TheCable

At the beginning of 2021, we transitioned from good music to an even better one. Some said the year 2020 had a “bad vibe” attached to it which made people seek comfort in music and has in turn heightened the need to make and listen to good music.

The year brought about the appreciation and recognition of African artistes and infusion of African music into the foreign music scene.

The Nigerian music scene continued to unravel new projects after projects like Highway and KPK which wrapped up the year 2020. Nonetheless, 2021 ushered in an impressive era of musical compilation because musical hits were delivered back to back as a result of many songs’ releases that got delayed in the pandemic year. It started with a new found love for Wizkid’s Essence ft. Tems, Ayra Starr’s EP, Joeboy’s much anticipated debut album Somewhere Between Beauty and Magic, Johnny Drille and Ric Hassani transcending gospel music to afrobeat. Existing and Emerging artists dominated the music scene in the year 2021. Enjoy some of the trending hits released so far.

Wizkid- Essence ft. Tems

Though Essence was released in 2020 as part of Wizkid’s Made in Lagos album, the song became widely recognised and appreciated the following year and it saw lots of celebrities like Kevin Hart, Kylie Jenner, Rihanna etc. vibing to it and it became an award winning perfect breezing summer track.

Rexxie- Ko Po Ke ft. Mohbad

Released in the previous year, this song dominated the music scene as a street song and a source of joy in parties and it preaches that good things however do last.

Focalistic- Ke Star ft. Davido

Amapiano meets afrobeat as the talented duo of Focalistic and Davido team up for the remix of Ke Star. They made a hit song that swayed South Africans and Nigerians with the sweet and easy flow accompanied with the song.

Joeboy- Focus

Focus is one of the singles in Joeboy’s album Somewhere between Beauty and Magic which emphasizes on unrequited feelings and the need for it to be reciprocated. According to Joeboy, the record was inspired by an experience of one of his producers.

Rema- Bounce

Rema delivered this hit with the legendary Naija music producer Don Jazzy. The video explored the Mad Max Fury concept. An electrifying song that captivated the soul of party-goers.

Ayra Starr- Away

A hip-grinding track that re-explores the concept of a breakup story and it encourages people to shun people or anything that burden them.

Olamide- Rock

From the legendary artist’s latest album UY Scuti, the song is flirtatious and it stresses that a lady does not have to do much to impress a man.

Ruger- Bounce

The artist with the pink air and eye patch the swept people off their feet with his alluring voice and sweet track. The hit jam Bounce is taken from his brand new extended play titled  “Pandemic”.

Wasiu Ayinde- Ade Ori Okin

The quintessential Fuji maestro dropped this hit to hint on making peace with people, doing good and avoid betrayal. The song became the focal point of every Owambe party in Nigeria.

Masterkraft- Hallelu ft. Bella Shmurda, Zlatan

A Street hop sensational thanksgiving song that got released at the end of the year 2020.

Ladipoe- Feeling ft. Buju

Feeling became the hottest song almost immediately it was released. It topped charts for several weeks due to its simplicity and addictive tune. The duo of Ladipoe and Buju finished work on this song and had both the adults and the young vibing to it.

Teni- For you ft. Davido

This song creatively explained a love story that eventually led to an arrest and how a prison escape took place. The unique voice of Davido added a magical flavour to the tune of this song.

Ajebo Hustlers- Pronto ft. Omahlay

Pronto is a song about unrequited love, it was well articulated and delivered and this solidified the Ajebo Hustlers stay in the music scene.

Lojay- Monalisa ft. Sarz

Versatile singer and songwriter Lojay and Sarz unveiled this new classic. This record is off Lojay’s extended playlist LV N ATTN meaning Love and Attention which consists of five tracks featuring Sarz and Wizkid only.

Burna Boy- Kilometre

Burna Boy tells how his stardom was achieved. The verse ‘I don waka how many kilometres” means that he has worked a lot to get to where he is today i.e. being one of the best artists in Africa.

Adekunle Gold- High ft. Davido

Following his hit single “It is what it is” that emphasizes on acceptance and driving out bad thoughts and energy, Adekunle Gold, a popular talented afro-highlife singer teamed up with the legendary Davido who contributed greatly to the instrumental in the song. High tells the need to shy away from problems and live a good life.

Naira Marley- Koleyewon

One of the most impressive thing about Naira Marley is his unrelenting Marlian fans. Koleyewon was banned by the National Broadcast Commission as soon as it was released due to its defiant lyrics. However, it got leaked and became a street anthem and a Tik-Tok challenge that gained a lot of attention.

Fireboy DML- Peru

Peru became a fresh contender for the “summer jam” after Lojay’s Tonongo. The song is a bold declaration of love from a hopeless guy that any lady with a stone cold heart would not be able to resist.

Tiwa Savage- Somebody’s Son ft. Brandy

This is the duo we never knew we needed. Tiwa Savage featuring brandy in this collaboration from her EP Water and Garri. The song is an emotional one that tells the story of a woman who is tired of heart breaks but is hopeful that her one true love will find one day.

The year 2021 is still in session. However, it is safe to say that for the music scene, the year has been a good one from mad jam in the street to dropping hits back to back and a wide recognition of African music. Also, the winning of Grammy Awards by Burna boy and Wizkid is a huge stepping stone for African music and it laid the promise that there is more to come from the African music scene.