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  • Electronic dance music (EDM) isn’t new in Nigeria but it’s not a popular genre. Around 2017, the scene began working its way back up. Though slow but steady, it’s multiplying and gearing up to capture the mainstream and Naija music industry at large.

    Buzzing with great talents right now; from producers to DJs to recording acts. If you love it, or just enjoy exploring different sounds or dancing, these are some of the Nigerian EDM artists that should be on your radar.

    Sigag Lauren

    He’s a known DJ, music producer and songwriter-singer who’s been building his rep since he entered the industry in 2018 after he put out his debut single, Party Night. Since then, he’s made numerous notable EDM remixes of popular hits songs like Joeboy’s Baby, DJ Neptune’s Why, etc. Beyond his remixes, Sigag has released original singles such as Jollof and Silver Lining and an EP, Sounds From The Internet. Although his sound is primarily EDM, he fuses afrobeats to achieve a percussive and electronic rhythm. Sigag Lauren is doing really cool stuff in the EDM space; no wonder cosigns have been coming in left and right from popular artists and producers like Adekunle Gold and Major Bangz. In June 2023, he featured Ric Hassani on his single, Minds Already Made Up.

    Sensei Lo

    She’s a DJ and Afro-EDM producer that’s actively present in the Lagos nightlife. She’s been playing DJ sets for over nine years, but started producing EDM in 2019. Since then, she has gone on to perform at Eko Electro, Asa Baako (One Dance) Festival (2019 and 2020), Major Lazer Live, etc. As a producer, she has featured on Moto Kiatu’s Yele, Chike’s Insecure remix. Sensei Lo has cemented herself as one of the top women and biggest players in the Nigerian and West-African EDM movement.

    Maze x Mxtreme

    These talented EDM duo are instantly recognisable; with their to-match fashionable hats, nose masks and attires. Their uptempo music and electrifying performances transform legs on the dancefloor. While they’re pure EDM musicians, their sound has slight fusions of afrobeats, dancehall indie, house and future bass. Their music has  taken them to places like the South-South Music Awards Opening 2016 (the same year they started making music), Jamrock Easter Fiesta and Club Cubana. Recently, they produced the Fast Lane Motorsport theme soundtrack. Just like their slogan, they didn’t come to play, they came to play!

    Jamie Black

    Jamie Black’s Afro-EDM remixes set him apart among his peers — his high energy, unique reimagination of songs are unparalleled. He has remixed songs like Wizkid’s Bad To Me, Burna Boy’s It’s Plenty, Rema’s Calm Down. As a producer, he worked on Roju, off Chike’s Dance of The Booless, Vol. 2. When he’s not remixing or producing, he’s putting out singles and collaborations with the likes of Sigag Lauren and CALIX who he featured on his latest song, FELA IN IBIZA.

    Tony Koya

    Apparently, Tony is a music producer that got into EDM after a friend introduced him to the sound. From that moment he knew music production was inevitable for him. His style spreads across chill lo-fi productions to bass heavy electronics inspired by other ranges of sound. There’s a unique thing in Tony Koya’s music; it can feel really chill when that’s your mood, but also fits right into rave His new single, Norturne explores trap metal and jersey club sounds, producing a nostalgic vibe of old video game soundtracks and the modern energy of rave dance music.  

    CALIX

    He started DJing in university in 2015, but quickly got bored of the monotonous sounds that played everywhere, so he went back to the drawing board and fleshed out another plan to set himself apart among peers and in the industry. Some time between 2016 and 2017, he came across EDM and hasn’t looked back. In 2018, he shared a stage with the likes of DJ Snake and Major Lazer. In the same year, he started Village Sound System group with three other DJs (Sensei Lo, A and Isimo).

  • 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

  • It’s another new music Friday in Nigeria and not a single log drum or Amapiano whistle to be heard. Is the music industry slowly shifting from Amapiano and returning it back to the South Africa it came from? Well, these top Nigerian songs that dropped today are making a case for that.

    Yawa — Fireboy DML

    A groovy afropop song far removed from the Jersey sound experiment on previous single, Someone.

    Fireboy DML teamed up with music producers, Magicsticks and Telz, to make a statement about not minding haters and busybodies. He reveals a new smoking habit, and you can even hear Olamide smoothly backing him up at the end, but the clearest takeaway from the whole song is that it’s very much for the Nigerian audience.

    Angelus and My Darling — Victony

    Victony finally served us the singles he’s been teasing since June 11, 2023. On Angelus, Victony went back in time to pick inspiration from sounds reminiscent of Oliver De Coque. My Darling, produced by Ghana’s Juls, Victony continues to admonish to be in his life. No wonder Victony has been dancing in his promotional videos, these songs are groovy af.

    Sittin’ On Top Of The World (Remix) — Burna Boy ft. 21 Savage

    Burna Boy first released this single on the 2nd of June, but it didn’t pick up as you’d expect. Today, he re-released Sittin’ On Top Of The World with a verse from British-American rapper, 21 Savage. Hip-hop’s influence is clear on this remix; another proof Burna doesn’t miss when he links with foreign rappers.

    My Own — Major AJ ft. Blaqbonez

    Major AJ tapped his labelmate, Blaqbonez, to collaborate on this song. They’re saying what most people already know: finding love in Lagos is the hardest. My Own is a chilled bop with choral backup and serenading trumpets. It sounds inspired by Burna Boy’s Last Last, but with it, Major AJ shows he’s a versatile artist who can’t be boxed.

    Sokoto — Minz ft. Zinoleesky

    Apparently, Minz is now in a better position compared to the pre-release of Wo Wo, and he’s less-concerned about what detractors have to say about him and his music. His new single, Sokoto, is a party jam that explores his sexcapes. Coming from the success of Wo Wo single, Minz links with Zinoleesky to bring this sensual song to life. It’s afrobeats with a sprinkle of house music, produced by Babybeats and Mike Bgrz.

    Chasing Wind — Tim Lyre

    There’s nothing like staying original to your sound as a musician, perfecting it while dropping quality projects. Alternative singer-songwriter and producer, Tim Lyre, has made himself a standout among peers with his unconventional approach and reggae-influenced tone. On his latest single, Chasing Wind, he details the burden of dream-chasing.

    Pariwo — Mohbad & Bella Shmurda

    Since Adura came out in 2020, these two have returned with Pariwo, an uptempo song, telling whoever cares to listen that they’re unavailable for stressful conversations. Mohbad warns that he’s not in a playful mode, and no one should step on his toes. Pariwo is a testimony to the trajectory of their careers and how far they intend to go.

    Eleyele — Taves

    Taves is BNXN, fka Buju’s, new signee. His debut, Eleyele, is a laid-back fusion of afropop and r&b. On it, Taves bares his feelings about longing for a faraway lover.

    Submit your contribution here.

  • It’s now casual doings for afrobeats to break or set one or two records daily. And performing at the biggest sport events in the world is just part of it. We compile all the times our music has been on these iconic stages.

    Several CAF Awards

    This organisation is obviously a huge fan of afrobeats. Everyone from Yemi Alade and Korede Bello (2016) to Wizkid (2017) and Tiwa Savage (2017 and 2022) have graced that stage. And it’s hard to forget Flavour’s 2016 performance with the cultural dancers and masquerade.

    2022 World Cup final

    Two major historical things happened at this huge event. France became the first team to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final and lose. And it was the first time the competition would put out a theme song collection, featuring different international artists. Davido was one of them, making him the first Nigerian musician to perform on a FIFA World Cup stage, joining Senegal’s Youssou N’Dour and Benin Republic’s Angelique Kidjo.

    2022 World Tennis League commencement ceremony

    On the 20th of December, 2022, Wizkid made history as the first and only afrobeats artist to perform at the league’s commencement ceremony, alongside Ne-Yo and Armin van Buuren. At the Coca-Cola Arena, Dubai, Wiz entertained the multicultural audience with hit songs like Azonto, Fever, Soco and Mood.

    READ: How Much Would Nigerian Musicians Cost if They Were Professional Footballers?

    2023 NBA All-Stars halftime show

    It was a three-peat moment for afrobeats at the 72nd All-Stars halftime show, as Tems, Burna Boy and Rema gave the U.S. basketball audience a taste of African rhythm and sounds. Burna performed Anybody and It’s Plenty, Rema followed with Calm Down and Holiday, ushering in Tems to close the performance with Crazy Things, Free Mind and her verses from Wizkid’s Essence and Future’s Wait For U. Nigerian music went from playing on NBA stars’ Instagram stories to featuring live on their game court.

    2022/2023 Champions League final

    After Burna sold out a stadium in London, it’s well-deserved that he’d headline the UEFA Champions League’s opening ceremony of the final game. The world’s greatest football club competition, hosted Burna Boy in Istanbul, where he performed a medley of It’s Plenty and Last Last and gave further proof that he’s one of afrobeats’ greatest performers.

    Quai54 2022

    The world’s biggest streetball tournament finally made its return after the 2020 pandemic in July 2022. And Yemi Alade, 1da Banton, Fally Ipupa and DaBaby were invited to Paris to give some electrifying performances. While Yemi Alade’s music isn’t new to French-speaking communities, the crowd didn’t spare Ida Banton’s music any excitement. 

    2023 African Nations Championship (CHAN)

    https://youtu.be/BmO1B7bATSg

    The afrobeats movement took centre stage at CHAN’s closing ceremony, as CKay took the gospel of Love Nwantiti and Emiliano to over 40,000 people. They turned the sad romance tunes into a rave at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Baraki, Algiers. Seeing as artists like CKay and Burna Boy are gracing major stages, there may be benefits to eating breakfast after all.

    Take our survey here.

  • About nine months ago, Asake solidified his fresh and unique sound with his debut album Mr. Money With the Vibes — an album that went on to influence the current soundscape of the industry with log drums and choral backups. Back with a taste for paintings, Asake is set to take us on artistic vibrations with his new album, Work of Art.

    Prior to his debut album, Asake first made a colourful splash on the scene with his EP Ololade Asake, which took Nigerians straight to the dance floors. Carefully fusing Afropop with styles that slowly creep into Fuji and Apala, Asake sang about having money, a good time and being streetwise. With MMWTV, Asake became the biggest breakout star Nigeria has ever seen with the biggest album of the year and the most streams for an artist, culminating in a recent BET award nomination. It’s Asake’s world and the rest of us are just paying rent and agency fees.  

    In the buildup to his latest, Work of Art, Asake released three songs, Yoga, 2:30 and Amapiano, and they were all number one singles on Official Nigeria Top 100. In all this, Asake hasn’t strayed from the fast life narrative. But while we enjoy the omo jaiye jaiye persona, the important question is: will it keep fans to their feet like it did nearly ten months ago?

    The Breakdown

    Asake opens the album with a mouth full of gratitude to God who translates to Olorun (the opening track title) in Yoruba. On this record, he recalls his life’s journey, the hard times and his meteoric rise. The introspective track is followed by the indulgent Awodi in which he continues the story of his successes and turns Pasuma’s name into wordplay. Early single, 2:30 comes after and it fits in seamlessly, picking up the pace of his Amapiano-inspired direction. Asake asks what the probability of anyone catching up to him is, or if they have the agility to even move. 

    On Sunshine, Ololade Asake becomes more flexible. The song is a shift from his usual pattern (stripped down beat, minimal horns, whistle and choral backups), but still manages to deliver a light-hearted message of motivation. 

    Maintaining a similar direction to Sunshine production-wise, Asake shifts gears to Mogbe which finds Olamide’s protégé in top form, with infectious lyrics about having a good time. Basquiat, the sixth track named after the famous American painter, Jean Micheal-Basquiat finds Asake in his artistic bag, comparing himself to a priceless work of art. After the year that was 2022, Asake’s worth on the music scene fully reflects his position on this track. The Olamide-assisted Amapiano enters next to subtly remind us of their exotic lifestyles and the overall sound the album sets to achieve.

    The party continues with What’s Up My G and I Believe, songs complete with log drums, drawn out storytelling and braggadocious lyrics meant to assert his dominance. At this point, it’s clear the plan is to keep us dancing— he reminded us again on Introduction that he’s Mr. Money with a sprinkle of no food for a lazy man.

    Asake admonishes his lover to “give it to him” while flexing his big vocabulary muscles on Remember. Lonely At the Top follows and switches up the ambience, now in a more solemn but groovy mood; Asake shows some vulnerability and preaches self-love. We’re with him on this.

    Before you proceed, take our survey here.

    Mr. Money’s fun isn’t stopping anytime. He flexes on Great Guy about catching flights, wearing the finest satin, and being in his woman’s bosom. The song ends with a popular Michel Legris’ Mo Capitane sample, ushering us into the trance-like closing track, Yoga, where he accepts the burdens of success, warns detractors and vibe killers.

    Final thoughts

    Asake has never shied away from being heavy on vibes and melodies. He heavily taps in feel-good grooves and since Amapiano is still a darling out here, it works in his favour.

    Though the hooks and choruses are infectious, the album sounds like he’s using the same beat for the 100th time sometimes. Asake paces himself on Work of Art and triumphantly soaks in the momentum.

  • The ability to make cohesive albums with  great replay value takes immense talent and skills.

    Some Nigerian artists have made conceptual albums that have resulted in series and volumes. In this article, Zikoko highlights seven Nigerian music albums that feel and sound like a continuous story.

    Clone Wars Vol. 1 – 5 — Show Dem Camp

    In 2010, Show Dem Camp dropped the first Clone Wars: their Hip-Hop series that explores the Nigerian political landscape, mental health and toxic masculinity. Clone Wars I was fueled by braggadocious bars and fierceness that could be heard in their voices. The second volume (Clone Wars II: The Subsidy) came out in 2012; inspired by the subsidy removal protest during former president Goodluck Jonathan’s regime. In 2016, “Clone Wars III: The Recession” came out during the start of the recession of Muhammadu Buhari’s government. The fourth volume, “Clone Wars IV: These Buhari Times”, also inspired by the former president’s era, dropped in 2019. Then the fifth installment is called “Clone Wars V: The Algorhythm” — inspired by the aftermath of the 2020 pandemic lockdown.

    Palmwine Music Vol. 1 – 3 — Show Dem Camp

    Since they perfected their palmwine music formula on their 2013 single, Feel Alright (featuring BOJ), it’s been an overflowing tap of grooviness, Lagos romance tales, and showcasing the talent of younger generation artists. The first volume came out in 2017 and featured frequent collaborators like BOJ, Ladipoe, Ajebutter22. In 2018, they followed with volume two, featuring Burna Boy, Worlasi (from Ghana), Lady Donli, etc. Completing a musical series of Nigerian love and Lagos nightlife stories. Show Dem Camp released the most recent installment of the series in 2022 to critical acclaim and it boasts of guest artists like Oxlade, WurlD, Tay Iwar, etc.

    Make E No Cause Fight Vol. 1 & 2 — BOJ & Ajebutter22

    These two artists have been collaborating since  2012, after they did on  the popular song, Omo Pastor. It wasn’t news to their avid listeners when they announced their joint EP, but it was a transcendent experience after it dropped in 2018. With productions from Ekelly, Spax and Studio Magic, they explored topics of sex, love and living a soft life. The second volume came out in 2019, this time with Falz in the mix. On Make E No Cause Fight 2, they brag about their baller status and Lagos rendezvous.

    Illegal Music 1 – 3 — M.I Abaga

    M.I’s 2009 Illegal Music is the poster project for the consecutive series. M.I rapped on uncleared instrumentals that sampled popular records made by other artists. He knew he did something crazy and he had continue the series. Illegal Music 2 came out in 2012 and unarguably became one of the best Nigerian Hip-Hop moments; boasting of high-level features from talented rappers like Ice Prince, Phenom, Boogey, HHP (from South Africa), etc. In 2016, he completed the trilogy with Illegal Music 3, which found him at one of his most vulnerable states of mind.

    Jagz Nation Vol. 1 & 2 — Jesse Jagz

    After Jagz’s exit from Chocolate City in 2013, he launched his own independent music outfit, Jagz Nation. That was the road to his Jagz Nation albums creation. He showcased his full capacity as a music producer and artist, producing all tracks by himself. In the same year, he put out the first volume; a projection of who he is, and examines themes of love, sex, intoxication and spirituality. The popular single Bad (featuring Wizkid) came from Jagz Nation, Vol. 1: Thy Nation Come. The second installment, Jagz Nation Vol. 2: Royal Niger Company came out in 2014, a proper rap album Hip-Hop lovers will continue to relish years to come.

    Pendulum Vol. 1 – 4 — Femi Leye

    Femi is a Nigerian guitarist, singer-songwriter, composer and producer that blends African sounds with modern jazz, soul, r&b and funk in his music, and he’s worked with heavy hitters like Burna Boy, Akon, Salif Keita, Adekunle Gold, Angelique Kidjo and Don Jazzy. In 2021, he started his Pendulum music series: a soothing instrumental music project that combines afrobeats, lo-fi, hip-hop and jazz and melodious guitars. The first volume dropped in January 2021, the second in June 2021, the third was released in September 2021 and the last installment dropped in December of the same year.

    The Collectiv3 EP & Live. Create. Repeat. — The Collectiv3

    Music executive, Chin Okeke brought together a group of Nigerian musicians: Show Dem Camp, Funbi, Ladipoe, Nsikak, Temi Dollface, and producers IKON and Kid Konnect; to be The Collectiv3. They put out their debut offering, The Collectiv3 LP, to mark Nigeria’s 55th independence in 2015. In 2018, they released their sophomore album, Live. Create. Repeat, a celebration of creativity. Their productions fuse afropop, alternative, Nigerian R&B with some alté sounds. 

    LOFN 1 – 4 — WeTalkSound 

    In 2018, WeTalkSound made a shift from being just the biggest Nigerian creative community, with members home and abroad, to a tastemaker in the music industry. They curate original collections of love stories, told from different perspectives, with different styles, across genres. “LOFN” is derived from Norse mythology which translates to “loving” the idea of the series being a collection of love stories. The first compilation dropped on SoundCloud on February 13th, 2018 to celebrate the year Valentine’s Day. This has now become their annual tradition. The second one came out 14th February, 2019. LOFN 3 dropped on 14th February, 2020, and the last installment came out in 2021.

    Take our survey here.

  • It’s 2023 and hardly any smash hit goes out without marketing and a strong rollout plan.

    To gain a wider reach and keep momentum going for a long time post-release, a pre-planned rollout of promotional activities is necessary. Nigerian music has evolved such that a lot more intentionality goes into executing a project release.

    It’s no longer enough to hold your money and be creative, the average Nigerian musician needs to find new ways to engage people. Learn from Davido, Joeboy, Victony and Ladipoe, who are currently running the hardest rollout campaigns.

    Davido released his latest album, Timeless, in March 2023, bouncing back from a major personal tragedy. He set a new bar with the project, which became the number one album on Spotify in 24 hours, broke Boomplay’s debut week record in four days, had the highest on-demand streams across all platforms in its first week, and is one of the best albums of 2023, according to Rolling Stones — all results of his star power and the fantastic rollout he put in place with his team.

    From March 30 to April 1, 2023, Davido collaborated with Beat FM, who changed their name to “Timeless FM” to promote the release.

    A partnership with PUMA to produce his merch and sneakers line followed, as Davido joined their list of famous partners — Jay-Z, Skepta, Dara and more. PUMA, who’s also making Manchester City FC’s home kits for the 23/24 season, invited Davido to the club to see its match against Chelsea on May 21, 2023, to celebrate its third Premier League cup in a row.

    When you think of levels, his partnership with Martell is one for the record. An exclusive blend cognac blend — Martell x Davido — was launched to honour their partnership renewal in June, 2023.

    These events put the already loved superstar in the world’s face, announcing his return and increasing exposure for his new body of work, Timeless. 

    But Davido didn’t stop at brand visibility; he’s also killing it in the pop cultural department. The world is doing his “Unavailable” dance challenge as they prepare for his tour in three weeks. He’s made appearances on popular platforms like The Lateish Show (his UK TV debut), Forbes, Drinks Champ, NativeMag, Billboard, spreading his message to a larger audience across the globe. And in May, he was awarded an honorary title of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON). 

    We stan a king who knows his business and is aware he must hawk it.

    Joeboy has also applied a new approach to engaging his fans; his new album campaign has shown there are no restrictions to music promotion. While most musicians limit it to media tours and a little social media interaction, Joeboy unlocked a new channel for Body and Soul, which dropped in May, 2023. 

    He understood that podcasts are the hot cake of media, so why not set one up to talk about his album, the stories and processes behind it and the creatives who contributed to it? And that he did in May.

    He’s only taken this further by hosting some fans at his birthday/album listening party — an experience many couldn’t get enough of.

    He has done a great rollout so far but most impressive is the unprecedented provision of free transportation — in effort to reduce the subsidy stress people face, he provided buses to help people in Lagos shuttle between 8 a.m to 6 p.m without hassle.

    Stayed true to his words.

    Since “Body and Soul” dropped, he has put his foot on the gas, and he’s not stopping anytime soon.

    Victony is another artist rolling out like a king right now. Coming after the success of his Soweto remix, Victony announced that “Ebelebe Music” will drop this June, and we don’t even know if it’ll be an album, EP or single.

    He’s since brought dramatic content to our phone screens, featuring artists like BlaqBonez, OdumoduBlvck, comedian, Nasboi. In these short clips, Victony has been walking around with a briefcase that has “Outlaw” written on it.Victony hands the featured artist the panama cap and watches them wear it. Could these videos be hinting at possible Ebelebe Music collaborators? Victony is cooking, and we’re here for it.

    The game is slowly changing and demanding artists’ A-game. For example, Ladipoe’s quietness after his appearance on his label’s recent album, “Chapter X”, has caused a sudden outburst from fans, who are demanding new music through protests and hashtags.

    Nigerian comedian, Layi Wasabi, joined the list of people demanding for new music, even addressing Ladipoe by his government name. Yes, it was that deep.

    On June 1st, these starved fans went on a mission spearheaded by Layi Wasabi; tailed down the rapper, kidnapped and held him hostage for hoarding songs. The ransom, new music.

    Not a joke.

    These fans took control of his social media accounts to make demands.

    You’ll think it’s a skit, but as the drama unfolds, you begin to see that there’s something in the water. After hot slaps and gbas gbos here and there, he agreed to their terms.

    Freedom at last.

    Ladipoe went straight to the studio and gave the kidnappers their ransom with the release of “Guy Man”, featuring Bella Shmurda. All we’ll say on the matter is Ladipoe has learnt well from Nollywood.

    The level of intention, out-of-the-box ideas and passionate teams behind these rollout strategies have made more people connect with the music. 

    Afrobeats in 2023 has gained huge visibility and gone from performing theatre shows to selling out stadiums, penetrating the Asian market and being formally recognised as a music genre with a new Grammy Award category — “Best African Music Performance”.

    Please, take our survey here.

  • We’ve seen many Nigerian musicians take different routes over time, in their quest to find themselves and become bigger brands.

    But these artists did a complete 180° with their craft and turned their careers around.

    Adekunle Gold

    This brother joined the full beard gang, started using Simi’s hairdresser, ditched adire and batik for designer clothes, shifted from alternative music style to pop sounds and became everyone’s baby. If only Mr. Biggs had attended AG Baby’s rebranding school, they could’ve been so much more.

    Chidinma

    When we first heard Chidinma on Emini Baller in 2012, we knew the industry had a real problem on its hands. Because who else could sound posh, sultry and street at the same? Then she went on hiatus for three years and returned as Minister Chidinma Ekile, a gospel musician. We didn’t see this coming, but she’s making some of her best songs right now, so we don’t hate it.

    Don Jazzy

    If these were the Mo’Hits days of looking like a mob boss, we doubt any Instagram comedian would look into the Don’s eyes, much less make him act in their funny videos. But the old days of walking staff, strong face, keeping mute and whispering in his artists’ ears are over. Since he activated Mavin, Don Baba J has become more accessible, drawing more fans to pay attention to his artists.

    Mr Eazi

    He appeared on the scene in straw hats and dashiki-like tops, and we thought he was some cool nomadic herder. We were right, only that music was his cattle; he took it from Lagos to Accra to London. Although Mr Eazi just put out a new album, Chop Life: Mzansi Chronicles, in May 2023, he’s more focused on being a venture capitalist, investing in tech companies like Paisa, Eden Life, Pawapay, and most recently, South Africa basketball team, Cape Town Tigers.

    READ: We Wondered Where These Nigerian Artists Are, So We Went Digging

    Falz

    It’ll be hard to find someone as creative and funny as Falz in the modern Nigerian music scene. But he went from cracking us up in music and movies to being at the frontline of protests, calling out bad governance. He even made an album, Moral Instructions, to address societal issues like corrupt politicians, police brutality, social injustice, etc. Falz is another episode of things Nigeria will do to you.

    Teni Makanaki

    Since the start of her career, she’s stayed different, even going for baggy clothes and vibrant accessories. But in 2022, she broke the internet with her body transformation, which seemed like the beginning of a new era for her. And after listening to No Days Off, we’re wondering, is she the alté sugar mummy now?

    Larry Gaaga

    He went from general manager at Young Shall Grow (YSG) Entertainment to managing Nigerian rapper Vector, to collaborating with afrobeat stars as an artist and producer. He has even executive-produced soundtrack albums for movies like Living In Bondage: Breaking Free and Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story. Larry Gaaga has come a long way. In 2022, he resumed in Def Jam Africa as vice president and head of its A&R division.

    Olamide

    Baddo will go down as one of the most influential African artists of all time. Who else has leaped from breaking himself out as a superstar, dropping street knowledge as music hits to signing and breaking out other artists who’ve also gone on to become superstars?

    TeeZee

    Regarded as one of the pioneers of the Alté music movement, fans prayed and fasted for nine years for Arrested by Love to drop in 2022. TeeZee also makes music with DRB Lagos, his collective with artists, BOJ and Fresh L, and runs NATIVE Records — a label he formed with Chubbziano, his co-founder at The Native Mag. In the last year, we’ve seen him focus on his new signees, Smada and OdumoduBlvck — the current heartthrob of the industry.


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  • Gospel music remains one of the most popular genres in Nigeria. Beyond the four corners of the church, the songs have elevated to become foreign exports and taken its artists to big stages such as Afrobeats Festival, The Experience, Afropunk London, Coast 2 Coast Music Festival, etc.

    In the last decade, Nigerian gospel music has experienced new generation musicians who’ve helped bring younger people and unbelievers into the fold. If you’re looking for the gospel musicians making waves with their music, here’s a list.

    Anendlessocean

    He’s a fast-rising Nigerian singer-songwriter from Lagos. Well-known for his blend of R&B, pop and soul music— a sound some of his fans have described “gospel but doesn’t feel like gospel.” With one album to his name, Anendlessocean is slowly building a solid fanbase. He’s considered one of the best talents of his generation. His second album, Decagon comes out August 18.

    Limoblaze

    If you’re not familiar with his brand, you’d call this cap, but Limoblaze is one of the biggest exports the Nigerian music scene has seen in recent times. The Nigerian gospel rapper started his music career independently in 2014. Since then he has gone on to develop consistency, versatility and music-making skills that set him apart from peers. His six music projects testify to this. He’s now signed to Reach Records, owned by famous American gospel artist, Lecrae. Limoblaze is set to join the list of Nigerian superstars who’ve sold out and performed at the O2 Academy this September.

    Ty Bello

    She’s known for songwriting skills and live music approach. In 2008, Ty Bello’s  Greenland, her debut album, won multiple awards like Sound City Award and Nigeria Music Award. Her sophomore album, The Future,  was released in 2011— with features from Banky W, Tara Fela-Durotoye, the late  Sound Sultan, etc. Since then, four other full-length projects have followed, including her latest album, Heaven Has Come; a 20-track album, which was released in May, is already making statements as some of the best music to come out of 2023.

    READ: These Christian Songs Are Nostalgic for Every Nigerian Christian Adult

    Apostle Iren

    Apostle Emmanuel Iren is the founder and general pastor of Celebration Church International, popularly known as CCI, with its headquarters in Lagos. When he’s not preaching, he’s singing or writing songs, and leading his Outburst Music Group. Although many listeners acknowledge Apostolos as his first album, he actually released a debut titled Kerygma in December 2017.

    O’tobi

    “Otobi lomo na” as he fondly praises himself on songs, is that guy. His 2017 EP, Son of God is an example of how the talent makes some of the best gospel music in the country— he infuses African percussion and contemporary swag into his songs. In 2021, he released his debut album titled Breakfast (Afrogospel Vol 1). Throughout 2022, he dropped a series of singles. 2023, he is back with another one called Take It featuring Marizu and Tbabz.

    CalledOutMusic

    Born in Kaduna, Nigeria, now based in England, CalledOutMusic is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He started his career In 2016, and between then and now, he has released two successful albums, won a Best Gospel Act at UK Entertainment Award (2020), MOBO awards (2020), and toured internationally. CalledOutMusic is famously known for his deep lyricism.

    Greatman Takit

    Former member of award-winning music group The Gratitude, Greatman Takit is one of Nigeria’s best young gospel artists. He’s a rapper and singer who has struck a fine balance with his raps and Afrobeats elements. In 2016, he released WildFire (The EP) and put out another EP titled Energy (Afropop Gospel Vol. 1) in 2021. His 2023 singles, Melody and Asiwaju are more proof of his conscious efforts to dominate our playlists. Greatman Takit is an incredible musician, unconfined to a musical box— on any type of sound, he showcases great artistry without losing sight of his goal to uplift and spread gospel messages.

    Jlyricz

    Jlyricz is a Lagos-based singer-songwriter, author and poet, born and raised in Benin-City.  He hasn’t looked back since his debut in 2017. His discography is full of singles and projects like The Redeemed (2017), Thankful, Love Play (2018), Love & Gospel: The Collection. This year, he has released another album titled Spirit & Rhythm II and a new single, Lifting Me High. Besides his impressive consistency, Jlyricz’s soulful vocals and puts him on lists of Nigerian gospel artists that should be on your radar. 

    QUIZ: Can You Unscramble the Names of These Nigerian Gospel Artists?

  • 2022 was an incredible year for Nigerian music: Burna Boy’s Last Last became a global hit, Ayra Starr gave Gen Zs musical bragging rights with Rush, Omah Lay made emo boys feel seen and Tems caused some damage with acts like Beyoncé, Future and Rihanna. Despite all this, the one name we couldn’t stop calling was Asake. 

    With hit after hit, Asake put his foot on our necks, marking one of the biggest runs the industry has seen since Naira Marley’s 2019 breakout. Can Asake’s big break be replicated? Probably not anytime soon. But there’s a high chance the artistes on this list could end up as major breakout stars by the time we close out 2023. 

    Seyi Vibez

    The biggest underdog of 2022, Seyi Vibez has become one of the most streamed artists in Nigeria without the backing of a label — even though fans are just finally getting to attach a face to the sound and name. 

    Building his following organically, with honest stories about his early days in Ikorodu and the complex reality of adjusting to fame, Seyi has used songs like Chance (Na Am), God Sent, +234 and Para Boi to keep Nigerians in a chokehold, and we’re here for it. 

    Odumodublvck 

    Rap is not dead in Nigeria, it’s changing, and Odumodublvck is one of the rappers at the forefront of this movement. 

    One of the pioneers of the Nigerian drill scene, his fearless lyrics and high-life-inspired melodies have called out the government on Potor-Potor, spoken against police brutality on Bloody Pavements and soundtracked some of the biggest raves in the country with Agbalagba. Closing out 2022 with the addictive single, Picanto, Odumodu and his Okpu Agu seem set to take over 2023 with vim. 

    Bloody Civilian 

    We were all psyched when the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack dropped. After being excluded from the first film’s soundtrack, it felt good to see Nigerians dominating the conversation this time. But among heavyweights like Burna Boy, Rema and Tems, was Bloody Civilian, an artist not many people had heard of before. Wake Up, Bloody Civilian’s entry on the Marvel Soundtrack was a loud, rousing banger, but it had nothing on her follow-up single, How to Kill a Man. 

    Remember how Tems and Ayra Starr came and changed the game? There’s a high chance 2023 might be Bloody Civilian’s year. 

    TAR1Q

    TAR1Q’s 2022 EP Son of the Moon might be just 15 minutes long, but it still manages to make a strong introduction to the type of artiste he’ll be. From the opening track, Emotions, which has him in love with two women, to Dear Insecurities, the album-closer on which he battles with his inner demons, TAR1Q shows different sides of himself, all while making the five-track project cohesive AF.

    If you’ve spent hours listening to Omah Lay, you need to add TAR1Q to your playlist ASAP!

    Bayanni 

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JF8xqCf-ArE

    Mavin Records’ latest signee might not have a face as famous as Ayra Starr or Rema, but best believe you’ve heard his voice before.

    From his star-making verse on the label’s 2022 hit, Won Da Mo, to the viral TikTok sound coined from his single, Ta Ta Ta, Bayanni has proven himself a worthy baton-collector in the Mavin hit-making factory. The next move? Increase social media presence and push a unique personality Nigerians can relate to. 

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    Ugoccie

    Not everyone can successfully turn 15 seconds of fame into a thriving singing career, but that’s exactly what Ugoccie did after Do You Really Love Me? her TikTok parody of Rotimi’s My Bed transitioned into a bonafide hit. Since then, the rapper/singer has worked with artists like Phyno and Niniola on her 2022 debut EP, A Piece of Me. Best believe you’ll see and hear a lot of Ugoccie’s cheeky humour in 2023. 

    Lobi 

    Lobi’s Freemotion is hands down one of the most underrated debut projects of 2022. A deadly combination of Wande Coal-like circa Ololufe falsettos, Tay Iwar-inspired harmonies and the seductive BDE of The Weeknd before the whole pop fiasco, Lobi’s take on R&B feels familiar yet distinct. From the brooding Roses to the self-assured No Pressure, Lobi makes his mark in under 20 minutes, and now, we want more. 

    Efe Oraka 

    Efe Oraka is no stranger to the game. Stealing hearts with her 2017 single, Wonderland, Efe quickly became a fave of SoundCloud babies just around the time artistes like Odunsi the Engine and Cruel Santino started to achieve widespread attention.

    While she’s been on and off for a while, Efe’s ethereal voice has only gotten better with each project, as evidenced by her 2022 singles, No More and Damn, Daniel. Hopefully, she puts out more music and finally claims the alt. R&B princess crown that’s been waiting for her. 

    Major AJ 

    Afrobeats is constantly evolving, with new iterations popping up every day. Rema helped make Afro-Rave a thing, and before him, Fireboy DML introduced audiences to Afro-Life with Laughter, Tears and Goosebumps. Now, thanks to Major AJ, a new sound is brewing, and he calls it Afro Disco.

    Taking elements from the strings that carried some of our parents’ fave highlife and funk records of the 80s, Major AJ’s EP, Retroverse, was a major standout of 2022. With tracks like Taboo and Mr Lover (which samples Angelique Kidjo’s Agolo) bringing the past into the present, I can only imagine what new musical territory Major AJ will explore in 2023. 

    SirBastien

    SirBastien makes music for misunderstood Gen Zs who get tattoos when they’re sad and profess their love by sending playlists. While I don’t do any of these things, I still deeply connect to SirBastien’s music because he reminds me of a Frank Ocean and Thundercat love child. 


    After 2022 which saw him work with Rihanna and Tems on the Black Panther soundtrack, there’s no telling where SirBastien’s music might take him in 2023. But I’m down for the ride as long as he remains quirky and exciting.

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