People often refer to Shakespeare as one of the greatest writers of all time, but did he write Watimagbo? No.
After careful research and deep thought, we’ve decided to throw Davido’s name into the mix as the best thing to happen to lyricism. With the Baddest Boy remix currently taking over social media, it’s only right we have this conversation now. These lyrics serve as evidence that no one is seeing David Adeleke when it comes to this songwriting thing.
Who needs a whole Ministry of Education when David is out here dishing out knowledge for free? A little physics lesson here dears, the Faraday referenced in this song is Michael Faraday, the father of electricity and the first person to build an electric generator. Bet you didn’t know that. Come through, Prof. David.
2. “If nothing lasts forever o, me and you we go be nothing forever o” — Flora my flawa
This one is elite mathematics. Everyone says, “Nothing lasts forever,” and our guy, David, wants his relationship to last forever. So it only makes sense that they become nothing.
3. “When I look into your eyes all I see is your waist” — D&G
Omo x1000. We tried our best but this time, the math isn’t mathing. David, you wrote D&G, please, come and explain yourself.
4. “You go chop Nigerian koboko, straight from Magodo” — Baddest Boy Remix
We know what koboko means in this context, but why is it from Magodo? We’re going to need Magodo residents to explain this one. Is the koboko from Magodo a different type? What’s going on? We have so many questions.
5. “Wake up and jump-start. I go chop you like oha” — High
Oha is one of the sweetest soups on planet Earth — if you don’t believe us, argue with your taste buds. That being said, if anybody offers to eat you like oha, please carry your slippers and run because when they finish, omo, nothing will remain o.
6. “Shukura ki lo kosi o, Shuku shaker, Aya shoemaker” — FIA
7. “Love is sweet o. When money enter love is sweeter” — Assurance
Where’s the lie? Saying “I love you” is cute and all, but you know what makes love better? Credit alerts, private jets and creamy pasta. You know it, we know it.
There are two types of babies, and on Nwa Baby, we find our fave lyrical genius doing his best to make sure you know the baby he’s referring to is his lover, not a child. Overraw best in English.
Since amapiano became a thing last year, many Nigerian artists have tried their hands at it, either as originals or as guests on remixes. With 2021, showing an explosion of the genre on the Nigerian music scene, we decided to rank some of our favorite afrobeats-amapiano crossovers from the past year.
10. Too Sweet (O dun) – Niniola
Niniola has already shown us that deep down, she’s South African. Taking over the afro-house music scene, it made sense for her to take a stab at another South African genre. If we ever doubted her, Squander was staring us right in the face. Too Sweet has become the go-to “I came to slay” song on social media and honestly, we can’t stop listening.
9. 44 – Ayanfe
While Ayanfe’s name might not be popular, we have a strong feeling you’ve heard this song before. Off his recent All that Matters EP, this joint also features verses from other upcoming acts like Mystro and Jamopyper.
8. Stella Riddim – Wavy the Creator
Wavy the Creator is one of those artists you can’t put in a box. We doubt there’s a genre she hasn’t tried out (and done well, to be honest). Jumping on the amapiano train with some help from Ckay and Ghana’s Efya, Stella Riddim is a standout track from her new EP, PS: Thank you for waiting.
7. Mosafejo – Dunnie
With production credit on songs for Wande Coal, Yemi Alade, Niniola and Focalistic, singer Dunnie is not new to the music scene. While her work as a producer might grab your attention, it’s her amapiano inspired single, Mosafejo that will have you pulling out all the moves you’ve picked up from Instagram. If her single is this good, then we are ready for her upcoming album.
6. Come My Way – Wande Coal
You know it’s real when folks like Wande Coal decide to hop on a vibe. A match made in musical heaven for us, we got a chance to hear our Black Diamond flex his voice on one of the sickest amapiano beats of the year. Are we upset that Davido’s verse didn’t make the final song? Yes. But that doesn’t mean this version doesn’t slap, because omo, it does.
5. Ozumba Mbadiwe – Reekado Banks
If someone told us that after a string of major misses Reekado Banks would have one of the biggest songs of the year, we would have called the person a detty liar. This song came out in October and now just like the traffic on the road it’s named after, we can’t escape it. Major shout-out to Reekado for doing the needful by paying tribute to victims of the Lekki toll gate massacre of October 2020. We have a feeling that amapiano might be his true calling, who knows?
4. Yaba Buluku – DJ Tarico, Burna Boy and Nelson Tivane
Contrary to what you might think, this song isn’t even South African, it’s from Mozambique. This goes to show the rate at which amapiano has infiltrated not just the Nigerian music scene, but Africa as a whole. Leave it to Burna Boy to add his Jerusalema magic to the song for the rest of the world to catch up. Like most of the other crossover hits on this list, we don’t know what the lyrics mean. But who cares? We’ve already learnt the dance steps and that’s enough.
3. High – Adekunle Gold and Davido
Is it okay for us to admit that Adekunle Gold hasn’t missed all year? Because look at the receipts. Since dropping Afro Pop, Vol. 1 last year, he has been serving us hit after hit. When we heard about his collaboration with Davido, naturally, we knew it was going to bang but did we expect it to bang this hard? No. High is one of the best examples of taking amapiano and making it as Nigerian as possible without removing the sauce that made us fall in love with the genre. Maybe we’re pushing it at this point, but we wouldn’t mind a joint EP from these two.
2. Ke Star Remix – Focalistic, Davido and Virgo
Remixes work sometimes and other times they just end up being a hot pile of garbage. Already a massive hit when the original dropped in 2020, the Ke Star remix is a major example of a remix that works. With everyone constantly shouting OBO’s famous “E goes down when my gs connect”, we doubt anyone remembers the original. Do you?
1. Monalisa – Lojay and Sarz
When Lojay and Sarz dropped their joint EP LV N ATTN, our focus was immediately drawn to the title track featuring Wizkid and then, it eventually shifted to another hit on the album, Tonongo. While we were focusing on these two, Monalisa came out of nowhere and became one of the biggest songs of the year. This song proves yet again that there’s nothing Sarz can’t do. Is Lojay saying “Monalisa” or “Monalisan”? Well, hold on, let’s listen again, maybe we’ll figure it out this time.
What does it mean to be a man? Surely, it’s not one thing. It’s a series of little moments that add up.
“Man Like” is a weekly Zikoko series documenting these moments to see how it adds up. It’s a series for men by men, talking about men’s issues. We try to understand what it means to “be a man” from the perspective of the subject of the week.
Everyone gets their “man now” moment. When was yours?
I think this was 2011/2012 when I moved out of my parent’s house. I was 25 years old, and for the first time, I had to cater for myself — buy food in the house, buy fuel, pay light bills. I was like, yes, I’m now on my own.
LMAO. What pushed you to leave?
I’d always wanted to leave my parent’s house since I was 18, but I couldn’t afford to. I grew up in Ikotun and I didn’t like the area at the time, so I wanted to leave to see the world. I still remember when my friends and I went to one area outside Ikotun to find out the cost of a mini-flat. That’s how badly we wanted to leave. By the time I finished NYSC, I felt it was time, so I packed my bags and moved to Lekki.
Ahan. Biggest boy.
LMAO. My parents thought I was mad. They kept asking how I could afford to move from Ikotun to Lekki. I told them that I’d be fine. I didn’t have more than a year’s rent neither did I have a car. The only thing I had was my energy, which is to always do things nervously. I’m grateful I moved because going from Ikotun to Lekki exposed me and changed my life.
Noted. I too will move to Lekki.
What was the toughest part of moving out?
Ọmọ, everything was tough. When I lived in Ikotun, my transport fare was ₦100 to most places, but in Lekki, because there were barely public buses, I was spending ₦2,000 daily on transport to work. In between transport, stocking up my house and still trying to do omo boy, I was struggling. It was tough but at least it pushed me to increase my earnings.
How much were you earning during this period?
My brother, I was earning ₦150,000 before tax and spending like ₦40,000 out of that money on transport. That’s how badly I wanted to leave home.
Mahn. What drove you then, and what drives you now?
I didn’t have a lot of exposure growing up — I can count on one hand the number of times I went to Lagos Island before I turned 18 — but I always knew there was better beyond my environment. Stepping outside Alimosho LGA to the island was a dream for many kids in my area, and I wanted to see why.
I’ve never been comfortable with a fixed idea of myself because there has to be more to the type of conversations I’m having, more to the type of sound I’m making, more to what I can become. I’ve always been a curious person who is all about more.
Hmm. How does this play out in your life?
One major place is my sound. If you take my first recording as the final version, you’ll be disappointed. I easily change my mind. I can decide to change the tempo of the song or remove an instrument from the background. I’ve learnt to detach from the idea that there’s a fixed version of me.
Interesting. Doesn’t constant change scare you?
Most definitely. There’s nothing I’ve tried that I haven’t done nervously. One thing I’ll never do is hold back. Not trying will bother and fill me with regret. If I fail, at least I know that I tried. It might sound stupid, but I don’t see how anyone can thrive by playing safe. Everything I’ve done, I did it afraid.
Tell me about your biggest failure.
Anytime I “failed”, it turned out to be a stepping stone. I’ve made many mistakes in my life, but God found ways to switch it around because there’s no way my decisions have been perfect. I won’t say I’ve never made mistakes, but I don’t see them as failures. THEY all added up.
AG baby is Jesus’ baby oh.
Lol.
I’m curious about your sense of style. Tell me about it.
From my sense of style, you can already tell that I’m a spontaneous person — if I think it, I’m doing that shit because I don’t believe there should be fashion rules. Wear the shit that looks good on you: If you like palazzo, wear it. If it’s beads you like, wear it. If you want to dye your hair, dye it. Life is too broad, too wide and short to be worrying about how fashion should be done.
The most important thing is that you’re comfortable with your style. I know it comes across like I have my fashion shit together but the truth is that I don’t overthink these things.
My president! Has there been pushback?
So many times, and it’s not limited to fashion alone. There are decisions I’ve made that people around me were not happy with. I remember losing friends when I switched to Afropop. I kept on hearing, “You’re the King Sunny Ade [KSA] of our time, why do you want to switch?” I told them that I’m AG and not KSA, so I’m going to live life and make art on my own terms. I’m not going to allow anyone to project their fears on me. The switch to Afropop was scary, but it turned out to be one of the best decisions I ever made.
AG baby is our baby!
Haha.
What are some things that give you joy?
Quality time with my friends and family. I’m happy playing PS 4 or 5 with my boys in the house. Or when my boys are in the house, and we spend time throwing banter. Then of course, I enjoy spending time with my girls because they give me the most beautiful feeling in the world. I’m at peace just chilling with them.
My chest. I want to hear about your fatherhood journey.
Even though I’m still fresh, I enjoy being a dad so much. I enjoy being responsible for raising a beautiful girl. Fatherhood is such a beautiful feeling and my prayer is that my daughter grows up in a world where she’s able to do whatever she wants. I want my daughter to live her life and grow up to be an amazing person.
Did anything prepare you for fatherhood?
I’ve always liked the idea of starting my own family, so I was looking forward to fatherhood. I was curious about the type of man I’d be with a child, and I don’t think I’m doing badly so far.
One minute while I confirm from Simi.
You can ask her. LMAO.
What would you say has changed since you became a father?
I make sure I don’t use swear words around my daughter because I’m very conscious about how my actions can influence her. I know she’s still small, but kids these days are very smart and this is a foundational period for her. I also spend more time at home — if it’s not money, you will always catch me in the house with my girls.
Family seems important to you. Would you say your background influenced your love for family?
I didn’t have a good family experience growing up and that’s why I’ve always desired to have my own beautiful family. Because my experience wasn’t something I wanted to carry on, I made a covenant to do better when I got the chance to start my own family.
What would you do differently from the way our parents raised us?
I’m never going to beat my child the way my father beat me. I’m not one of those “but I turned out good” gang. I’ve also learned that communication is important, and I’m going to ensure that I create an environment where my child is comfortable enough to tell me anything.
Can you adopt me?
Na so.
I’m curious about what you think is different about being a man in Nigeria.
Growing up as a man in Nigeria requires a lot of work. “To Be A Man Na Wah” is still a valid song because it’s not easy. My desire is that as men raised in Nigeria, we do a lot of unlearning especially regarding understanding and respecting women. I’m hopeful that in a few years, we raise mindful men who know to not harass women, unlike the current way where we raise women to be careful of men. I know that it’ll take a while because Nigerian men are raised on pure vibes.
Dead. I’m curious about the things you had to unlearn.
First thing is that rubbish mentality we had about not marrying a woman who can’t cook. Who says that a woman has to cook? If you can afford to hire a chef, do that shit. I’ve also learned that house chores are not a woman’s responsibility. You’re living with your friend, not your slave. Some people have told me that I’m not the lord of the house because I’m not “controlling” my wife. In marriage, you’re not lord anything. Ogbeni better calm down.
I feel you.
How would you describe your masculinity?
I am a guy-guy. If I like something, I show it. I cry if I’m emotional about something. I’m also clearly a lover boy.
LMAO. Has anything ever threatened this idea?
That one is normal everyday yarns for Nigerian men. That’s why you’ll find men who find it hard to say “I love you, bro” to their fellow men. It’s also why you’ll tell your dad you love him and he goes cold and says, “God bless you.”
You’re a man doesn’t mean you’re a rock. Men also run on blood and emotions, so farabale and loosen up because life is not hard.
I love you, AG!
Lol.
What has changed between Ikotun AG baby and the current you?
One thing that hasn’t changed is Ikotun. LMAO. I’m still that excitable boy who doesn’t know how to form — if I like or dislike something, you can tell on my face. One of my prayers is that I never lose my sense of wonder because I’m still that Ikotun boy who is learning and unlearning about life.
Check back every Sunday by 12 pm for new stories in the “Man Like” series. If you’d like to be featured or you know anyone that would be perfect for this, kindly send an email.
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Everybody loves Wizkid. Or so they claim. With the release of his new studio album, Made In Lagos, everyone is claiming to be a day one fan. This quiz will separate the real fans from the people trying to ride the wave.
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There’s so much new music being released that it’s hard for even the most loyal fans to wade through the trash to find the gems. That’s why we’ve created #BumpThis – a Friday series that features new songs, by and featuring Nigerians, that you absolutely need to hear.
Tekno — “Kata”
Last year, after a few forgettable tracks, Tekno finally landed his first truly great banger in a while, “Skeletun”. Well, the afropop star seems to have done it again with his first single of 2020, “Kata”.
Brilliantly produced by Phantom — the same beatsmith behind “Skeletun” — “Kata” is an infectious track that finds Tekno struggling to win the attention of a woman who has stolen his heart.
“Kata”, just like “Skeletun” before it, is an indicator that Tekno has gotten his mojo back. Hopefully, these stellar singles will finally lead up to his long-awaited debut album.
While the year in music started off rocky, a lot of our favourite stars have since come through with at least one banger. So, here are 10 singles from the first quarter of 2020 (January to March) that soared above the rest.
Rema — “Beamer (Bad Boys)”
2019’s biggest breakout star, Rema started off 2020 with the same hit-making energy. “Beamer”, one of the two singles he’s released this year, is another infectious reminder of why his rise has been so astronomic.
Adekunle Gold — “Jore” ft. Kizz Daniel
Not one to collaborate with many people outside of his wife, Adekunle struck afropop gold when he decided to enlist the gifted Kizz Daniel for his first single of 2020, the exceptional “Jore”.
Wande Coal — “Again”
While Wande Coal is easily one of the greatest living afropop stars, it’s been a while since he dropped something as undeniably great as “Again” — a song that utilises all his gifts to full effect.
Burna Boy — “Odogwu”
Seemingly incapable of making a bad song at this point, Burna Boy’s first single of the year, “Odogwu” is another confident track from a star at the peak of his powers.
Oxlade — “Away”
Set to be one of 2020’s biggest breakout acts, Oxlade successfully kicked off the new decade with “Away” — the fantastic lead single off his star-making debut project, Oxygen.
Teni — “Marry”
One of Teni’s most enviable gifts as an artist is her ability to make songs that are both catchy and relatable. On “Marry”, her first single of the year, she nails that impressive balance yet again.
DJ Neptune — “Nobody” ft. Joeboy & Mr Eazi
When it comes to orchestrating bangers, very few DJs come close to Neptune. For his second single of the year, “Nobody”, he enlisted Joeboy and Mr Eazi, resulting in one of the best songs of the year so far.
Peruzzi — “Gunshot”
Very few afropop stars can write a song quite like Peruzzi, and “Gunshot”, his first release of the year, finds him using that ability to create one of his catchiest singles to date.
Patoranking — “I’m In Love”
A staggeringly consistent hitmaker, Patoranking knocked it out of the park with his first effort of 2020, “I’m In Love”. The dancehall-influenced love song is simply impossible to dislike.
Efe Oraka — “Zion” ft M.I
A truly exciting rising star Efe Oraka returned from a painfully long hiatus with the outstanding “Zion”, a beautifully written and performed track that includes a standout guest verse from M.I.
While we know that a lot of the best Nigerian artists deservedly have fans across generations, that won’t stop us from attempting to guess how old you are based on your taste in Nigerian music.
So, take this quiz to see if we got it right:
With the reported cases of Coronavirus in Nigeria rising, it’s time for us to play our parts in preventing further spread. So, we’ve curated 10 Nigerian songs that should help you remember just how serious this entire ordeal is.
1. Asa’s “Fire On The Mountain”
Even though this song is over a decade old, it feels quite apt right now. There is clearly “Fire On The Mountain”, and a lot of Nigerians don’t seem to be on the run.
2. Burna Boy’s “Collateral Damage”
Unless more Nigerians start taking this virus seriously, it’s inevitable that many people will end up being “Collateral Damage” in the wake of someone else’s stupidity.
3. Runtown’s “International Badman Killa”
With the virus currently ravaging over 190 countries, racking up a death toll of about 14,000, it’s safe to say that COVID-19 is the real “International Badman Killa”.
4. Davido’s “Risky”
Since you can’t know for sure where anyone has been or who they’ve touched, it’s best to follow Davido’s instruction and assume that everyone’s body is potentially “Risky”.
5. Wizkid’s “Fever”
The most common symptom of the virus is a “Fever”. If you feel hot to touch on your chest and back, there’s no need to panic. Just follow these simple instructions.
6. Naira Marley’s “Soapy”
Right now, the safest sexual partner is yourself. So, while “Soapy” may have been too crass for some when it first dropped, it’s currently the masturbation anthem we need.
7. Mr Eazi’s “Miss You Bad”
As soon as we all start self-isolating, “Miss You Bad” will feel even more poignant. Just make sure you check up on those you love during these stressful times.
8. Fireboy DML’s “Scatter”
With the number of reported cases in Nigeria rising on a daily basis, it should go without saying that any kind of party or social gathering should immediately “Scatter”.
9. DJ Neptune’s “Nobody”
One of the best Nigerian tracks out right now also happens to be the ideal anthem for social distancing. So, as the song says, we don’t want to see you with “Nobody”.
10. Odunsi’s “Better Days”
While it might feel like the entire world is coming to an end, it’s necessary to look forward to “Better Days”. If we don’t, we might all lose our collective minds.
Even though Rema only broke out less than a year ago, thanks to the well-deserved success of his eponymous debut EP, it legitimately feels like the Mavin Records signee has been around for a lot longer.
With the sheer amount of quality content he’s put out since his big break — two follow-up projects and a flurry of hit singles — it’s not hard to see why his career feels more long-spanning than it actually is.
Thankfully, 2020 doesn’t look to be any different for the tireless star. Over the weekend, he dropped the first episode of Rema’s Realm, a four-minute short that follows he and his gang robbing a supermarket.
Everything Rema has put out so far, whether it’s an IG post or a music video, feels very intentional, serving as a window into his vastly creative mind. The engaging Rema’s Realm, which he wrote, is just his latest avenue.
For the short, Rema smartly enlisted the same team behind his award-winning “Dumebi” music video — a clip that played a very vital part in shaping his image.
Speaking about Rema’s vision, the director, Ademola Falomo said:
“We embarked on this as the first of a series of visuals aimed at unveiling this version of Rema. It is simply Rema sharing more of himself with his fans.”
“Rema is a very intelligent guy. He’s very aware of his place in pop culture and very intentional about what he wants his impact in the game to be. This makes him more open to relatively risky ideas.”
With Rema, we are witnessing the exciting rise of a rare Nigerian star — one that not only relies on creating and performing music to connect with his fast-growing audience.
There’s so much new music being released that it’s hard for even the most loyal fans to wade through the trash to find the gems. That’s why we’ve created #BumpThis – a Friday series that features new songs, by and featuring Nigerians, that you absolutely need to hear.
Adekunle Gold — “Jore” ft. Kizz Daniel
For the past year, Adekunle Gold has been on a mission to show off his range, and with every new release — be it a solo effort or an unexpected feature — he unveils an exciting new layer to his artistry.
His first single of the year, the Kizz Daniel-assisted “Jore” is no different. The track finds both stars singing about their relationships, promising to give their women anything they desire.
On the delightful love song, Adekunle Gold proves he can hold his own against one of the strongest afropop stars working today, and that makes us doubly excited for his upcoming LP.
