In music, one great album can feel like lightning in a bottle. Two might prove that an artist wasn’t lucky the first time. But three excellent albums in a row? That’s a rare streak.
For a Nigerian artist, achieving this means navigating a fickle market and a rapidly shifting sonic identity. Whether it’s the indigenous rap takeover of the early 2010s, the R&B-infused pop of the mid-2000s, or the modern global expansion of the late 2010s, these album runs represent the moments when these ten artists held the entire industry in a chokehold.
These are the 10 Nigerian artists who delivered the most flawless three-project streaks in history.
10. Olamide
Run: Yahoo Boy No Laptop (YBNL) (2012) → Baddest Guy Ever Liveth (2013) → Street OT (2014)
Between 2012 and 2014, Olamide was the undisputed voice of the streets. He won the Headies’ Album of the Year for all three of these consecutive projects, a feat that may never be repeated. Yahoo Boy No Laptop gave hits like “First of All” and stretched his impact beyond the underground. Baddest Guy Ever Liveth leaned fully into his braggadocious street persona, while Street OT delivered massive records like “Shakiti Bobo.” Together, these albums cemented Olamide’s influence on Nigerian street pop and rap.
9. Wizkid
Run: Superstar (2011) → Ayo (2014) → Sounds From the Other Side (2017)
Wizkid’s run follows the evolution of a boy wonder into a global icon. Superstar (2011) is arguably one of the most influential debuts in Afrobeats history. The album produced generational hits like “Holla at Your Boy,” “Pakurumo” and “Tease Me.” His second album, Ayo (2014), features the timeless “Ojuelegba” and secures his status as a local legend. Sounds From The Other Side (2017) is Wizkid boldly experimenting with R&B, Caribbean and other international sounds, to lay the groundwork for the global “Made In Lagos” era that followed.
8. Tiwa Savage
Run: Once Upon a Time (2013) → R.E.D (2015) → Celia (2020)
The African Number One Bad Girl built her legacy on this formidable three-album run. Tiwa Savage’s debut, Once Upon a Time, arrived in 2013 when Nigerian pop was still heavily male-dominated. It immediately establishes her as the country’s leading female pop star. It has hits like “Kele Kele Love,” “Love Me” and “Eminado.”
She followed with R.E.D (2015), which is packed with commercial singles like “My Darlin” and “Standing Ovation.” Years later, Celia (2020) increased her global reach with collaborations with Sam Smith and Davido. The album also debuted on the Billboard World Albums chart and earned a spot on Time Magazine’s best albums of the year. Tiwa Savage remains one of the most internationally visible African pop stars of her generation.
Subscribe to Zikoko Pop newsletter, The Feed, for the most important pop culture news
7. M.I Abaga
Run: Talk About It (2008) → MI2: The Movie (2010) → The Chairman (2014)
M.I. Abaga’s albums feel like cinematic experiences; he knows how to curate music. Talk About It (2008) redefined Nigerian Hip-Hop. M.I 2: The Movie (2010) is a star-studded blockbuster that has a commercial edge Nigerian Hip-Hop needed at the time. The Chairman (2014), after a four-year wait, proved his lyrical and conceptual brilliance with songs like “Bad Belle”, “Human Being” and “Brother.” Again, he proved he could evolve with pop trends and still be light-years ahead of the competition.
6. Asake
Run: Mr. Money With The Vibe (2022) → Work of Art (2023) → Lungu Boy (2024)
Few modern artists have dominated the Nigerian charts as quickly as Asake. His debut Mr. Money With The Vibe, broke multiple streaming records on Apple Music Nigeria and Spotify and had hits like “Joha,” “Terminator” and “Sungba.” He followed with Work of Art, which delivered the smash single “Lonely at the Top”, one of the longest-charting Nigerian songs on streaming platforms. His third album, Lungu Boy boosts his commercial momentum and global expansion.
5. Burna Boy
Run: Outside (2018) → African Giant (2019) → Twice As Tall (2020)
This is Burna Boy’s “ascent to the throne” run. He went from a misunderstood genius to a global phenomenon in three steps. Outside (2018) gave us “Ye” and a new Afro-fusion blueprint; African Giant (2019) is a sprawling, Grammy-nominated masterpiece. Twice As Tall (2020) followed next and finally secured the Grammy. This run proves he’s exactly who he said he was: an African giant.
READ NEXT: 20 Nigerian Albums That Shaped Gen-Z
4. 9ice
Run: Certificate (2006) → Gongo Aso (2008) → Tradition (2009)
9ice’s run was legendary, one that many young people today will not understand. Certificate (2006) showed his potential as an indigenous powerhouse and pushed him into mainstream superstardom. Gongo Aso (2008) swept every award in sight when it came out. Tradition (2009) followed up with hits like “Gbamu Gbamu.” With these albums and their indigenous winning formula, 9ice owned the streets.
3. P-Square
Run: Get Squared (2005) → Game Over (2007) → Danger (2009)
The Okoye twins’ released albums that felt like national events. Get Squared (2005) made them African superstars; Game Over (2007) became one of the best-selling African albums of all time with hits like “Do Me.” Danger (2009) proved they could easily maintain that white-hot momentum.
2. Asa
Run: Asa (2007) → Beautiful Imperfection (2010) → Bed of Stone (2014)
Asa’s self-titled debut, Asa (2007), remains one of the most critically respected Nigerian albums ever. It’s a classic that introduced “Jailer.” Her second album, Beautiful Imperfection (2010), features a brighter, more upbeat, soulful production. It also produced the widely loved single “Be My Man.” Her third album, Bed of Stone, continued her reputation for thoughtful songwriting and emotional depth. These albums cemented Asa as one of the most artistically consistent voices in modern Nigerian music.
1. 2Baba (FKA 2Face)
Run: Face 2 Face (2004) → Grass 2 Grace (2006) → The Unstoppable (2008)
2Baba’s first three solo projects provided the foundation for the contemporary Nigerian music industry. Face 2 Face (2004) gave us “African Queen,” one of the most important Afropop songs ever recorded, which helped introduce Nigerian pop to wider African and international audiences. Grass 2 Grace (2006), his sophomore, has big hits like “If Love is a Crime.”
In 2008, he released The Unstoppable, an experimental project that continued his momentum, featuring songs such as “Enter the Place”.
