My Favourite (Nigerian) Songs of 2023
2023 is almost over. Here are the songs I resonated with in the year. They range from rap, trap, Afrobeat, Afrobeats and of course Afrobeats.. See you in 2024.
‘Kante’ by Davido featuring Fave - Let's get this out of the way - 'Timeless' is the album of the year. And out of the gems on Davido's comeback LP, 'Kante' featuring the songstress Fave is my pick. It is a strong collaboration that fits like a glove, a relentless melodious track that sways like palm tree fronds during a cool evening breeze.
‘Elon Musk’ by Shallipopi - The Benin Renaissance will be televised. Like a thief in the night, Edo state rapper Shallipopi erupted from the murky underground of Nigeria's street-hop culture with a crypto-currency anthem that became ubiquitous in the Mecca of Afrobeats. With a breezy flow and colourful use of Benin street slang, Shallipopi rewrote what it takes to be a mainstream Nigerian rapper in 2023.
‘Declan Rice’ by Odumodublvck - My best performance this year was Odumodublvck performing his breakthrough single, 'Declan Rice', at Homecoming in Lagos. The energy of his performance could have solved Nigeria's embarrassing epileptic power supply. The Abuja-based rapper is unfiltered machismo, organized chaos and brutalism. The perfect mix of these traits is 'Declan Rice', a hard-body banger that boasts 'the rap verse of the year.'
‘Mad Apology’ by Bloody Civilian - Fortunately, I bought stocks in Bloody Civilian's franchise early enough. Her raw talent back then has blossomed into a refined and polished gift of singing about personal struggles and matured production capable of capturing listeners early on. Her 2023 EP, ‘Anger Management’, is arguably one of the best bodies of work this year. My favourite song on it is 'Mad Apology,' a dance-oriented track where she expresses her innermost feelings.
‘Moto’ by Lojay - Heartbreak never sounded so good. Lojay, Afrobeats super-sub, scored one hell of a record early in the year with the single 'Moto.' With a silky production, Lojay glides over his pain with carefully crafted lyrics. 'Moto' is one of the most outstanding artistic performances by a Nigerian singer in 2023. It's pure velvet.
‘Wetin be Love’ by Joeboy & Ckay - In 2023, Joeboy fully dropped his loverboy toga for the cloak of emo-pop that pushed him to produce more melancholic records instead of puppy-love anthems. On his sophomore album, 'Body & Soul', he teamed up with the expert atmospheric R&B singer and producer Ckay to ask the old-age question, "What is love without money?" Nestled in the plush leather seats of their foreign cars, Joeboy and Ckay dropped one of the best and coldest R&B cuts of the year.
‘No Love in Lagos’ by 1da Banton featuring 255 - Producer and singer 1da Banton laments the fact that anything can be purchased in Lagos, sex, alcohol, drugs and parties, except true love. His lamentation is accompanied by a groovy instrumental that makes this bitter-sweet record an enjoyable listen.
‘Someone’ by Fireboy DML - This is one of the overlooked records of 2023. Fireboy DML draws inspiration from the dance scene in Europe to produce a hybrid Afrobeats/oontz number. It is a relaxing song with a hint of menthol, strobe lights and dark alleys. 2023 might not have been a stellar Fireboy year, but this song is one of my favourite songs of 2023.
‘Traffic’ by YKB - This act turned heads last year with his expertly written single 'San Siro.' This year, he returned with a well-put-together EP featuring 'Traffic' that again underlines his penmanship.
‘Jaga Jaga’ by Victony featuring Babyboy AV - This is an ethereal composition from one of Nigeria's most deliberate and purposeful singers. Victony has had an interesting career after his ghastly accident. This collaboration is a befitting Thanksgiving song and the beginning of a new chapter.
‘Saati Ramoni’ by Muis - When I heard this song before its official release, I knew it was special. Saati Ramoni is a teary, emotional song for people aware of the pitfalls of life's journey. Muis calls on God to guide his steps while he watches out for enemies who pose as friends. It is perfect for meditation and deep reflection.
‘Remember’ by Asake - The YBNL beast, Asake, bodied 2023 with an equally strong sophomore album that slowly melted the idea of a slump or a fluke. The evenly created album features a slew of party jams but my pick is 'Remember', which proves Asake is exquisite at using several harmonies, and pockets of flows to compose a delightful number.
‘Party No Dey Stop’ by Adekunle Gold featuring Zinoleesky - What is Afrobeats without partying? AG Baby, with a new album, came up with one of the coolest party singles of 2023. It's a song that does not stray far from Adekunle Gold's composed and calm style. And while Zinoleesky has had a year to forget, he can take solace in the fact that he dropped one of the best guest verses of the year.
‘Makoko’ by Tony Allen & Adrian Younge - The drum maestro, Tony Allen, passed away in 2020. Fortunately for us, before his demise, he recorded sessions with American producer and composer Adrian Younge. The fruit of their work is ‘Tony Allen JID018’, a post-humous album from the man whose drum work with Fela in the 70s helped codify the sonic DNA of Afrobeat. 'Makoko' is one of the stand-out cuts from the LP, as Tony Allen's crisp and punchy drums lay the solid foundation for Younge's horns and groove.
‘Love Dimension’ by Moonlight Afriqa - If you ever need a soundtrack for your weekend getaway to a private beach resort with your lover, 'Love Dimension' by newcomer Moonlight Afriqa should be your choice. This track is sweet to the ears, an effortless display of smooth and pleasurable singing.
‘This Country’ by Psycho YP & Jordan Knows - The ABJ Trapper is evolving into a more complete writer aware of his mainstream potential. Off his recent project, ‘Osapa London’, Psycho YP drops 'This Country' where he boasts that he is good in any hood in Nigeria. He reflects the boasting of a trapper aware of the trenches in the 234.
‘Ready’ by Sarz, PJ Star & Fxrtune - This is a carnal composition, a baby-making record with vivid imagery and cuss words. Off the Sarz-endorsed project, PJ Star and Fxrtune produce a slutty bedroom single. Think incense candles, dim lights and a tripod. This song is 18 and above.
‘Kpe Paso’ by Wande Coal and Olamide - These days hardcore Afrobeats club smashes are few. Thankfully, Wande Coal and Olamide took us to the days of shameless club bangers. Kpe Paso is a roof-burning, speaker-rattling, concrete-shaking monster that would have been far more successful in the second wave of Afrobeats that favoured fast-paced party anthems for slower R&B-influenced singles. This revisionist menacing single proves that sometimes we want to dance the night away.
‘Borrow’ by Tekno - Not only did Tekno have one of the best Afrobeats albums of 2023 with ‘The More, The Better’, he had one of the best songs. Tekno is in fine form in 'Borrow.' This is a soothing and melodious pop song that reaffirms that Tekno is one of the best singers in the genre. Form is temporary, but class is permanent.
‘Pidgin & English’ by BNXN - The Sarz-produced joint is two inches away from being classified 'celestial.' This song is a breathtaking effort from BNXN. He hits the mark effortlessly on this sample-driven cut of his debut album.
‘Prince of Egypt’ by Mofe - This electro Afrobeats song is reminiscent of the party classic 'Fi Mi Le' by Kas. Mined from the timelines of TikTok, Mofe's single is an interlude banger that hopefully makes it into more DJs' sets in 2024. It is hard not to dance to this song.
‘Jazz Up’ by Lady Donli - Remember the refreshing appeal of alte a few years ago? Lady Donli encapsulates the feeling of 'Jazz Up' on her sophomore album. Produced by Odunsi, the song is playful, communal and carefree until it switches to a rock instrumental. Lady Donli, perhaps, is the leading light of a cultural expression that badly needs more artists to play at her level.
‘Chop Time, No Friends’ by Mr Eazi - Afrobeats' Warren Buffet delivered a strong album towards the end of the year. Harnessing his banku sound, Mr Eazi delivers a boastful track that seeks to remind us of his Midas touch in the boardroom. This is sweet palm wine music reminiscent of his breakthrough many years ago.
‘Earth Song’ by Wizard Chan - No one and their daddies saw this coming. 'Earth Song' sounds like a song that did not make Damien Marley's last album. That's how good it is. Earth Song is a breath of fresh air in the pop-piano climate. Co-signed by Chris Brown, Wizard Chan's breakout single is one of the best songs of 2023.
‘Two Man Ting’ by Kold AF & BGRZ - Kold AF is another talent to watch out for in 2024. Her 'Kollide' EP with BGRZ reveals a confident and eloquent singer. On the retro 'Two Man Ting,' she displays a clarity of mind to stand firm on her grounds in a relationship. If this is an indication of what she has to offer, get ready for some great music in the future.
‘Time Heals’ by DOTTi The Deity - In the formulaic pop-dominated scene, DOTTi The Deity is a reinvigorating find. His single 'Time Heals,' off his 2023 EP, ‘For You Knew Me’, drips of pain and the confidence to move on. The folk singer wails about the healing powers of time amidst a moving and stringy composition.
‘Trouble Maker’ by Rema - After a historic 2023, Rema opens his EP with 'Trouble Maker', where he maintains that he will not stop pressing his opps. The Afrobeats prince swears he will continue his dominance. This is unruly Rema with a streak of ambition and determination declaring his reign is just about to begin.
‘Alinko’ by Shine TTW - Sweet, ecstatic and hypnotic are the best words to describe Shine TTW's best offering to date. Produced by KTIZO, 'Alinko' puts you into a trance where you dance unconsciously.
‘NSV’ by Bella Shmurda & Tiwa Savage - This impressive track slipped under the radar for a lot of people. For what it is worth, Bella Shmurda is still the voice of the streets, and in this collabo with Tiwa Savage, he concocts an impressive song for Afrobeats' hottest constituency - the trenches.
‘Ask About Me’ by Mohbad - R.I.P Imole
Wouldn’t have been complete without Ask about me tbh! RIP Imole
I kept scrolling waiting for something from Mohbad. Blessed, his EP released a few months before his death, is one of the finest works of the year. It shed strong singles like 'Omo Mi', a complex love song, full of vulnerability and nuance, 'Sabi', a slow burning meditation on that outsized Yoruba paranoia, and 'Account Balance', a joyous take on street credibility and materialism. Featuring Zlatan, street Hop's most potent wizard, Mohbad's verse--1,2,3 o ma 4--is the best in all of 2023, like Omah Lay's hook on Olamide's Infinity was the best in that year. Well done OG!