: Apple Music | Spotify
48. “Must Have Been” — TAQRIQ
TAR1Q tables the matter of his heart. In the first verse, he’s a hopeless romantic. On the chorus and the second verse, he has relationship woes, and he’s not the big loverboy that he once was. His heart couldn’t take what befell the romance. His tears are now dry, but he struggles with love. Even if the kind of love he desires never finds him, at least he tried.
Listen: Apple Music | Spotify
47. “Shoot That Man” — PayBac iBoro
Rapper PayBac iBoro goes completely rogue at the government on this track. He grabs his lyricism as a weapon to corrupt politicians. In his chorus, he charges the youth and those willing to act in protest to “Shoot that man at the top wey no wan make we chop.” He touches on the issues of dirty officials stealing pensions from retirees, those who rig elections and also remembers how the Nigerian Senate bullied Senator Natasha.
The song brings all the frustrations of an average Nigerian into a solid chorus and two captivating verses. This is his middle finger to government officials — his reprise of the corrupt system sitting over the resources meant for the masses.
Listen: Apple Music | Spotify
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46. “Libations” — Show Dem Camp
“Libations” sits comfortably within Show Dem Camp’s long-standing commitment to reflective rap that honours lineage and lived experience. Over meditative production, Ghost and Tec trace memory, survival, and gratitude, pouring verbal offerings to the people and paths that shaped them. It’s restrained but weighty, a reminder that SDC’s strength has always been its ability to age gracefully while staying rooted in purpose.
Listen: Apple Music | Spotify
45. “Read The Signs” — A-Q feat. Terry Apala
A-Q uses “Read The Signs” as a mirror, examining consequence, intuition, and the quiet warnings life sends before collapse or clarity. Terry Apala’s Apala-blues inflexion adds grit and cultural texture, grounding the record in Yorùbá street wisdom. Together, they turn self-awareness into a cautionary tale that feels both personal and communal.
Listen: Apple Music | Spotify
44. “ACL” — Blaqbonez
“ACL,” a standout from Blaqbonez’s 2025 album No Excuses, doubles as both a lyrical declaration and a public spark in one of Nigerian rap’s most talked‑about feuds. Built on a minimalist, hard‑hitting beat, the track sees Blaqbonez deliver razor‑sharp bars aimed at fellow rapper ODUMODUBLVCK, accusing him of chasing clout and substituting internet posturing for real artistry.
The title serves as a metaphor for failed imitation, reinforcing Blaqbonez’s assertion that attempts to match his craft end in injury rather than mastery. He makes a bold stance with this and has dominated social conversation and propelled the song into heavy rotation.
Listen: Apple Music | Spotify
43. “Economy” — Tim Lyre feat. Show Dem Camp
“Economy” captures the exhaustion of ambition in a fragile country, where desire constantly wrestles with reality. Tim Lyre’s weary calm pairs naturally with Show Dem Camp’s reflective bars, creating a song that feels lived-in. It’s not protest music, but it is honest, naming survival as its own form of resistance.
Listen: Apple Music | Spotify
42. “Tanko” — Victony feat. Terry G
Here, Victony steps into controlled chaos and invites Terry G’s unpredictable energy to stretch his own production palette. Where Victony stays melodic and carefree, Terry G erupts with rawness, turning the track into a collision of temperaments. It works because both artists understand attitude as spectacle.
Listen: Apple Music | Spotify
41. “Oh My Home” — Wizard Chan
Wizard Chan continues his role as a spiritual observer on “Oh My Home,” reflecting on belonging, displacement, and emotional safety. His voice floats gently over minimal instrumentation, allowing the message to lead. It’s a song that feels like a quiet prayer for grounding in a restless world.
Listen: Apple Music | Spotify
40. “Glory” — Skales feat. FAVE
“Glory” reframes Skales’ career narrative through perseverance rather than nostalgia. With FAVE’s warmth balancing his resolve, the song becomes a meditation on survival after obscurity. It’s celebratory without being boastful, focused on grace earned rather than hype regained.
Listen: Apple Music | Spotify
39. “MOSHOOD” — PDSTRN
“Moshood” is a standout single in PDSTRN’s 2025 catalogue, released as a nearly eight-minute hip-hop narrative that seamlessly transitions between gritty ambition and storytelling momentum. The track is a character study framed through rap lines and persistent drive. PDSTRN uses the extended runtime to explore ideas of aspiration, vision, and self‑definition, finding balance between street reflex and lyrical craft.
Listen: Apple Music | Spotify
38. “6:35” — Layefa
“6:35” by Layefa is a soothing, reflective R&B-soul single, part of her debut two-track release, Tobolayefa. It explores themes of love, heartbreak, and introspection, offering a candid glimpse into emotional vulnerability. “6:35” is a strong introduction to her solo artistry. This song signals Layefa’s evolution as a storyteller, with a voice and style that rediscovers romance and self-love. The lo-fi vibe makes it prime for both introspective moments and background ambience.
Listen: Apple Music | Spotify
37. “Keep On Loving Me (Biko Biko)” — Lady Donli
Lady Donli explores indie sound in her new single, produced by Yinka Bernie. “Keep On Loving Me” flows over dreamy drums, rich basslines, pulsating trumpets, and what sounds like a Malian guitar, all wrapped in cotton-candy lyrics about a love that shouldn’t end. With Donli in full yearning mode, this one’s for the romantics.
Listen: Apple Music | Spotify
36. “Ginger Me (Alum)” — Niniola
Niniola brings a pulsating Afro-House banger with cheeky lyrics and a deep message. “Ginger Me” in the Nigerian street lingo translates to “excite or ignite me.” The verses are soaked in bold sexual empowerment. “Lo alum to ba fe ko tight” refers to vaginal tightening substances, while lines like “Lo condom, lo condom… Sora fun gonorrhea” advocate for safe sex. As Niniola makes a dance anthem, she keeps it playfully sensual and dense with commentary on female survival mechanisms. Long live the queen of Afro-House.
Listen: Apple Music | Spotify
35. “Hold On” — Aisosa
Singer-songwriter Aisosa’s emotive storytelling and smooth sonic textures craft a late-night mood on “Hold On.” He sings about patience, resilience, and emotional stability on a tender, mid-tempo alt-pop track with techno-infused production and soothing chords. Although this song gently uplifts the soul, it fits snugly on romantic playlists and further solidifies Aisosa’s rising status as an indie R&B artist to watch.
Listen: Apple Music | Spotify
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34. “Irapada” — Oyedele feat. BoyLiam and Femi Leye
“Iradapa” is a Yorùbá word that translates to “Redemption.” Oyedele is reborn, and he now finds himself on a path of renewed purpose, one where he’s completely in charge of his destiny. This is a story of a disciplined journeyman acquiring solace, wisdom, unfazed by uncertainties and roadblocks, while exuding peak confidence in his artistry.
Listen: Apple Music | Spotify
33. “Story Time” — Falz
Falz gives listeners a rare moment of unguarded honesty in a nearly six-minute narrative that offers a direct look into his journey and aspirations. He takes us through the origins and evolution of Falz TheBahdGuy, from childhood dreams of football to a law student in London to the viral “This Is Nigeria” freestyle. “Story Time” is the closing track on his latest album titled The Feast, and it peels back the curtain. If you’re curious about who Falz really is and what drives him, this track is essential to listen to.
Listen: Apple Music | Spotify
32. “I Wish I Had More Time” — Braye
“I Wish I Had More Time” by Braye isn’t just a single; it’s the title track off his debut four-track EP, which was released in May. It showcases him as a deeply introspective and genre-defying R&B/neo-soul artist. Braye bares his soul, singing about the urgency of living fully, speaking truth and embracing emotional vulnerability. With rich textures, heartfelt lyricism and a nostalgic whisper of jazz-classic fusion in his track, Nigeria has a promising alt-R&B voice on its hands.
Listen: Apple Music | Spotify
31. “Reverse Back” — OluwaMillar feat. Mojo AF and Bayoo
On a dope hip-hop track infused with Afrobeats elements, rappers OluwaMillar and Mojo AF rap confidently about bedroom activities with playful imagery. OluwaMillar is cocky and poetic. Mojo AF is equally confident, comparing himself to Ronaldinho’s flair. He rhymes about his status as a recognised rapper in the game, his grind and soft boy lifestyle. Singer Bayoo delivers a catchy hook that makes the jam party-ready. This track is positioned as the penultimate track on OluwaMillar’s Agbalagbi EP. At this moment, he steps fully into unapologetic bravado, contrasting the EP’s deeper and introspective cuts like “Olorunsogo” and “Opelope Anointing.”
Listen: Apple Music | Spotify
30. “i2SABI” — Minz feat. Jeriq & 255
cut from Minz’s 2025 run of singles that thrives on its catchy hook and rhythmic momentum. Featuring Jeriq and 255, the track leans into an infectious chant‑style refrain — “I too sabi, that’s my problem” — that doubles as both a playful confession and a confident declaration. Over its brisk, dance‑friendly tempo, Minz’s verse sets the tone with braggadocio and aspiration, while Jeriq and 255’s contributions keep the energy elevated and communal, turning the track into a spirited anthem for anyone who’s ever felt too aware, too sharp, or too ready for life’s spotlight.
Listen: Apple Music | Spotify
29. “Holy Water” — Davido feat. Victony and Musa Keys
This song from Davido’s new album 5IVE features softer log drums and drum rolls that contribute to the rhythm and offer a calmer ambience to Davido’s ever-high energy. Here, he and the featured artists use the phrase “holy water” metaphorically, perhaps to express intense desire for their love interests. The verses express enough about wanting someone romantically and the hook carries the whole song well, giving it a sing-along effect that enhances its polished, earworm appeal.
Listen: Apple Music | Spotify
28. “Buss It” — GoodGirl LA
“Buss It” reintroduces GoodGirl LA with a bold and sensual confidence that sets the tone for her 2025 comeback. She emerges from a three‑year absence and uses the track’s slow‑burning afro‑r&b and her commanding vocal presence to stake a claim on desire and self‑possession. The production’s cinematic weight and her unapologetically explicit writing make the song feel like a statement.
Listen: Apple Music | Spotify
27. “Love” — Burna Boy
This song captures repeated refrains about standing by people who will stay through fire and hardship. Burna Boy gives “LOVE” a grounded theme of reciprocity. Its appeal extends beyond emotional introspection to cultural resonance, reminding listeners that authentic relationships matter more than performative attachments. The accompanying visuals, threaded with family moments and fan love, further reinforce the message of rooted loyalty.
Listen: Apple Music | Spotify
26. “SHAOLIN” — Seyi Vibez
Although the “Shaolin” motif represents spiritual toughness, discipline, survival instincts and mastery over one’s destiny, Seyi Vibez celebrates success. From money formulae, attraction, nightlife and living fully in the moment, this is both a superb flex and motivational jam. The song also strengthens Seyi Vibez’s reputation as a bold experimentalist, blending fuji, Afrobeats and techno-inspired street-hop. It’s an applaudable step in his evolution.
Listen: Apple Music | Spotify
25. “Promise Keeper” — Sound of Salem feat. Pastor Oche Ogede
The strength of “Promise Keeper” lies in its mix of spirit‑filled conviction and accessible musicality. As solemn as it sounds, the song embraces a joyful propulsion, celebrates divine reliability and invites believers to pursue that promise with devotion. Its combination of cultural music elements and worship fervour helps it resonate widely within Nigerian gospel communities and beyond.
Listen: Apple Music | Spotify
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24. “Lagos Lovin’” — Sewà
This song is a soulful take on love and memory that sidesteps typical afropop romance for something more introspective. Sewà layers jazzy instrumentation and Yorùbá songwriting over warm production that feels both nostalgic and immediate. Less focused on the heartbreak, she lays her attention on the quiet weight of unspoken words and the emotional imprint of a love that refuses to disappear.
Listen: Apple Music | Spotify
23. “Bad Belle” — Tay Iwar
“Bad Belle” finds Tay Iwar staking his claim as a thoughtful voice in Nigeria’s R&B landscape. He turns “Bad Belle”, a common Pidgin phrase for jealousy and ill will in the face of romance, into a reflective anthem of resilience. Over soulful, mid‑tempo production, Tay’s vocal delivery glides with calm assurance, addressing negativity not with aggression but with poise and self‑belief. Introspective songwriting that spices love and uplifts mood.
Listen: Apple Music | Spotify
22. “Ave Maria” — Ajebo Hustlers feat. Victony
What makes the collaboration compelling is the chemistry between Ajebo Hustlers and Victony is their captivating delivery. Their styles balance introspection with infectious verses, allowing the song to emerge as both a contemplative piece and a sleeper hit. In capturing determination and resilience with lyrical depth and melodic ease, “Ave Maria” stands out as one of the more thoughtful and memorable tracks from the Onorato EP.
Listen: Apple Music | Spotify
21. “Escaladizzy” — Mavo feat. WAVE$TAR
“Escaladizzy” is Mavo’s calling card in 2025. Anchored in self-created lingo, contemporary alté and street‑pop styles, the track pairs Mavo with Wave$tar, creating an infectious and playful groove. Clocking in at under three minutes, the song’s hooks and catchy chorus drive its momentum, making it an easy repeat for both playlists and social feeds. Its lyrics are confident statements about ambition, bad-boy lifestyle and youthful exuberance with playful imagery and slang.
Listen: Apple Music | Spotify
20. “About you” — WANI and melvitto
Set against mid‑tempo percussion, WANI’s vocals balance vulnerability and resolve, conveying both devotion and steadfastness in love. The refrain “Don’t let me fall” carries a prayer‑like intensity, portraying affection as deliberate and earned rather than casual. Melvitto’s production complements this with a sleek, measured groove, keeping the emotional centre in focus as WANI shifts seamlessly between confident assertions and intimate questioning. Lines that emphasise prioritising one person over passing distractions reinforce the song’s core theme of loyalty, grounding it in sincerity and heartfelt intention.
Listen: Apple Music | Spotify
19. “New Taker” — Rybeena
Lyrically, Rybeena uses “New Taker” as a warning and a lesson to the newly rich people, advising them to temper ambition with awareness and balance the pursuit of success with self-care and wisdom. That perspective aligns with the broader themes of hustle and survival that inform his Virtuoso project, and it gives the song both cultural resonance and emotional weight. As a result, “New Taker” works not just as an afropop anthem but as a commentary on navigating rapid change and the pressures of success.
Listen: Apple Music | Spotify
18. “Maye” — Zaylevelten
“Maye” distills Zaylevelten’s restless energy into a compact, memorable single. Released as part of his 1t gOt Crazy run of music in 2025, the track moves at a measured pace with a danceable groove beneath glitchy and hazy production. Zaylevelten’s flow lands with both smoothness and edge, pairing catchy hooks with a delivery that plays with linguistics. It invites repeat listens while showcasing his flair for melody and attitude.
What stands out in “Maye” is its balance of vibe and vulnerability. It leans into a laid-back yet persistent energy that mirrors the emotional complexity. In the context of his breakthrough year, “Maye” helped solidify his momentum and broaden his reach, functioning as both a catchy standalone and a piece of the larger narrative he’s building.
Listen: Apple Music | Spotify
17. “Somebody Like You” — Lojay
This track set the tone for Lojay’s 2025 and his evolving voice in contemporary afropop. In “Somebody Like You”, Lojay leans into emotional clarity, longing with restraint rather than dramatics and warm production. The song allows his voice to lead. Soft but intentional, as he reflects on love shaped by absence and expectation. It’s less about heartbreak itself than the quiet search that follows it, the hope of finding something that feels honest and sustaining.
Lojay turns vulnerability into melody without overdoing it. As a statement of intent, “Somebody Like You” signals maturity, positioning Lojay as an artist who is comfortable sitting with feelings.
Listen: Apple Music | Spotify
16. “Lameda” — Samad
This is a study in Samad’s commitment to storytelling as craft rather than confession. Built around a fictional character, the song began with a simple melodic idea and hook, “Ore mi, Lameda,” before expanding into a narrative about prolonged struggle and quiet endurance. By choosing imagination over autobiography, Samad positions himself as a narrator, shaping emotion through intention instead of lived specificity. What makes “Lameda” compelling is how convincingly that fiction lands.
The song’s clarity and restraint allow listeners to project themselves onto the character, blurring the line between invention and reality. That many listeners have asked who or where Lameda is speaks to the strength of Samad’s writing: the story feels real because the feeling is.
Listen: Apple Music | Spotify
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15. “Young Again” — Fireboy DML and Pheelz
No doubt the years spent together as labelmates at YBNL have built a workable level of chemistry between Fireboy DML and Pheelz. The two of them come together to release a collaborative EP. One of the tracks is “Young Again”, which is a double entendre that captures and reminds listeners of the idea of a life lived and how those times will never come back. Secondly, it encourages people to make hay while the sun shines.
Fireboy and Pheelz reflect on joy, responsibility and emotional reset, framed by warm production. It’s restorative music, made to celebrate and motivate, rather than impress.
Listen: Apple Music | Spotify
14. “You Can’t Hide” — Made Kuti
Made Kuti confronts truth head-on in “You Can’t Hide,” blending Afrobeat tradition with moral urgency. His songwriting is pointed, reminding listeners that accountability is unavoidable. For Made Kuti, whose ancestry can be traced to the likes of great musicians like Femi Kuti and Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, the song carries the weight of legacy with clarity.
Listen: Apple Music | Spotify
13. “Hey Jago” — PocoLee feat. Shiday and Rahman Jago
In the spirit of street-pop anthems like 9ice’s “Living Things”, “Hey Jago” is part eulogy, part motivation. It celebrates Rahman Jago—a Nigerian fashion and lifestyle influencer known for his High Fashion brand—and uses him as a symbol of ghetto-to-glam success. “Hey Jago” keeps shoulders bouncing and sneakers glued to the dancefloor. The beat is fast and rubbery: a fusion of amapiano’s log drums and that unmistakable Afrobeats percussion. Poco Lee, ever the master of vibes, opens with lambas and a presence that orchestrates the energy. Shoday’s vocals carry aspirations of rising above struggle, with Jago as the blueprint.
Listen: Apple Music | Spotify
12. “ololufe” — TML Vibez and Lasmid
What makes this song exceptional is both the infectious melodies and delivery that drive it. Here, TML Vibez and Lasmid, emerging Nigerian and Ghanaian pop sensibilities, keep the song light, rhythmic, and emotionally accessible. It’s love music built for the times lovers miss each other and assurance is a need.
Listen: Apple Music | Spotify
11. “Arike” — Kunmie
Kunmie, one of afropop’s breakout acts of 2025, set the internet, especially TikTok, on fire with his “Arike” single. The track thrives on romance and simplicity, allowing Kunmie’s vocal tone to carry emotion. Its strength also lies in its sincerity and resistance to overproduction. It feels intimate.
Listen: Apple Music | Spotify
10. “lost” — FOLA & Kizz Daniel
Fola struggles with motives as he suspects that his love interest is more interested in his money than in him, creating tension between real affection and materialism. The song also leans on heartbreak and confusion as Fola laments feeling “really lost,” grappling with disillusionment and distrust after relationship turmoil. They are also in desperate calls for comfort amid emotional burden. Fola’s street-pop grit meets Kizz Daniel’s smooth and melodic style to craft an intimate and reflective atmosphere.
Listen: Apple Music | Spotify
9. “With You” — Davido feat. Omah Lay
“With You” pairs Davido’s assurance with Omah Lay’s introspection, creating a balanced exploration of intimacy. The theme of this song leans into chemistry rather than spectacle. It’s restrained, emotional and deliberate.
Listen: Apple Music | Spotify
8. “Laho” — Shallipopi
The term “Laho” doesn’t have a direct translation in English, but in the context of the Bini tongue and Shallipopi’s song, it translates to “please” or “don’t let me fall.” Although this song feels like a celebration, its lyricism reflects the masses’ everyday struggles and requests for help. With this song, Shallipopi continues to draw from Benin street language and culture, something he has made a signature of his music since his debut.
This song continues Shallipopi’s street-pop momentum, driven by slang, cadence, and cultural immediacy. The song thrives on attitude, and its sweet spot lies in its confidence.
Listen: Apple Music | Spotify
7. “Morowore” — Olamide
“Morowore”, the classic song of Paul Play, gets a new composition as Olamide reflects his continued ability to be, become, and be a leader and bridge generations. Olamide retains the “Morowore” title, rooted in the Yoruba expression, that simply recognises the presence of divine intervention in personal life and gives gratitude for it. The song balances authority with familiarity. It’s cultural continuity in motion.
Listen: Apple Music | Spotify
6. “Joy Is Coming” — Fido
After a not-so-impressive year that Fido has had — a couple of singles and an EP that aren’t widely received, a dwindling fan base and star power — “Joy Is Coming” now feels like a hopeful end-of-the-tunnel medley. The song operates as an affirmation, grounded in patience and belief. Fido’s delivery is steady, allowing hope to feel earned rather than promised. It’s a song built for reassurance. Ending the year as 2025’s most-streamed song in Nigeria shows how much it resonates with many listeners. Fido should proudly take this win.
Listen: Apple Music | Spotify
5. “Favour” — Lawrence Oyor
Nine days into 2025, Lawrence Oyor flips his prayer point, perhaps since crossover night, into a song titled “Favour.” He presses further with his request for an abundance of favour. It’s a stellar performance of gospel music and speaking between lyrics, melodies and modulations. The song’s resonance represents the everyday supplications and humans’ continuous need and want of goodwill, advantage, approval, preference and support.
Whether it’s favour with God or men, or it’s merited or unmerited, Lawrence Oyor spreads his lap open to receive it. And as abstract as the concept may be or feel, he seems to find it, especially with men. The song is the most-streamed Nigerian song (2.5 million streams) of January 2025 on Spotify.
Listen: Apple Music | Spotify
4. “Hot Body” — Ayra Starr
With three solid projects in her catalogue, Ayra Starr has established herself as the next-to-be matriarch of afrobeats. Fine songwriting, fine production, star power, acclaimed and lovable brand, with hits to back them up. On her new single, “Hot Body”. The song’s opening line is one of the most popular catchphrases of 2025: “Look! Look what a hot body can do.” The hallmark of it is Ayra Starr’s poise; it’s beyond the confidence that a toned abdomen and lower back would inspire. This single shows growth and ascent to a new level in her artistry. There are great things to look forward to from Ayra Starr.
Listen: Apple Music | Spotify
3. “Many People (Exteneded)” — Adekunle Gold feat. Yinka Ayefele and Adewale Ayuba
The reception of Don Corleone’s Adekunle Gold’s new album, Fuji, has been positive. One standout track that moves the lips and hips from it is “Many People” which evokes nostalgia due to the reimagination of Yinka Ayefele’s 2003 “Mi O Mo Ju Orin Lo” hit track. The world of afropop and tungba combines two maestros of grooves. But the inclusion of Adewale Ayuba, Ijo Fuji crooner, is stardust. It’s an interplanetary experience that joins different generations and their modes of àríyá (merriment) together.
Listen: Apple Music | Spotify
2. “Baby (Is It A Crime)” — Rema
It was just a week to this year’s Valentine’s Day when Rema put out his first and best single of 2025. He briefly steps out of the rave of HEIS (2024), picks up roses and walks on air to “toast” a love interest. The song starts with a sample of Sade’s 1984 hit “Is It a Crime?” Both songs ask only one question, and it’s not rhetorical. It demands a complete response that answers whether they’re in love with the right person or the wrong one.
Though Sade’s version is an incredible cautionary tale and probe of real love, Rema’s own is an anxious, playful and sultry desire for romance. Unlike Sade, who misses an old flame, Rema is ready to be touched by one. If it works out, it works out. If not, then so be it.
Listen: Apple Music | Spotify
1. “BADMAN GANGSTA” — Asake featuring Tiakola
It’s an average Nigerian aspiration to trot the world (particularly the U.K. and U.S) when poverty gets kicked to the curb. However, a move overseas is as much interpreted as a search for greener pastures these days. No thanks to sapa and japa waves. So when Asake, a guy with an uneasy background and life as a previous struggling artist, goes far away from Nigeria, living carefree like a tech unicorn that came into zen after selling a startup at some billion-dollar valuation, many had things to say about his new persona and “blow-up.”
Over the course of a year in Los Angeles, Asake unexpectedly addresses the ongoing conversations about his relocation and loyalty to his motherland and local fans. He opens “BADMAN GANGSTA”, not only stating that he’s living for himself, chasing dreams and wealth, but affirming he’s a son of the soil and isn’t on the run. As much as he tries to keep himself grounded, his lyricism and delivery here are larger-than-life. The addition of French artist Tiakola to the track is a perfect kiss.
Listen: Apple Music | Spotify
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