Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, known professionally as Wizkid, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter. Born in the Ojuelegba suburb of Surulere, Lagos, Wizkid is a voice in the emerging Afrobeats movement. His music is a blend of Afrobeats, afropop, R&B, afrobeat, reggae, dancehall, and pop. He began recording music at the age of 11 and released a collaborative album with the Glorious Five, a group he and a couple of his church friends formed. In 2009, Wizkid signed a record deal with Banky W's Empire Mates Entertainment (E.M.E). He rose to the limelight after releasing "Holla at Your Boy", the lead single from his debut studio album, Superstar (2011), which also spawned the singles "Tease Me/Bad Guys" and "Don't Dull".
David Adedeji AdelekeOON, known professionally as Davido, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and record producer. He is regarded as one of the most important Afrobeats artists of the 21st century and helped popularize the genre globally.
Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu , who is known professionally as Burna Boy, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and record producer. He rose to stardom in 2012 after releasing "Like to Party", the lead single from his debut studio album L.I.F.E (2013). In 2017, Burna Boy signed with Atlantic Records in the United States to release his third studio album, Outside (2018).
Yemi Eberechi Alade, better known as Yemi Alade, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, actress and activist. Her music is a mixture of Afropop, highlife, dancehall, pop and R&B, and has been of influence in several countries across Africa. She sings in English, Igbo, Pidgin, Yoruba, French, Swahili and Portuguese.
Oluseye Desmond Sodamola, professionally known as Spinall, is a Nigerian disc jockey, record producer, and songwriter. He has released six studio albums and collaborated with artists that have included Wizkid, Tiwa Savage, Asake, Joeboy among others. He has won numerous awards for his work, including All Africa Music Awards and The Beatz Awards. He is also the first Nigerian disc jockey to play at festivals such as Coachella, SXSW, and Glastonbury.
Oluwatosin Oluwole Ajibade, better known by his stage name Mr Eazi, is a Nigerian-Bajan singer, songwriter, and record executive. He is the pioneer of Banku music, a fusion of sound he describes as a mixture of Ghanaian highlife and Nigerian chord progressions and patterns. Mr Eazi relocated to Kumasi in 2008 and enrolled at KNUST, where he began booking artists to perform at college parties. He showed interest in music after recording a guest verse on "My Life", a song that gained traction and became a popular record at KNUST. Mr Eazi released his debut mixtape About to Blow in 2013. He gained an international audience following the release of the Efya-assisted single "Skin Tight". His second mixtape, titled Life Is Eazi, Vol. 1 – Accra to Lagos, was released in 2017.
Gold is the debut studio album of Nigerian recording artist Adekunle Gold, released on 28 July 2016, by YBNL Nation. Prior to its release, three songs were released off the album to positive reviews, with "Sade" and "Orente" being his breakthrough singles.
Ayoola Oladapo Agboola also known as KDDO is a Nigerian record producer, songwriter, and artist. He's best known for producing and writing "Under The Influence" by Chris Brown, charting at number 1 on the Billboard Rhythmic Chart & number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. In addition KDDO wrote and produced Afrobeats longest charting Billboard single "Fall" by Davido, renowned for breaking Afrobeat Music globally. The song peaked on US R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart at number 13 and US Hot R&B Songs chart at number 25 on Billboard. KDDO is the first Afrobeats producer in history to be certified by the Recording Industry Association of America, after Fall became a certified gold record in the US. He is currently managed by Christian McCurdy & Rehan Manickam at LEGION Management.
Omoniyi Temidayo Raphael, known professionally as Zlatan Ibile, is a Nigerian rapper and singer. He is the chief executive officer and founder of Zanku records. In 2014, he won the Airtel-sponsored One Mic talent show held in 2014, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
African Giant is the fourth studio album by Nigerian singer Burna Boy. The album was released on July 26, 2019, by Spaceship Entertainment, Bad Habit, Atlantic Records and Warner Music. The album is a mixture of Afrobeats, Afrobeat, dancehall, pop and hip hop. It was produced primarily by Kel-P, along with production from Benjamz, Dre Skull and Skrillex, among others. The album features guest appearances from Jorja Smith, Jeremih, Damian Marley, Zlatan Ibile, Angelique Kidjo, Serani, M.anifest, YG and Future. It was supported by eight singles, including "On the Low", which won Viewers' Choice at the 2020 Soundcity MVP Awards Festival, "Killin Dem", which won Song of the Year at the 2020 Soundcity MVP Awards Festival, among other awards; and "Anybody", which Burna Boy performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.
The discography of Davido, a Nigerian Afrobeats singer, consists of four studio albums, one EP, and thirty three singles. Davido released his first album titled Omo Baba Olowo In 2011 at the age of 19, which contains 5 singles and hit song Dami Duro. The album won Album of the Year at The Headies 2013, he released the five-track EP Son of Mercy, his first and only EP till date which was supported by the singles "Gbagbe Oshi", "How Long", "Coolest Kid in Africa"; and includes guest appearances by Simi, Tinashe and Nasty C. His second studio album A Good Time was released in 2019; supported by hit singles "If", "Fall", "Assurance", "Blow My Mind" and "Risky". "Fall" was a viral hit, becoming one of the top-100-most-Shazam-searched singles in America in January 2019, and was a top-10 record on Shazam in New York. It also became the longest charting Nigerian pop song in Billboard history as of that time, and garnered 200 million views on YouTube. The album was a success, it surpassed 1 billion streams across various digital platforms in july 2020. He then followed it up with the release of his third studio album A Better Time, which was released in November 2020. It includes guest appearances from Lil Baby, Nicki Minaj, Nas, Chris Brown, and Young Thug, among others. Timeless was then released as his fourth studio album, the 17-track album includes collaborations with Skepta, Angelique Kidjo, Asake, Focalistic, The Cavemen and others. The album explores musical styles such as dancehall, ragga, konto, highlife and Afropop, it was critically acclaimed by critics both domestically and internationally. The album was nominated for Best Global Music Album at the Grammy Awards.
Afrobeats, not to be confused with Afrobeat or Afroswing, is an umbrella term to describe popular music from West Africa and the diaspora that initially developed in Nigeria, Ghana, and the UK in the 2000s and 2010s. Afrobeats is less of a style per se, and more of a descriptor for the fusion of sounds flowing majorly out of Nigeria. Genres such as hiplife, jùjú music, highlife, azonto music, and naija beats, among others, were amalgamated under the "Afrobeats" umbrella.
A Good Time is the second studio album by Nigerian singer Davido. It was released on November 22, 2019, through Davido Music Worldwide, RCA Records and Sony Music. The album features guest appearances from Chris Brown, Summer Walker, Gunna, A Boogie wit da Hoodie, Dremo, Peruzzi, Popcaan, Zlatan, Yonda, Wurld and Naira Marley. Its production was handled by Speroach Beatz, Tekno, Shizzi, Kiddominant, P2J, London on da Track, and Fresh VDM, among others. In December 2019, Davido announced a North American tour in support of the album; the tour was scheduled to begin in the winter and end in spring 2020. In March 2020, Davido postponed the tour due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
"Ye" is a song by Nigerian singer Burna Boy. It was released on August 6, 2018, as the sixth single from his third studio album, Outside (2018). The song was produced by Nigerian record producer Phantom. It peaked at number 26 and 31 on Billboard's Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop and R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay charts, respectively. "Ye" won Song of the Year and Listener's Choice at the 2019 Soundcity MVP Awards Festival. It also won Song of the Year and was nominated for Best Pop Single and Best Recording of the Year at The Headies 2019.
Adedamola Oyinlola Adefolahan, known professionally as Fireboy DML, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter. He is signed to YBNL Nation, a record label founded by rapper Olamide. His debut studio album, Laughter, Tears and Goosebumps, was released in 2019. He won Listener's Choice and was nominated for Song of the Year for "Jealous" at the 2020 Soundcity MVP Awards Festival. His third studio album, Playboy, entered the Billboard 200 at number 123. His latest album, Adedamola, was released in 2024.
Afrikan Sauce is the fourth studio album by Kenyan band Sauti Sol, released on their eponymous record label Sauti Sol Entertainment. Primarily an Afropop and R&B record, Afrikan Sauce marked a departure from the traditional acoustic sound of their previous albums. It features guest appearances from Patoranking, Tiwa Savage, Burna Boy, Vanessa Mdee, Yemi Alade, Khaligraph Jones, Nyashinski, Bebe Cool, Mi Casa, Toofan, Jah Prayzah and C4 Pedro. The album comprises thirteen tracks and was supported by the previously released singles "Melanin", "Girl Next Door", "Afrikan Star", "Short N Sweet" and "Tujiangalie". Afikan Sauce received positive reviews from music critics, who characterized it as a "game changer" and commended it for having "substantial replay value". The album won Album of the Year in Africa at the 2019 All Africa Music Awards.
Joseph Akinwale, known professionally as Joeboy, is a Nigerian prince, singer and songwriter, he is signed to Warner Music Africa in partnership with his record label Young Legend. He was formerly signed by Mr Eazi under emPawa Africa, where he was discovered in 2017, through the emPawa Africa talent incubation program. His musical genres are Afro-pop and R&B.
Son of Mercy is the debut extended play by Nigerian singer Davido. It was released by Sony Music on October 21, 2016. The project was executively produced by Efe Ogbeni. The EP comprises five tracks and was produced by Shizzi, Kiddominant and Spellz. It features guest appearances from Nasty C, Simi and Tinashe. Son of Mercy tackles themes of love and combines elements of Afropop, trap, ragga, highlife and house. It was supported by the singles "Gbagbe Oshi", "How Long" and "Coolest Kid in Africa".
Woman of Steel is the fourth studio album by Nigerian singer Yemi Alade. It was released on August 30, 2019, through Effyzzie Music Group and Universal Music Africa. Described by Alade as a "buffet with different kinds of meals and drinks", the album represents a thematic and personal shift in her sound. Musically, it is an Afrobeats record that incorporates elements of R&B and highlife. Woman of Steel features collaborations with Rick Ross, Duncan Mighty, Angélique Kidjo and Funke Akindele. It was supported by the singles "Home", "Give Dem", "Vibe", "Shake", "Remind You", and "Shekere". Although critical reception to Woman of Steel was mixed, the album was considered to be Alade's best album yet.
"Watawi" is a song by Nigerian singer and songwriter CKay, featuring fellow Nigerian singer Davido, alongside a South African rapper Focalistic, and record producer Abidoza. It was released on 17 June 2022, by Warner Music Africa. "Watawi" was written by CKay, Davido, Focalistic, and Abidoza, who also produced the song. It accompanied by a music video directed by Dalia Dias. It debuted at number 13 on the TurnTable Top 50, number 21 on the US Billboard Afrobeats Songs chart, and number 6 on the UK Afrobeats Singles Chart.
