The 10 Best Nigerian Songs of the Month (October)
Featuring Olamide, Niniola, Joeboy, Mr Eazi, Banky W, Made Kuti, AYLØ, Wande Coal x Wale and more
Joeboy's "Lonely" visualizer.
Here are the Nigerian tracks we had on repeat in the month of October.
Follow our NAIJA HITS playlist on Spotify here and Apple Music here.
Olamide 'Green Light'
Olamide is back! The Nigerian heavyweight artist returned this week with his new 12-track album, Carpe Diem. "The project is a reflection of my mind, and also the current sound brewing underground in Nigeria," Olamide mentions. "It's a combination of a lot of traditional elements and also a sound from Nigeria called galala, which has a little bit of reggae/dancehall. It's also a fusion of something we call Celestial, which is when you are playing secular music in church. It's like taking pop to the church." Get into the highly-addictive "Green Light" above and keep an eye out for our interview with the Nigerian star.
Joeboy 'Lonely'
Here is the first taste from Nigeria's rising star Joeboy's upcoming album. "Lonely" is a highly addictive affair. "Joeboy lays it all on the line on "Lonely," shooting his shot with the girl he's had his eye on. Turns out she's had her eyes on him, too, and it's happily ever after. Moral of the story: Never be afraid to share your feelings," his team says.
NINIOLA 'LOOK LIKE ME'
Niniola's new album, Colours and Sounds, opens with an invitation: to dance night and day. The Nigerian singer offers plenty of opportunity to do so throughout the album, but this first track on her sophomore release makes sure that the Niniola fans have come to know and love is still very much here amongst the success that's followed since her debut 2017 album, This Is Me. "It's still Niniola," she tells OkayAfrica. "My originality is still there, but definitely, you'll see growth in everything, from the first album to the second one."
Made Kuti 'Free Your Mind'
Made Kuti,son of Femi Kuti and grandson of Fela, is sharing his debut single and music video for "Free Your Mind." The new song, in which Made plays all of the recorded instruments, continues a trail that's been blazed by his family for generations: pairing additive, deeply-layered afrobeat grooves with lyrics about sociopolitical consciousness. "'Free Your Mind' is very much inspired by the teachings I received from my father and his efforts to make me understand exactly what the black man and woman's situation is in Nigeria, Africa, and around the world," explains Made Kuti.
Banky W 'Talk and Do' feat. 2Baba, Timi Dakolo, Waje, Seun Kuti, Brookstone & LCGC
Banky W has just released a rousing new single titled "Talk and Do". The Nigerian artist's latest track features a number of music heavyweights including Seun Kuti, 2Baba, Timi Dakolo, Brookstone & LCGC. The song comes amid continued #EndSARS protests in Nigeria, the ZimbabweanLivesMatter movement, the Black Lives Matter movement across a number of countries and several other colossal movements taking place which are seeing Black people calling for change.
Wande Coal & Wale 'Again (Remix)'
Nigerian afropop heavyweight Wande Coal has teamed up with famed American rapper Wale for a remix of his hit track "Again," off of his newly released EP, Realms. While "Again" has been around for a minute, there's nothing like dope visuals to get the fire burning again. As is typical and unfortunate in our new world of socially distancing, the two weren't able to join forces and wardrobes for an epic collaborative video. Instead, Director Adasa Cookey's brilliance manifested itself into a short film.
AYLØ 'Romantic'
Nigeria's AYLØ is announcing the new project, Clairsentience EP. Its lead single, "Romantic," is a meditative affair combining acoustic guitars and soft vocal melodies. The track is about "loving another person because you see some of yourself in them," the artist says.
Mr Eazi & Major Lazer feat. Nicki Minaj & K4mo 'Oh My Gawd'
Nigerian singer-songwriter Mr Eazihas teamed up with production trio Major Lazer for their collective new single "Oh My Gawd." The single only gets stronger with features, with Nicki Minaj and fellow Nigerian artist K4mo also lending their voices. Taking lyrical inspiration from Black Uhuru and Baby Charm and their legendary contributions to reggae and dancehall classic hits, "Oh My Gawd" acts as Mr Eazi's first single off of his highly anticipated EP Something Else. The song features production from Fred Again, Diplo and co-production courtesy of Alex Gibson, Toddla T and Siba.
Blaqbonez 'BBC'
Nigerian rapper Blaqbonez is back and freakier than ever with his new single, "BBC." The latest track acts as the lead single off of the artist's forthcoming and highly anticipated EP which is yet to be officially announced. Produced by Spax, the love-soaked track borrows musical influences from the infamously hot and heavy Caribbean diaspora as Blaqbonez croons on his about his multiple rendezvous.
Tega Starr & Mr Eazi 'French Kiss'
Nigerian powerhouse Mr Eazi is out with another single off of his highly-anticipated, soon to be released Something Else EP. This time, track "French Kiss" is being thrown out to his loyal and eager fans. "French Kiss" comes as a collaboration with fellow Nigerian Tega Starr, and production credits to South Africa's current man of the hour Master KG, as well as Nigeria's Magic Sticks. This is Starr's introductory tune since being chosen as one of 30 artists selected by Mr Eazi himself to take part in his #emPawa30 project.
Follow our NAIJA HITS playlist on Spotify here and Apple Music here.
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