The Lagos Review is back, like clockwork, at year’s end with another definitive list: it is the Top 100 Afrobeats songs of 2021.
The year 2021 has been a remarkable one for Afrobeats, especially on the international scene. The local scene has equally had a good run with amazing singles and new discoveries which our cohort of seasoned critics have ploughed through to curate a near-perfect 100. Many thanks to my colleagues: Ayodele Ibiyemi, Emmanuel Daraloye, Fatiat Saliu, Jerry Chiemeke and Udochukwu Ikwuagwu.
–Dami Ajayi
- Rema, “Bounce”
In preparation for the release of his debut studio album, Rema churned out the fast tempo “Bounce”, and just like the title suggests, it is a song for waist-whining but takes a cue from Rema who gets overwhelmed with Blessing’s booty. Hear him: “Blessing, you go kill person, abeg, abeg abeg oh”. It is his first time working with the legendary producer, Don Jazzy, who also appears in the music video. ED
- Burna Boy, “Kilometre”
With the much-coveted Grammy award now standing tall on his shelf, Burna Boy teams up with Chopstix to deliver “Kilometre”. Just like his first single in 2020 “Odogwu”, “Kilometre” runs on boastful lines as he asserts his kingship in the industry. While we await his post-Grammy album, Burna Boy gifts the dancefloor and gym with a tune in the interim. Cue in that mad dancehall riddim! ED
- Mayorkun, “Let me Know”
In anticipation of his new album, “Back in Office”, the Mayor of Lagos released “Let me Know”, which is supposed to be a love ballad but is not entirely convincing. Mayorkun and his DMW folks have proven their mettle with love songs that reflect the streets but this song sounds too familiar. Regardless of aural expectations, the song excites with the infusion of ‘shepe’ ad-libs popularised by his former label boss. AI
- Peruzzi featuring Davido, “Somebody Baby”
The Lagos love market is rife with deceit, mutual suspicion and commodification of love. On “Somebody Baby”, the fifth single off his superb sophomore album, “Rum & Boogie”, Peruzzi and Davido encapsulate the dilemma of finding love in a world filled with lies and guarded hearts. Ironically, Peruzzi’s biggest song to date, “Somebody Baby”, explores the misery of being played for a fool, over dance-ready beats while paying homage to Rudeboy. “Somebody Body” starts off with a folk song, which is fitting for a song telling a familiar tale of heartbreak. UI
- Veeiye featuring Laycon, “Enter My Head”
The two BBNaija alumni finally settled their beef, and to consolidate the reunion, they made a song. The duo’s “Enter My Head” is a reflective and thought-provoking take on life. Backed by Pheelz’s drums, Veeiye and Laycon trade verses on the fickleness of human interactions complicated by its complexities. “Enter My Head” hearkens to the Olamide and “I’m Going In” era. ED
- Ayra Starr, “Fashion Killer”
“Fashion Killer” is the second track on Mavin Records signee Ayra Starr’s debut album, “19 and Dangerous”, her ambitious attempt to capture the Gen Z zeitgeist. The London-produced track has the post-pubescent pop princess crooning about her wardrobe choices and vivacious persona. It’s not the most well-written track you will hear – lines like “I light a room in the dark/because my bling is a torch” border on cheesy – but it’s “TikTok-able”; and on a record that has enjoyed social media virality, it’s not out of place to see this song feature on more than a few Instagram Reels. JC
- Davido featuring Mayorkun, “The Best”
Betty, the muse from Betty Butter, got another stint on this song, “The Best”, a convergence of history, homage, and anecdote. The video replicates scenes from the 1984 movie, “The Karate Kid” with Davido playing the role of Sensei while Mayorkun plays the character of the Karate kid. In furtherance of the “we rise by lifting others” mantra, we see other trainees learning how to be the best from Davido and other instructors in the video. ED
- Ayra Starr, “Away”
Titling the song Away was a bold and risky move by Ayra Starr as any song with that title released around the time that Oxlade’s “Away” came out was either going to be accused of being a rip-off or bound to play second fiddle. The risk paid off and Ayra Starr’s “Away” stands on its own merit, showing that Ayra Starr is no pushover. The song is really melodious and the lyrics is storied and assertive, yet it is delivered subtly. For the entire duration of the song, she holds her own. The song maintains a noticeable rhyme scheme as with many RnB songs and it shows that Pidgin English is qualified for use in ballads. AI
- D’Banj, “Banger”
Dapo Oyebanjo bears different pseudonyms that he deploys at different epochs of his musicianship. From Skip Banj to Eja Nla, and now, Banga. Following a raucous 2020, the “Oliver Twist” crooner returns to the music industry with “Banga”, a witty nom de guerre alluding to his musicality. Fela’s scion Seun Kuti blows his saxophone as D’banj takes listeners through his craft and journey in the music industry. “Banga” off his fifth solo album offers the project’s runaway success. ED
- Punchline Amund, “If I Be Yahoo Boy”
Internet Fraud is rife among Nigerian youth. Despite the activities by anti-graft agencies, the menace is not abating anytime soon. Punchline Amund lyrically explores this theme on “If I Be Yahoo Boy”. For the layman, Punchline gives the listener a Yahoo Boy 101 lecture. Punchline’s storytelling ranks him in the cadre of rappers to watch out for. ED
- Victor AD, “Olofofo”
Three years have passed since Victor Adere’s pop incursion via breakout hit, “Wetin We Gain”. As a prelude to his sophomore EP, “Nothing to Prove”, a tongue-in-cheek reference to naysayers, he released “Olofofo”. Amapiano-driven “Olofofo” takes a dig at gossips and cynics who wrote his career off, carefully curating the song to down rejoinders from the expected naysayers who end up dancing to the record. ED
- Rexxie featuring Oxlade, “Frenemies”
Rexxie is back in 2021 with his debut project titled, “A True Champion”. Featuring a couple of heavyweights and previous collaborators, a few hits were made. One of such is Oxlade-assisted “Frenemies”, the witty amalgam of friends and enemies. Speaking to the fact that oftentimes, there are enemies in our lives who moonlight as friends whose existence we are unaware of. As humans, we know lethal people who pretend and deceive us can be, and unfortunately sometimes, they have done more damage to our reputation before we are aware that they are snakes. Oxlade acknowledges this, but he reassures himself that all will be okay since he has God on his side. FS
- Lil Kesh featuring Fireboy DML, “Love Like This”
Shortly after his decent EP from 2020, Lil Kesh returned with assists from Afro-lite proponent, Fireboy DML, on “Love Like This”. With a pleasant cameo by Priscilla Ojo, daughter of Nollywood actress, Iyabo Ojo, as vixen in Anietie James-directed music video, Lil Kesh continues to chronicle one of his obsessions, love or the lack thereof. ED
- Hagman DC, “Focus Dance Beat”
DJ YK Beats’ “Lagos Dance Beat” was the last time an instrumental turned dancefloors and shindigs on their heads. Three years have passed and Hagman DC’s “Focus Dance Beat” has revived those memories. Produced by Ajimovoix, “Focus Dance Beat” was carefully curated by Instagram sensation, Hagman DC, with a dance challenge featuring his celebrity friends. Unlike other street jams accompanied by complex dance steps, “Focus Dance Beat” comes with simple body movements: head-bopping, finger-pointing/handgun gesture. The melodic drums and sparse keys will make even the most lethargic reveller a contender for Poco Lee’s crown. UI
- Naira Marley, “Chi Chi”
For many watchers, Naira Marley’s era is over as many say that Nigerian audiences are now looking unto the new younger generation of artists. While there is some credence to this, Naira Marley’s “Chi Chi” is a reminder of why the self-acclaimed leader of the Marlian movement was at the top in the first place. Even though the song is a profession of love to an eponymous lover named Chichi, the song follows the same Naira Marley sound. Many musicians who maintain a distinct sound run the risk of ending up as a one hit wonder but Naira Marley has managed to stay relevant in the game for a decent time. Also, the song also confirms that Marley and Rexxie are soul brothers. AI
- Qdot featuring Patoranking, “Magbe”
“Magbe” is a perfect party starter and also a didactic tune. Given the widespread drug abuse by the youth, Yoruba bad boi, Qdot, and dancehall king, Patoranking, are the new vanguard against the social vice with the duo curating a dance and tune for the listeners; the only problem is retention of their message. On “Magbe”, both acts craft their verses with humour and pop culture references. In the Bizzle and Frizzle-directed music video, they become emergency laboratory scientists who mix chemicals to generate their elements. “Magbe” is proof of the relevance of art in society. ED
- Blaqbonez, “Don’t Touch”
On April 30, 2021, Blaqbonez put out one of the better-received albums of the year, “Sex over Love”. On a 14-track record that is practically an anthem for hyper-masculinity, “Don’t Touch” suggests a thematic and sonical departure from the rest of the LP. Where other songs illustrate jadedness and emotional unavailability, this Blaise Beats-produced track paints images of provocative dancing at a nightclub and suggests male territoriality: Emeka the Stallion isn’t really keen on anyone “touching his kele”, referencing an old Banky W classic; it’s the one track on the record where Blaqbonez appears to show any form of vulnerability. JC
- Barry Jhay, “Muje”
Barry Jhay has come into his own as a popstar. On his post-EP single, “Muje”, he doesn’t deviate from his inspirational tunes. Barry Jhay sings in his usual falsetto on the essence of hard work coupled with prayers and praises for the success that one hopes for. Rather than come off as preachy, his high-pitch rendition promises a better future for adherents to his wise teachings. On “Muje”, he mixes elements of praise-singing/self-adulation of juju with folk and fuji. The result is one the finest records for mainstream pop and Barry Jhay’s biggest song, yet. UI
- Naira Marley featuring Busiswa, “Coming”
South African diva, Busiswa, joins Naira Marley to deliver this tune with an audacious title, “Coming”. Not coming as in the locomotion of bodies. The real thing: the climax of a sexual dalliance. Naira Marley is keen on describing the minutiae of the carnal act and, for the first time, the duet itself, is a proposition to his female partner who also brags about her WAP and makes it rhyme with her name. Think Pan-African sexual collaboration between the two erstwhile warring nations, Nigeria and South Africa, by way of Peckham-violated Yoruba. They archive a catalogue of sexual acts bubbling on a thrusting Amapiano sound. DA
- Zlatan, “Lagos Anthem”
The track is audaciously titled, “Lagos Anthem”, but it does not qualify to be the anthem of Lagos. In the song, Zlatan kept repeating that there is money in Lagos, contrary to what most people say. He seems to be focusing on only his own circle of friends, who he name-dropped as “awon omo wire wire” in the track. Despite this, it is a really good party song and it is bound to rouse nostalgia in Lagosians. It signifies the takeover attempt that Zlatan’s street sound is making in the Lagos airwaves. Lagos has since changed from the days of Banky W’s “Lagos Party” but vestiges of the chilled demeanour that made Banky W’s track likable is still there. Zlatan’s song has already attracted a remix and if Lagosians had a longer attention span, it would have attracted more. AI
- Ayra Starr, “Toxic”
On “Toxic”, Ayra starts out blaming someone for pushing her to do something against her will — when we listen further, we learn that it was drugs and the push might have been from a lover. Turning to drugs and alcohol to avoid or delay reality might have been a norm amongst previous generations but it’s a culture that has persisted, and young people now have it worse. Taking substances at the slightest inconvenience is their coping mechanism, and who can blame them? Because of this, they don’t realise that they are addicted and cannot live without it until it’s too late. Ayra feels particularly betrayed by her lover who was supposedly to be her anchor, but when she needed them the most, they forsook her. FS
- Olamide featuring Fave, “Pon Pon”
In his usual fashion of putting up-and-coming acts on, Olamide enlists new fans’ favourite, Fave, on his new project “UY Scuti”, and just like we expected, she brings her magic on a 100. Although the songwriting is limited, “Pon Pon” doesn’t fail to swoon our hearts. Here, we hear Olamide running harmonies with Fave, both are singing to a significant other, and although we don’t know what “pon pon” means, it still makes for good music. “la la la la, body smoking like a saint, you dey sweet my soul…,” has been on our lips ever since the album’s release. FS
- Lyta featuring Emo Grae, Zinoleesky and Naira Marley, “Are You Sure”
Marlian record signee, Lyta, released his Trips-produced debut single for the year; the song is another nod to Lyta’s ingenious songwriting skill and his honeyed voice. With assistance from label boss, Naira Marley, Zinoleesky and Emo Grae, they lived up to expectation with decent verses. The cowboy-themed video is an original in the Afrobeats visual landscape and it definitely adds to the delight. ED
- Moelogo featuring Bella Shmurda, “Jaiye”
Months after winning the Best Alternative Song of the Year with “I Wonder” at the 14th Headies Award, London-based Moelogo dropped the final EP of his “Me, Myself & I” trilogy. Off the “I” EP, Bella Shmurda-assisted “Jaiye” is a party starter. The up-tempo and percussion-based track shares similarity with Ebenezer Obey’s juju music with Moelogo retaining his inspirational shtick while Bella Shmurda bounces on the song with his Fuji-inflected lyrics. ED
- Burna Boy featuring Don Jazzy, “Question”
Don Jazzy’s continuous transition to brand influencing and the business side of things often makes people forget how good a producer he is. This feature with one of the biggest artists reminds us of that and reinforces his legendary status. The best thing about “Question” is that both artists complement each other throughout the song. The drums are ever present and Burna holds the beat till the end. AI
