It didn’t take long for the music industry to join the girl math vs boy math trend. As women and men were opening up about the excessive and embarrassing things they do, the Naija music industry was giving its own accurate references.
We’ve compiled some of the most relatable music industry math” takes we saw on the X (formerly Twitter) app.
Top Acts only doing selective collaborations/remixes with anyone that is hot at the time for their own personal benefit, then turn around and claim ‘supporting the youngins’🤓 https://t.co/ISqvIVKMhI
We will act like we don't see you until you blow up…then we will come and tap into your buzz…making you feel like we are helping you.. Or worse, sign you so we can slowly end your career & blacklist you when you try to leave. https://t.co/xnirOMXIiR
"Remove tours, last last, on the low, ye, love Damini album, African giant album, Grammy awards, Burna is not that guy", remove it and put it where? 😂 https://t.co/5kPT1uq2T5
Where will you be when the biggest meat festival is going down at Burning Ram? Do your quick math now and sign up here to know when tickets drop.
Biggie’s money is a lot of cash, most especially in the Nigeria of today. But the way these All-Stars housemates are moving, it’s clear they’ve finished the cash without even leaving the BBNaija house.
White Money
White Money cooked A LOT of food during his stay in the house. He even cooked jollof rice right before his eviction on Sunday. Unfortunately, his cooking skills and Ghana-Must-Go tactics didn’t favour him this season. If Biggie hadn’t sent him home, he might’ve told him to start paying for anything he eats in the house.
Mercy
She wears so many luxury designers in the house. Biggie has even seized some because they went against his rule to not wear branded items. If Mercy wins again, we already know where the money is going. Even Moniepoint’s game cash won’t be enough for her.
Neo
This guy is the best at cooking spicy noodles with plenty orishirishi. We doubt Biggie would’ve given him that huge sum without deducting his Indomie budget.
Doyin
Doyin woke up every day in the house and was all glammed up. We all know that it costs an arm and a leg ordinarily. Biggie’s money can only keep her all glammed up and looking pretty for a short amount of time.
Angel
Angel has told us about her expensive Van Cleef and Cartier bracelets countless times. We all know these aren’t cheap. If Biggie’s money touches her hand, that money will go straight into her bracelet stacks before she even gets home.
KiddWaya
What will ₦120m do for a billionaire’s kid? He said his plan was to share the prize money with people. Money hasn’t even landed, and Kidd Waya has spent it all. In the same group as 9-5ers that spend salaries before it drops. Kidd can still keep his money-sharing promise if he plays and wins the Moniepoint app games.
Pere
Even if Pere wins this BBNaija All-Stars, Biggie would use his prize money to repair every property he’s damaged — from the wall he dented to the mattresses he flipped during his altercation with Alex.
Soma
This bro came to Biggie’s house to work out. Is Biggie’s money enough to purchase the whole gym set he’ll need when he leaves? Our advice? Soma should play Moniepoint’s game for the money to complete it.
Uriel
She’s the queen of all the lush wigs in Biggie’s house. Wigs of different colours and sizes, Uriel whipped out at least two per day. Do the math. The way they now cost the same as a plot of land in VGC, can ₦120 million cover that many wigs?
Hol’up.
While your faves are in the house playing a game and fighting to get their bag (the 120m), nothing should stop yours too. Get the Moniepoint app and also play a game to get a bag, but from the comfort of your home. Zero stress.
Abi you don’t like money? A free one at that.
Nigerian music has experienced a meteoric ascension in the last decade, with artists like Burna Boy, Ayra Starr, Rema and Asake shining on the world stage.
However, we don’t talk enough about the producers who’ve defined this rise through their quality work. They’re the hallway of one of fastest growing cultural export out of Africa. These geniuses are changing the global sound.
Sarz
Sarz co-produced Drake’s One Dance (2016), one of the records that catapulted afrobeats to international shores. Because of Sarz, we got some of the best music projects from Wurld, Lojay, Obongjayar and more. The super-talented music producer, sound engineer and DJ has a catalogue as diverse as afropop, R&B, Hip-Hop and afro-house, classifying him as one of the most outstanding producers we have. He made the Hennessy Artistry 2014 theme song (Dance Go), released a sample and loop pack for producers (the first from a Naija producer) in 2020 and founded The Sarz Academy to train and develop songwriters, performers and producers. Super producers like Tempoe and P.Priime are products of his music school.
Image source: Wikipedia
Pheelz
Some listeners discovered Pheelz when they heard the tall musician on his mega hit, Finesse (2022) with BNXN FKA Buju. But some 12 years before that, he was already affiliated with YBNL on chart-popping productions like Olamide’s First of All and Fucking with the Devil. His production credits cut across smash hits, era-defining albums and singles like M.I Abaga’s The Chairman album, Runtown’s debut, Ghetto University, Seyi or Shay by Seyi Shay, Adekunle Gold’s Pick Up and Vector’s Popular. He’s also worked with Lil Kesh, Wande Coal, Fireboy DML, Tiwa Savage and Bella Shmurda. Although he’s now focused on recording and performing his own music, Pheelz remains instrumental to how some of our fave sounds have come together.
Image source: Spotify
Young Jonn
Since his early days at the Hit Factory, Young Jonn set himself up for an incredible career trajectory. After he produced five songs on Olamide’s Street OT album (Story For The Gods, Falila Ketan, The Real MVP, Prayer For Client and Blood Money), Young Jonn went on to bag the 2015 Headies’ Producer of the Year award for Baddo’s viral jam, Bobo. Since then, his tag, “It’s Young Jonn, the wicked producer” has become synonymous with hit songs, even though we hear it less as Young Jonn morphs into a recording act.
OkayPlayer
Altims
From 2013 to 2016, Mavin had its legs on everyone’s necks. And Altims is responsible for producing some of our fave 2010s songs from their stable: Oluwa Loni and Ladies and Gentlemen by Reekado Banks, Do Like That by Reekado Banks and DJ Xclusive’s Gal Bad. The former Mavin in-house sound designer, mix engineer and DJ also helped birth hits like Man Already by Ladipoe, Tiwa Savage’s Thank You, Before Nko, LaBaLaBa and Rema’s Lady, Woman, Boulevard, Oroma Baby in later years.
Image source: TVC Entertainment
FreshVDM
[ad][/ad]Going through Fresh’s discography, it’s not hard to see the man had a great run from 2016 to 2021. He produced anthems like Burna Boy’s Mandem; Mayorkun’s Of Lagos; FIA, Flora My Flawa, Nwa Baby and I Got A Friend by Davido. Very solid CV for a producer.
Image source: The East African Feed
Rexxie
Almost all your fave street-pop artists have shopped his beats. No Rexxie, no year defining hits like Able God, Zanku, Tesumole, Mafo, Soapy, Ko Por Ke (KPK) or Comma. He gained popularity in 2018 and became massively involved in bringing fresh sounds to afrobeats. With four star-studded music projects to his name, Rexxie remains relevant as one of Naija’s hottest music producers.
Image source: African Music Library
P.Priime
When you hear the vibrant “Giddem” or a resounding “P” production tag on songs, that’s to let you know P.Priime is the producer. After graduating from The Sarz Academy in 2019, he’s gained increasing popularity and his catalogue speaks for him. With hits like Wizkid’s Anoti, Reekado’s Ozumba Mbadiwe, Fireboy’s Bandana and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’s Anya Mmiri, Alone and Coming Back For You, P.Priime has placed himself as one of the youngest and busiest producers in Nigeria.
Image source: Wikipedia
London
Most of the songs he’s produced have topped charts, so it’s no wonder London has been nominated at prestigious awards shows across the globe, breaking and setting records for the Nigerian music scene. Although he’s most famously known as one of Rema’s go-to sound men, London has production credits on Wizkid’s Grammy nominated Made In Lagos album, Ceeza Milli’s Diamond in the Rough, Tiwa Savage’s Celia, Arya Starr’s 19 & Dangerous, Black Sherrif’s The Villain I Never Was and more. As of publishing, he’s on Billboard’s Top 100 Producers list thanks to Rema’s multi-record breaking Calm Down — both the OG and remix versions.
Image source: MoreBranches
Kel-P
Popularly known by the “It’s Kel-P Vibes” tag Sarz helped him create, he rose to prominence with his contributions to Grammy-nominated albums like Skip Marley’s Higher Place, Burna Boy’s African Giant, Wizkid’s Made In Lagos (deluxe version) and Angelique Kidjo’s Mother Nature. In 2023, Kel-P joined the likes of Pheelz and Young Jonn to become singer-songwriters but still won the Headies’ Producer of the Year award. Concentrating on his singing and production, we may yet see Kel-P unlock new incredible levels.
Image source: NET
In case you didn’t know, the meat festival of this decade, our Burning Ram, is coming soon.
Burning Ram Fest
We have English-speaking rappers people often mistake for “hardcore rappers”, and Ibile United — an umbrella term for local Yoruba rappers. Although some of them mix some pidgin here and there, they’re not the same as rappers who strictly rap in Pidgin. Also, these pidgin rappers don’t enjoy as much attention as their counterparts expressing through other tongues.
This is a list of seven hard Hip-Hop artists who rap in Pidgin. You should be rinsing and repeating their work.
Erigga
Erigga, a.k.a. Paper Boi, is highly revered for spitting in Nigerian pidgin, telling relatable stories from the streets of Warri. When Erigga flows on soulful Hip-Hop beats and reflects on his life or talks about the ills of the music industry, he’s a different beast. Please start with the intro, Industry, and Death Bed on his Okorowanta album.
DanDizzy
DanDizzy,a Port-Harcourt-born artist, became famous for his impeccable freestyle ability.
Get a music box and play DanDizzy any instrumental, and he’s ready to go on and on. It’s interesting how he switches flows and makes bars out of anything in pure pidgin and PH slang.
His studio releases include Who Goes Der!, Denge Pose feat. BadBoyTimz and Yawa feat. Skales. DanDizzy sings, too, a lover at heart on Garni.
ODC
If soulful, Boombap and Lo-fi raps is your taste, ODC is the guy you turn to. His hard-knocking delivery and classic Hip-Hop samples, but the stories come from the gritty streets of Surulere.
ODC kicks knowledge, lifelines, hard punchlines, and puns that make you go “Ugh”. Yes, that’s how crazy he goes with the bars. He has The Illest series (three volumes) with South-African-based Nigerian producer MHP. They are a perfect pair because their styles are complimentary.
Abstraktt
If you see Abstraktt, you’ll think he’s never stepped foot on Lagos mainland or heard of Ikorodu. But when he drops his pidgin lamba, a big surprise hits you. Trap, drill, and afro-swing are his usual play stations.
[ad][/ad] Bops like 2Fresh, Guyman, and Allow Me to Rap will convince you on the first listen due to their relatability and fun choruses. When you see Abstrakkt outside, hail him as one of the unique rappers out right now instead of confusing him for DJ Consequence — he remarked on No Wahala.
Knowledge (of Ajebo Hustlers)
Knowledge weaves words together in pidgin and Port-Harcourt dialects, handing you vivid imagery of his socio-political thoughts, relationship issues, and his raunchy side. He’s also comical, which makes his raps more digestible. Most of his verses are on songs and projects like Kpos Lifestyle Volume 1 and Bad Boy Etiquette with his fellow Ajebo Hustler, Piego.
hyph!
hyph! has a mystical personality; there’s no face to the brand. hyph! just drops the music. He spills his mind on moody beats that sound comforting, especially after a weary day. hyph! has three tapes to his name — Bicycle Lane, blue+black and [h.i.M] on which he showcases his production skills and tells stories of his unemployment, the 2020 lockdown, cash chasing and lost faith.
His music is currently available on Soundcloud.
Reeplay
Straight out of Abuja, Reeplay has made a name for himself as one of the distinctive spitters in the federal capital’s music scene. Although he’s humourous, Reeplay raps in an aggressive way that amuses and keeps the listener engaged — every bar is either a claim or a brag or just a funny comparison of something. You want to hear what more he has to say. In songs like Comot for Sanko, Na Now, Not Sorry and Who Is Reeplay, he details his time in jail and the tough streets of the Buj.
Yo, ICYMI, our Burning Ram Fest is coming soon.
The artists owning the “afro-trenches” space of Nigerian street-pop music have created a template that’s uniquely theirs. In their native tongues, street lingo and code, they lay their personal experiences, frustrations and vices, religious affinities and narratives from their environment, cautionary or not, on their songs.
On today’s edition of #BumpThis, we present to you seven fire songs from seven lyricists evangelising the gospel of the trenches.
Believe — Dapop
With moody chords that slowly build into a solemn vibe, drawing out an uncanny level of honesty out of the artist, Dapop starts the song with the chorus and first verse. He reveals how he was a G-boy but has nothing to show for it. The second verse has the featured artist, Billirano, rapping about his dad’s unlawful imprisonment and the struggles his absence brought on the family. All in all, Believe expresses a yearning for breakthroughs to escape multi-dimensional, generational poverty.
Olisa — Zyno
One thing that’s very prominent on this drill jam is the gospel music samples, from church hymns beaming with organ-piano to Mercy Chinwo’s Excess Love. As Zyno and fellow South-Eastern artist, Jeriq the Hustler, seek God’s face for goodness and mercy, this song could easily pass for a special number in church.
Big Dreams — Billirano
The message is clear. Billiarano has big dreams, but his humble background won’t let things go smoothly for him, even though he’s steadily making moves in music. If he was born with a silver spoon, he’d be partying every day of the week. Big Dreams is a motivational song produced by LarryLanes.
G B H S — T DOLLAR
G B H S stands for Guided by Holy Spirit. In this song, the thick kick drum afro-pop production guides T DOLLAR’s vocals as he sings about shutting up haters when he begins to shine. Religious doctrine is ingrained in T DOLLAR. His lifestyle may be streets because he comes from it, but his faith always shines through.
Time (Remix) — Damo K
Damo K understands the concept of waiting one’s turn as he sings “Everything on God, yeah / ’cause my time no be your time / Make you buckle up, make you shine.” Bella Shmurda is a guest artist onthe remix, and he sonorously preaches that “Hustle no dey kill person / hustle to the top / hustle no dey wait person / me I no dey rush.” Whether you’re waiting for your turn or your turn has finally come, just remember that time is still an essence.
Problem — Heli Kush
The lyrics to this song read like a soliloquy, conversation between young hustlers motivating themselves or a street motivational sermon. Problem is the typical “Cut your coat according to your size” song, but the production leaves the ultimate impression. Trumpets blow to African percussion as guitar chords drag with it – giving lush palmwine sound.
LA — SAMGARD
This jam is about destiny — people are put on earth for different purposes, so it’s needless to envy others. “À ní mo ma là,” SAMGARD sings with the confidence that his success is inevitable; “LA” here means to break through. He and Diamond Jimma deliver the message in eloquent Yoruba and pidgin, through simple proverbs and idioms.
Listen to them here:
The late Nigerian artist, Mohbad made music that resonated deeply with the Nigerian streets.
While some of us knew him when he was with us, some found out about him after his death and still don’t know much about his bodies of work. If you are one of the latter and aren’t sure where to start, these are the perfect ten tracks to introduce you to his sound.
Balan Zia Gar
In November 2019, a month before Mohbad joined Marlian Music, he released Balan Zia Gar (a blasé and broken pronunciation of Balenciaga), drawing inspiration from a viral Balenciaga trend in 2019.
This song focuses on how the street will adore you, broke-shame you, then motivate you to get the money to purchase an original Balenciaga.
Adura
Two weeks after releasing Balan Zia Gar, Mohbad put out Adura with one of his closest friends, Bella Shmurda. With the song’s instrumental blending computerised drums, maracas, light guitar riffs, and solemn piano chords, Adura sounds like a South West Nigerian gospel song that people sing when the year starts to end — it shares a similar nuance with the popular Odun Nlo Sopin by Mrs. D.A. Fasoyin.
On the song, the two singers plead and appease the heavens for their own blow-up time. Mohbad recognised music as a tool for celestial communication, and he used it well for his heartaches, desires and the convenient space he allowed his spirituality.
Komajensun
The Rexxie-produced Komajensun is an uptempo anthem of sexcapades and debauchery.
Overhype
Though subdued and slow-paced, Overhype has the Zanku sound that dominated the Afrobeats scene music from 2018 into 2020. Overhype compares an inflated self-worth to the overrated year 2020, which didn’t give us flying cars but a deadly virus that claimed millions worldwide.
KPK (Ko Por Ke)
After Overhype, Mohbad ended 2020 on a very high note. Collaborating again with super music producer Rexxie, they released KPK (Ko Por Ke) to wild, wide acclaim. Fast-tempo, bursting with log-drums and ear-tearing bass, KPK is a street slang turned into lung-raising slappers. KPK is yet to elapse its longevity and has influenced how Yoruba words are abbreviated on Obasanjo’s internet.
Feel Good
If the streets aren’t addressing enmity and reminding them that their origin stems from the ghetto, it’s not a complete song. If you’re looking for music about hardships, God, trenches, haters, success and enjoyment on the same track, here you have it.
Backside
Backside (2021) is also one of Mohbad’s jams that shouldn’t be missed in his essential songs. Its message is direct, like the song title — his ode to big bunda. The beat’s accelerating bpm is carefully patterned to entice the rotation of hips in waist beads. It’s simple, fun and gets the party started.
Peace
Mohbad left Marlian Music in 2022 amidst alleged multiple assaults, but he still chose Peace. Mohbad wiped off the unfortunate experience, forged ahead to boost his confidence and sang about his survivor’s spirit.
Ask About Me
This song expands on what Peace said, but his self-confidence was on 100. “Ask about me, ask about me / Omo olórun, won le múmi”. He was sure he belonged to God, and detractors couldn’t catch up to him. He still represented his faith. He showed us that no matter what lifestyle or art you create, faith is a sturdy thing.
Account Balance
On Account Balance featuring Zlatan, money is the topic. With a sprinkle of broke-shaming, it’s heavily worded in street lingo that references making and spending cash. One wouldn’t call it a hustler’s anthem, it’s just two artists with similar vocals bragging about their bank accounts and having fun at it.
Music represents his truth, his ways and his life. No one sees Imole without it.
Listen:
Two years have passed since I discovered Mohbad’s music. Post-lockdown, sometime in early 2021, I was waiting for my school to resume so I could finish signing my clearance form and head for my NYSC programme.
At home, young guys around me were broke and complaining. Most of us felt if we weren’t “bombing” a site or cashing out or spending crypto money, we were idle and wastemen. I could get by with my writing gig, but honestly, that didn’t matter to me. I equated every compliment, feeling and value to only money. I was under pressure to become a “Benefit Boy“. Like a battered ship, aimless, I looked for an anchor to hold on to. But nothing hooked until one evening when I was out with my guys looking for a good time.
I remember that playlist clearly. A mix of selected Naija rap music and street-pop songs played in the background — then a special track cued in. It sounded a bit like highlife, with a sharp leading note and a softer riff playing together. One of the cleanest baritones I ever heard came on just as the music pulled me under. This voice told a story that gripped me.
Sorry is the leading track on Mohbad’s official debut project titled Light (2020), and I still find it hard to go past that one song when I play the album. Sorry, a subtle apology to his parents and a cry-for-help, quickly became my nighttime ritual. The song didn’t put me to sleep, instead, it woke me up to the reality that other people were also going through things. At the time my desperation was at an all-time high, and it could’ve turned me into a Nigerian prince collecting “clients’” money online, I found Mohbad, born Aloba Ilerioluwa Oladimeji.
The song, a semi-autobiography, runs for two minutes and twenty-four seconds. Not only did he tell about his humble and religious background, woes and strife, Imole (meaning light), as fans fondly call Mohbad, bared his then newly-found vices on the song. That was his superpower — an awareness of his environment and talent with a balance of street knowledge and soul. Even though my situation wasn’t as bad nor did we share the same waywardness he mentioned on the song, Sorry was my anchor throughout 2021. I found clarity and strength in his flawed story.
I would need Mohbad’s discernment a year after. In September 2022, the street poet Mohbad had just released Peace, and I was two months fresh out of the NYSC — extremely free-spirited and filled with the ginger to make my own way. At that point, we both weren’t where we used to be. Allawee had stopped coming, my writing gigs were slow, and I was particularly scared of life after service. Mohbad, on the other hand, was in a row with his principals at Marlian Music, his former music label.
Peace was the last song he put out under Marlian Music, and he made it count.
The cultural intelligence that advises against saying everything at once is what Imole applied. He opened up on his unending battles with enemies disguising as friends, not naming names. In this song, what really hit me were the lines: “Surviver, mí ó nígba / money chaser / faster than a bullet / flying like a rocket / bad man will never rest”. My head was in that get-rich-or-die-trying space and those lines stuck in my memory and lips throughout the year.
Mohbad was the soul of the street. A ghetto philosopher of hustle and survival, love and good times. He represented well for the trenches everytime, never at the expense of his faith which came forth on almost all his records.
In 2023, he pushed his music independently under his own umbrella, Imolenization. Into the year, he put out Ask About Me, the seventh track on Blessed, his last project. Mohbad had left the problematic music label he was signed to and went back to pushing his music without backing. Ask About Me showed me a guy who had found his mojo. He’d regained his confidence and was ready to put hit songs in the street and clubs. Like most of his sounds that deeply resonate with me, this too came out at the time things still seemed bleak. The difference this time was I was moved by Mohbad’s triumphant energy.
I was moving with blind faith but at the time, I just started regaining my confidence and showing my face outside again. No other song gave me the satisfaction that I was the shit than Ask About Me.
Yesterday, Ask About Me, my mood lifter, my I’m-unfuckwithable anthem reminded me how far I’ve come. One of the deepest lyric that I really love due to its profoundness became a heart wrenching note yesterday. “Ikú tó p’àyá Teacher, ó lè pàwon niggas.” The death that killed the elder can also kill the young. Mohbad explicitly tells us that caskets don’t care for your age. To lose him at 27, these lines feel like a harsh premonition.
Mohbad came, saw and experienced life. He documented his life, in visuals and verse, and gave his story to multitudes that didn’t know him personally. He loved the streets. The streets loved him back.
While someone like me has probably lost a god, Mohbad claimed his and even talked to him in his music. I hope Imole’s finally at peace. I wish him light.
Mami Wata hit the cinemas on September 8, 2023, and has become the most discussed Nigerian film this week. While the internationally-acclaimed fantasy production was breathtaking to see, we couldn’t help but note some observations as we watched.
Note: this story has spoilers.
Black and white in 2023?
The whole movie is not a flashback, just in case you were wondering. Mami Wata just goes to show that pictures can be enjoyed in unconventional ways. The black-and-white emphasised the breathtaking cinematography in a way that coloured probably wouldn’t have. Which means those old monochrome televisions weren’t so bad. In fact, we want to see more of it.
Permanent face painting?
How many buckets of white paint did the movie producers have to buy? Come to think of it, how many buckets do the fictional characters have to buy per month to keep up the face-painting lifestyle? Important to ask because those intricate patterns couldn’t have been easy to draw, and they’re an everyday thing.
The hairdressers know work
These types of hairstyles are for the fashion magazines. Zinwe’s windmill and Mama Efe’s satellite will have you turning your neck anyhow in real life. Any serious fashion house should be looking for Iyi’s best hairdresser right now.
Why does Mami Wata give and take?
If Mami Wata is generous because she’s a bountiful motherly goddess, why does she take back her gifts? What sort of helper is that?
Is Iyi just Nigeria
No social infrastructure, only spirituality and vibes.
Who is Jasper really?
I knew that Lucky Dube look-alike was up to no good when he couldn’t say “Thank you” to Prisca immediately after Mama Efe told him she saved his life and made the delicious food he was eating. Same guy pretended just to get inside Prisca’s blouse. But why did he cry to his cross pendant because he laid with a pagan when he didn’t even have penis? Then he turned on his helpers and stole their land? A snake.
Zinwe, the Gen Z babe
A whole wannabe Mami Wata intermediary is scared of being thrown inside the river? After she came out alive, I expected some dramatic fanfare from the villagers. Instead, she just went on playing with her friends unnoticed for another week? What was all that bragado in the beginning?
Anyway, our Burning Ram Festival is almost here. Are you coming?
Rema is now one of the biggest Afrobeats exports and unarguably the leader of his generation of artists. With records of hits and numbers to back it up, we look at all the times he proved that he’s the HIM of his era.
Winning the Headies Next rated award at 19
In 2019, Rema won the Next Rated award category at the 13th edition of Headies. While receiving his award on stage, he called himself the future of Nigerian music. Fast-forward to this moment, it’s fair to say his prophecy is manifesting.
In April 2023, Rema became the most streamed Afrobeats artist on Spotify with the deluxe edition of his debut album, Raves & Roses. The album hit one billion streams, making it the highest streamed African album of all time; this was the first of its kind on the digital platform.
REMA's 'Rave & Roses' becomes the first African project in history to surpass 1 billion streams on Spotify, following 'Ultra' version. pic.twitter.com/QoZZm8x2mY
In June, Raves and Roses broke its record and set a new one after hitting 1.5 billion streams. By July, Raves & Roses (Deluxe) became a two billi baby.
Calm Down (both original and the remix) are top two on most exported Afrobeats songs list.
Performing at Lollapalooza 2023
In August, Remy Boy joined a large number of musicians from all over the world to perform at the 2023 Lollapalooza edition in Chicago. His performance and crowd engagement skills are highly captivating — a superstar doings.
Rema first climbed the Billboard chart in 2020 with his jam, Woman, peaking at number 15 on the World Digital Sales. His consistency and strategic collaboration pushed him further to the Billboard Hot 100 with Calm Down featuring Selena Gomez on April 22, 2023. The same song also catapulted LONDON and Andre Vibez to the highest charting Nigerian music producers on the Billboard Hot 100 Producers. He’s also the second rated artist on Billboard’s U.S Afrobeats Songs chart.
Headies’ speech and wins
During the Headies’ 16th music award ceremony on September 4th, 2023, Rema delivered a solid speech, charging the Nigerian music industry to unite and show more regards to their fans and the music institutions. On the same night, he went home with three awards (Best Male Artist, African Artist and Digital Artist of the Year). The guest artist on his Calm Down remix, Selena Gomez bagged the International Artist of the Year while the director of the music video of the song (Director K) won the best music video award.
A winning circle.
1 billion Spotify streams
When Rema released the smashing remix to his hit Calm Down in 2022, reviews and opinions ridiculed his choice of guest artist. Some even said (and still does) that he was desperate for foreign acceptance. But now, the song has hit one billion streams, becoming the first African single to do so.
Rema and Afrobeats are the rave of the moments. So are these stars too. All Afrobeats moments are curated for you here.
Biopics aren’t common in Nollywood, but one focusing on the legendary Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti just came fresh out of the oven. Read all we know about it.
The lioness
Funmilayo: The Lioness of Lisabi spotlights revered women’s rights activist, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti’s life, from her high school years as the first female student at Abeokuta Grammar School, to her marriage and career as an educator. The title, lioness of Lisabi, is a cultural reference of her heroics. Lisabi was a powerful warrior from Egba, where Funmilayo was from. Even though Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti is what appears on posters now, the tentative title was announced in 2021 and we hope it hasn’t changed.
Who was Funmilayo?
A Nigerian educator, socialist, political organiser, women’s rights activist and an overall “idan” of her time. Chief Funmi, as she was fondly called, formed the Abeokuta Ladies’ Club (later known as Abeokuta Women’s Union) to fight against exploitative colonial government and traditional rulers. As at 1956, Funmilayo had flown across the salts to give a public lecture in China. She was the first woman to drive a car and ride a bike in Nigeria. And let’s not forget she gave birth to Fela Kuti and former minister of health, Olikoye Ransome-Kuti.
An iconic biopic demands a solid cast
With Kehinde Bankole as the leading act, this biopic employs the professionalism of seasoned actors, Adebayo Salami, Dele Odule, Adunni Ade, Keppy Ekpenyong, Jide Kosoko, Omowunmi Dada and Joke Silva (as the older Funmilayo).
It’s a real-life Kutis affair
Chief Funmi’s grandkids will make appearances in the film. Dotun Ransome-Kuti plays his dad, Olikoye Ransome-Kuti. Kunle Ransome-Kuti plays his own dad, Fela Kuti. And Yeni Kuti acts as her aunt, Dolupo Ransome-Kuti. Femi Kuti and his son, Made, will also feature.
Brought to life by Bolanle Austen-Peters
The “queen of Nigerian theatre” — known for directing Queen Moremi and Oluronbi, and producing Man of God (2022), Collision Course (2021) and The Bling Lagosians (2019) — secured the Kuti family’s support and production rights from the Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti (FRK) estate. She’s both director and producer on this biopic.
Only in Silverbird Galleria
Lagosians would remember the Silverbird Galleria, VI, from those secondary school dates of the 2000s. Well, the venue’s cinema must be on a mission to return to their glory days as they’ve somehow secured sore authorisation to screen this biopic in Nigeria. They have it for a limited time — September 8 – 15 — so swallow your pride and go back to the favourite hangout spot of your youth.
Oscars material
Iconic in life; iconic in biopic. This movie about the life and times of Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti stands a chance of making history in Nollywood as it has been submitted to the Oscars Academy for consideration. Its limited release follows the prestigious award’s requirement that reviewed films can only show in their original country for seven days.
Before you leave, don’t forget our Burning Ram meat festival is still cooking. Stay close.
