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  • It’s officially Grammy season. 

    In 2021, Wizkid, Tems, Made and Femi Kuti made it on the Grammy Awards nomination list. This year, with Burna Boy’s Love, Damini  getting two Grammy nominations, and Tems getting two nominations for Wait For You, her collaboration with Drake and Future, it looks like Nigeria will be well represented again. 

    But outside of these artists who’ve already signed attendance with the Grammys before, here are 10 artists and projects we would’ve loved to hear when the nominations were announced. 

    Some Nights I Dream of Doors — Obongjayar 

    Obongjayar’s music is as raw as it gets. Whether he’s urging you to keep hustling on songs like Try and Sugar or reminding you that you deserve better on Tinko Tinko (Don’t Play Me for a Fool), Obongjayar maintains an intense level of honesty and emotion that’s hard to find these days. 

    There’s so much drama in this man’s voice, and even the album title is dramatic AF. What is Some Nights I Dream of Doors? But the best part is all the drama pays off beautifully when you listen to his music. 

    Boy Alone — Omah Lay 

    No one is doing this “sad boy music” thing like Omah Lay. After blowing up at the height of the pandemic in 2020, Omah Lay cemented his position as one of the most exciting Nigerian artists right now with the release of Boy Alone, his debut EP. Letting his emotions take centre stage, the album has given us hits like Soso, Woman, Bend You, and the song anyone suffering from imposter syndrome can relate to, I’m a Mess. 

    V — Asa

    If there’s one Nigerian artist who seemed set for a Grammy win from the moment they stepped on the scene, it’s Asa. Her debut self-titled album was, and still is, a masterpiece, covering heartbreak, politics and existential thoughts. But it did nothing to prepare us for V, her fifth studio album released this year. 

    With V, Asa has moved her music to the dance floor. Singing about friendships, love and red wine, this album proves Asa can make any type of music, and it’ll still slap. 

    Catch Me If You Can — Adekunle Gold 

    Adekunle Gold’s rebrand from calm lover boy to in-your-face fashion icon/ DILF still makes my head spin. With 2020’s Afropop Vol.1, Adekunle introduced a fun, more pop-focused side of his music and personality. Bringing that energy into his 2022 album, Catch Me If You Can, Adekunle pulls out all the stops, featuring Davido, Lucky Daye and Ty Dolla $ign. Maybe I’m high, but it looks like AG Baby is here to stay. 

    Mr Money With the Vibe — Asake 

    2022 is the year of Asake; he hasn’t let us breathe. Every week, it’s one snippet followed by a single or collaboration until he dropped his debut album, Mr Money With the Vibe, in September [2022]. 

    Although the album suffers from sounding repetitive, Asake manages to make each song as infectious as the one before it. While it looks like Asake is slowing things down, it doesn’t mean Mr Money With the Vibe doesn’t deserve Grammy love. 

    RECOMMENDED: Asake is the Fashion Icon the World Needs Right Now

    19 & Dangerous (Deluxe) — Ayra Starr 

    Ayra Starr is that girl, and she knows it. Despite taking 2021 by storm with her self-titled EP, her smash hit, Bloody Samaritan, and her debut album, 19 & Dangerous, Ayra has shown no signs of slowing down. As a matter of fact, the hits dey rush.

    Releasing the deluxe version of 19 & Dangerous with new songs and remixes, Ayra has thrown her hat into the ring. While her album may not be eligible, songs like Rush and the Bloody Samaritan remix with Kelly Rowland still make the cut. 

    Palmwine Music 3 — Show Dem Camp 

    Five years after tapping into their Feel Alright palm wine vibe to drop the first installation of what we’ve come to know as the Palmwine Music series, Show Dem Camp has closed out this chapter of their career with Palmwine Music 3.

    Bringing in past collaborators like BOJ, Moelogo, Tems and Ladipoe, while creating space for new acts like Oxlade, Tay Iwar and Victony, Show Dem Camp successfully delivered one of the best albums of the year. It’s sweet, sour and relaxing, just like the drink it’s named after. 

    Rave & Roses — Rema 

    It’s Rema’s world right now, and the rest of us are just paying rent and agency fees. Three years after capturing our attention with the party starter, Dumebi, Rema officially kicked off 2022 with his debut album, Rave and Roses. While songs like Dirty, Time N Affection and Calm Down remind us Rema is a budding sex icon, his music really hits when he sheds off that gragra to give us songs like Addicted, Divine and Are You There? 

    Sad Romance — CKay

    Capitalising on the international exposure he got after Love Nwantiti became TikTok’s official anthem in 2021, CKay dropped his debut album in 2022, and it didn’t disappoint. It’s interesting CKay named it Sad Romance when almost every song on it sounds like music that’ll get you pregnant.

    Swimming in sensual R&B production and CKay’s bedroom voice, Sad Romance was a major standout of the year and deserves some recognition. 

    ALSO READ: Do Nigeria’s Biggest Artists Really Need the Grammys?

  • After teasing everyone with the Tems co-written Rihanna ballad Lift Me Up, the full Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Soundtrack has finally made its way to the public, and it takes a significantly different direction than the 2018 soundtrack for the first film. 

    While Kendrick Lamar was at the helm of the first Black Panther album in 2018, the film’s soundtrack was very American, with appearances from SZA, Travis Scott and The Weeknd. Kendrick seemed to ignore the African heritage that inspired the fictional kingdom of Wakanda and made the album like T’challa (Chadwick Boseman) was an Atlanta-based superhero. 

    Finally giving Black Panther and its fans the album we deserve, The Black Panther: Wakanda Forever album is a diverse mix of Nigerian, South African and Mexican sounds. Despite featuring international stars like Future, Stormzy and Rihanna, it’s African stars like Tems, Burna Boy, Fireboy, Busiswa, Ckay, Bloody Civilian, DBN Gogo and Rema that steal the show.

    Taking us on a journey from grief to celebration as Wakanda tries to deal with the loss of T’Challa and Chadwick Boseman in real life), these are the standout songs from the new Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack. 

    Anya Mmri — CKay and PinkPantheress 

    It’s hard to listen to the flutes on Anya Mmri (translates to tear-filled eyes) and not remember those Old Nollywood films with Pete Edochie as the king and Genevieve Nnaji as the resident village maiden. The combination of ancient Igbo flutes and house-like beats is great, but the unexpected collab between Ckay and PinkPantheress (two artists who blew up on TikTok) is what makes Anya Mmri  an attention grabber on the soundtrack. 

    People always ask us to hold on to the memories when dealing with heartbreak or pain, but like CKay and PinkPantheress sing on Anya Mmri, sometimes, the memories are not enough. 

    Alone — Burna Boy 

    Remember when we said Burna Boy was in his sad boy era? Well, it looks like Damini has found another record to channel his deepest thoughts into. Reflecting on the need to be grateful for every second, Burna Boy’s Alone fits perfectly in this album about celebrating life amid grief. 

    Even though the song is titled Alone, listening to Burna Boy sing on it, you start to realise that the last thing this man wants right now is to be alone. 

    Pantera — Aleman and Rema 

    We all know Rema can sing (and whisper like he did on Soundgasm), but why didn’t this man tell us he could rap too? 

    Collaborating with Mexican rapper Aleman, Rema goes ham on Pantera.  He mentions how he doesn’t condone violence, violence condones him. His flows on this song are so smooth it’s easy to assume he’s been doing this rap thing for a while. Come through, Mr Divine. 

    Love & Loyalty — DBN Gogo, Sino Msolo, Kamo Mphela, Young Stunna and Busiswa

    Love & Loyalty is hands down one of the best amapiano songs I’ve heard this year. Coming right after Rihanna’s deeply moving Lift Me Up on the album’s soundtrack, the song is not upbeat enough to have you stepping like crazy in the club, but it still has enough energy to ginger you. 

    I had Love & Loyalty on repeat in the gym, so I highly recommend it for moments when you just need that extra push to do something. 

    RECOMMENDED: ​​Interview With Amapiano: “Nigerians Have Killed Me”

    Interlude — Stormzy 

    Probably one of the saddest songs on the album, Stormzy’s Interlude dives deep into the concept of grief and how to move on after someone you love dies. My favourite rap genre is when rappers get really vulnerable and rap-sing about their deepest emotions. 

    On Interlude, Stormzy understands that blaming or questioning the person who died won’t do anything to bring them back, but he can’t help himself from doing it. It’s a sad song about channelling pain, and I can see this playing during a scene with Shuri (Letitia Wright), T’Challa’s sister, who’s been rumoured to be the new Black Panther. 

    Coming Back For You — Fireboy DML 

    I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Fireboy DML’s Coming Back For You is the next song on the album after Stormzy’s Interlude. 

    Although Fireboy sings Coming Back For You like a romantic song, a closer listen to the lyrics will show that it’s more or less a response to Interlude. “When the tears fall like shooting stars, remember who you are,” he sings on the bridge before adding, “Look up to the sky, and you’ll see. I’m coming back for you.” His reassurance that they’ll never be alone makes Coming Back For You feel like a warm hug from the great beyond — or wherever you believe dead people go. 

    Wake Up — Bloody Civilian and Rema 

    If you haven’t heard of Bloody Civilian before (and didn’t listen to her incredible song, Goliath, before it was taken off streaming), please go listen to How to Kill A Man as soon as you finish listening to Wake Up. As the only somewhat unknown Nigerian artist on this soundtrack, Bloody Civilian holds her own on Wake Up, leading Rema on a mission to wake everyone up for war. 

    And yes, Rema raps again. 

    ALSO READ: We Ranked Some Of Rema’s Best Songs

  • Rema released his debut album Rave and Roses last weekend. We’ve put together this quiz to see how well you know his songs.

    Take the quiz:

  • It’s World Rema Day and the internet is going wild. After three years of dropping EPs and singles back to back, Rema has finally released his debut album, Rave & Roses to the world. For Love It/Hate It, we asked Nigerians what they think about the new album. 

    “If Rema’s mouth starts to pain him, he should know it’s my fault.”

    — Sandra 

    Rema’s Rave & Roses is the first Nigerian album I’ve listened to top to bottom without skipping since Made in Lagos. This guy says, “Another banger,” and means it every damn time! The transition from Divine to Hold Me, the banger that is Are You There? and making me want to fall in love with Mara, everything is just… so fucking good. Rema is clear and no one is seeing his back. 

    “Everything is about sex. I was expecting something more.”

    — Dike

    Rave & Roses is alright and the songs are sweet, but why is everything just about sex from start to finish? I don’t have a problem with singing about sex and mundane stuff, but with a debut album, I was expecting more. Give me an experience. Make me feel something. Also, the songwriting on this album is very mid, but hey, “Afrobeats”. 

    “Rema has invented a new genre: Afroknacks and I’m here for it.”

    — Moji

    If you thought Rema turned bad when Soundgasm dropped, then trust me, you’ll need to drink anointing oil when you finish listening to Rave & Roses. This guy is unhinged and I love it. I don’t know why people were expecting something deep and profound. It’s Rema! My guy is out to just vibe and have a good time. By the way, this Dirty song is for the girls that like to get on top  (a.k.a me). LOL. 

    RECOMMENDED: We Ranked Some Of Rema’s Best Songs

    “It feels good to see a Nigerian artist make sick music like this.”

    — Fidel 

    Not Rema out here dropping gems on this album. What? But you know where I draw the line? When he said, “Love is not a source of income.” I nearly spat out my water because who said it can’t be abeg. Love and income can go hand in hand, please. Rema, please allow me to hustle in peace. In all seriousness, this guy is incredibly gifted and it’s so dope to see a Nigerian artist make music like this. Sick!

    “Rema was deep in his melodies’ bag, but this is not the life-changing album we were anticipating.”

    — Laolu 

    I was really excited going into Rave & Roses because we’ve been waiting for it like for three years now. I’ll be honest, it’s not the life-changing music I hoped it’d  be. In this album, Rema had moments where he was deep in his melodies bag, and Addicted — a 1980s pop synth-inspired track — is by far the most experimental and the track, and I’ll keep going back to it. But I  wanted a little more.

    ALSO READ: On “Bad Commando”, Rema’s Superhuman Range Is on Full Display

  • Before he drops his debut album and resumes as a Unilag student this March, self-proclaimed rave king, Rema, returns with his second single of the year, FYN, featuring UK rapper, AJ Tracey. With hot takes and fan arguments taking over the internet, for Love It/Hate It,  we asked Nigerians what they thought about the new song, FYN, and this is what they had to say. 

    “Rema hasn’t missed since 2019. How many other Nigerian artists can say that?”

    — Ehi

    It’s wild to me that all Rema has to do is hum on a beat and that shit is going to bang for real. I didn’t know what to expect — this being his first proper feature and all, but, mehn, mind blown. The best part is, even if you don’t like a Rema song when it drops, dem no born you well, the chorus or melody will follow you around like NEPA bill, and before you know it, you’ve crammed all the words. People say he doesn’t have lyrics, but how come they end up learning all the “gibberish” he’s saying?  Just look at yourselves. LOL. 

    “Can you imagine what would happen if Ayra Starr sang about sex the way Rema did?”

    — Phidelia 

    I don’t know if it’s just me, but why is no one concerned about how suggestive and vulgar Rema’s lyrics are? I get that he’s like a day over twenty, but you can’t tell me everyone would be this calm if Ayra Starr sang about “doing it raw” or “doing something from behind”. I like this song and honestly, most of his songs, however, a part of me feels very uncomfortable listening to them. He’s talented and can sell without trying to become some sort of sex symbol too soon. Even Wizkid took time before he started singing, “She tell me say,” up and down. 

    “The confidence Rema has is unmatched! Who is his dealer abeg?”

    — Zayad 

    Can we get into the insane confidence Rema has? This guy starts his songs with, “Another banger!” meaning that he’s already had bangers, and this song will be a banger in its own right. Ever since I discovered him on Bad Commando, I’ve been watching him get more confident with each project, and why shouldn’t he be confident? Back-to-back hits is not easy my guy. The part where he said, “Chat nonsense to me, imma go offline,” had me hyped AF because that’s me for the rest of the year. No time for rubbish.

    RELATED: On “Bad Commando”, Rema’s Superhuman Range is on Full Display

    “Rema is doing what these other guys think they’re doing, only better”

    — Kufre 

    When Rema said he was the future, no caps were seen in the vicinity. This guy has been carrying a new generation of Nigerian music on his back since he stepped out with Dumebi and he hasn’t dropped the ball. Nothing has been mid or bad, and this song with AJ is pure flames. Just two baby GOATS dropping major heat from Nigeria to Queen Elizabeth’s backyard. I like that Rema isn’t riding on some fake alté “you have to connect with the universe and Y2k fashion” vibe. He’s making music that’s different, yet accessible to everyone. Let that sink in. 

    RELATED: These Fashion Trends Have Now Come Full Circle and You Need to Update Your Wardrobe

    “So it’s only melodies we’ll eat? What happened to the lyrics? ”

    — Josh

    Once again we’re met with a song and an artist that has vibes but lacks actual direction and substance. Nigerians are so used to the bare minimum that we step back in shock when fishes swim. Maybe I should wait for his album to drop before I share how I truly feel. That being said, I’m not moved by this song at all. Not one bit. It’s just like watery stew — lots of potential drowned by the need to pander to social media’s idea of good music. 

    “Peer pressure is the only reason most people pretend not to like Rema’s music. Grow up!”

    — Adaugo 

    Rema’s range is crazy mehn. This guy gave us Dumebi, Woman, Lady, Ginger Me, Soundgasm, Calm Down and now, FYN with AJ Tracey. He’s eating up every genre and sub-genre that lands on his lap. No one is catching up with the replay value of a Rema song, but some of you want to compare him to the other kids? I have to laugh in Mexican because it must be crack. Not liking Rema’s music is a serious character flaw in my opinion. 

    ALSO READ: We Ranked Some Of Rema’s Best Songs

  • In what is the hottest news in the Nigerian entertainment space right now, Pepsi Nigeria has just unveiled musical sensations Rema and Ayra Starr as brand Ambassadors. This happened Live during the #PepsixBBN task on the Big Brother Naija show.

    There’s no longer a doubt that Pepsi is always championing the cause of contemporary music in Nigeria. For over a decade, the brand has remained in the forefront of Naija pop culture and stayed in tune with the new Naija sound.

    By signing Ayra and Rema, the brand has proven once again that they have Naija on lock not just in refreshment but in music too.

    And to crown it all, Pepsi’s hottest new ambassadors will be performing LIVE, tomorrow night on the Big Brother Naija stage. We are definitely in for more excitement! 

    [donation]

  • 2020 took a lot from us, with new music from some of our favourite artists being one of them. A pandemic and a year-defining protest don’t particularly make for the best environment to release new music, so many artists were forced to push their releases to this year.

    The good thing, however, is that this means we will be spoiled this year with back-to-back releases. So, we’ve made a round-up of five talented artists who have announced or alluded to releasing albums in 2021.

    Joeboy (Somewhere Between Beauty And Magic, February 4)

    Joeboy had a stellar debut EP in Love and Light, which was released in 2019. The five-track EP spawned the megahits “Baby” and “Beginning”, which also properly introduced the afropop star to the world.

    With his debut album, which was originally slated for a 2020 release but was delayed due to the pandemic and then the #ENDSARS movement, we can expect Joeboy to solidify his status as a definitive star.

    Bella Shmurda (Hypertension, Release Date TBA)

    Following the mega-success of Bella Shmurda’s street anthem, “Cash App”, the Lagos State University final year student has made it clear that his debut studio album is coming soon rather than later.

    While fans do not have an exact date the album is expected to drop, we do know that the album, Hypertension, will feature the likes of Kida Kudz, Shatta Wale and more. 

    Teni (TBA)

    When it comes to music from Teni, one thing you can be guaranteed is that it is going to bang. The singer was set to release an album last year but due to multiple reasons, she couldn’t.

    Although we don’t know much about this album — we don’t know the title or her collaborators — we know that, as she did on her last two EPs, Teni will deliver the bangers.

    Rema (TBA)

    It is hard to name a newcomer in the Nigerian music industry who has had a more fun-to-watch ascension than Rema. In less than two years, the twenty-year-old has become one of the biggest acts in the country.

    Now, after a bunch of solid EPs, the singer has promised fans that his debut album will be dropping sometime this year. It goes without saying that this might be the most anticipated release of the year.

    Simi (TBA)

    After dominating 2020 with back-to-back releases, including a well-received EP, a killer feature on Ladipoe’s “Know You” and one of her biggest hits to date, “Duduke”, Simi is all set to give us a full-length album in 2021.

    Going by her tweets about the album, we can expect that the project is going to be even better than last year’s releases, and we can’t wait to see what she has in store for us.

  • There are a few new kids on the block in the Nigerian music space, but not many are as exciting as Divine Ikubor, popularly known as Rema. The youngster currently signed to Jonzing World, a subsidiary of Mavin Records has within such a short time dropped a surprising amount of great music and he’s becoming a fan favourite.

    I decided to rank some of the songs that I consider to be among his best.

    Here we go.

    Why

    Don’t get me wrong. On another list, this song would be higher, but compared to Rema’s other songs, “Why” doesn’t just cut it. Why…Why..

    Iron Man

    Don’t hit me with “but it was on Obama’s list”. I’m not Obama. It’s a pretty good song, not gonna lie, but 8th is also not a bad position, don’t you think?

    Woman

    “Sakoloweko, o weko…gear 1, gear 2, gear tiri” This song is a bop, but I’d just rather not be cursing myself saying what I don’t know

    Spiderman

    I didn’t hop on the Rema train on time, and Spiderman was one of my early faves, and it’s still a jam. I can never stop saying “somebody save me”

    Beamer

    Rema really did something beautiful with this song. But the point where the song really hits is the chorus. Beamer is a jam.

    Ginger Me

    The fact that this song was only released in June 2020 and it’s this high on the list says a lot about it. Rema really came with his sound and he didn’t forget rhyme as usual.

    Lady

    Something about this song just really makes me want to dance. it’s definitely a Rema classic. Just pure vibes

    Dumebi

    If Dumebi isn’t this high up this list, then there’s a mistake somewhere. Even if it isn’t one of his most recent songs, it’s definitely one of his best songs.

    Bad Commando

    Without any questions, Bad Commando is Rema’s best song to date. The fact that it’s also really short makes me listen to it at least 3 times before I move to another song. Another banger!

  • 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.

    Rema — “Woman”

    Rema was one of 2019’s greatest discoveries, and with every new single he’s put out since then, the pint-sized star proves his rise to superstardom was no fluke. His latest effort, the instantly likeable “Woman” is no different. 

    Seemingly capable of tackling any genre, from trap to afropop, “Woman” finds Rema gliding atop a killer afro-house beat. Even when his lyrics feel all over the place, his boundless charisma makes it all work.

    NSG — “Lupita”

    It’s never too late to discover a gem. That’s exactly how I felt when I heard NSG’s fantastic “Lupita” (weeks after its release). A standout off the afro-bashment group’s solid mixtape, Roots, the track feels like an instant classic.

    Sampling Foxy Brown’s “Get Me Home”, the breezy song finds the group extolling the beauty of black women, with cheeky references to stunning dark-skinned stars like the titular Lupita Nyong’o and Eva Opio.

  • 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.