2020 is a year of many happenings and that includes great songs and amazing sounds. As testing as the year was, Nigerian artistes did justice to helping people cope, and stay entertained and motivated all through. If not for sounds and music, in albums, EPS, singles and soundtracks, omoh, many would have entered into depression or be drained mentally.
No concerts, less shows and no live performances characterised the year but many thanks to digitization, and the many music platforms online which helped us have access to all of the music goodies in the year as always. Even the annual biggest Christian gathering, The Experience, which usually sees hundred thousands of people in attendance was held online.
Now that the year is coming to an end, it is time to give honour to whom honour is due to, and kudos to the outstanding actors in the Nigerian music industry. Not to say one is worse or bad, but then, to appreciate the content that Nigerians were served by its artistes this very year. Trust me, compiling this list of the best and biggest albums an EPs of the year is very very hard as there were soooo many contents dished out.
Read also: 10 Most Fashionable Nollywood Actresses Of 2020
If we won’t tell lies, most of the sounds are amazing, right from the existing artistes to the up and coming, and fast-rising ones. The list is compiled, not on the basis of the sales of the music but how much of hits are in the EP/Album, how popular the songs are, how much of the expectations of their audience the artistes meet. If your fave is not here, well, tell him or her to make music that resonates that will qualify for the year. Here, are the biggest albums/ EPs of the year, in no particular order:
Apollo: Making his major breakthrough in 2019 with hit track Jealous, and the n What If I Say, YBNL act Adedamola Adefolahan popularly known as Fireboy DML came through in the year with more hits in his album Apollo. “I’m not tryna be the number one. So many legends dey, I’m just tryna be another one”, Fireboy DML sings in one of the tracks, Airplane Mode, which insinuates that he is not here for the competition but to shine on his own lane, and this, he is doing pretty well, with this new album.
Celia: Tiwa Savage again proved that she is the Afrcian bad gyal with the album she named after her mother. This, according to her, is one medium she employed to celebrate the strength of her mom, and other women and ladies out there. Rooted deeply in Afrobeats and RnB, Celia features guest appearances from Sam Smith, Naira Marley, Stefflon Don, Dice Ailes, Davido, and Hamzaa.
Boo Of The Booless: After stealing our hearts away with his rendition of James Arthur’s Roses at the 2nd edition of The Voice Nigeria which he eventually won, Afro-soul singer Chike came through during Valentine with his debut album Boo of The Booless, and till the end of the year, the song resonates, pinching hearts and melting souls when played. His sonorous voice and skills plus the wonderful collabs with Ric Hassani, MI Abaga and Zoro all pushed the song 100 percent high.
Carpe Diem: Following 999 which was way below the high expectations from Olamide, the YBNL boss came through towards the end of the year with Carpe Diem, bouncing back and better. Any listener can guess that Olamide is looking to retain his throne as the king of commercial rap in Nigeria, and he proved it that he understands that treading the part of Afro-pop infused rap will sell him back to his fans, and no less, it did. As he always does, Olamide embraced young bloods in the industry, the likes of Fireboy DML, Bad Boy Timz, Omah Lay and Bella Shmurda, not forsaking those making names in the insustry already, the likes of Peruzzi and Phyno for the 11th body of work.
Satisfied: In gospel music, one can say it is the year of the vocal powerhouse Mercy Chinwo. Following the success of her debut album The Cross My Gaze which saw hit tracks like Chindeum, Akamdinelu amongst others reign till 2019, she came through in the year with Satisfied. The 15 track body of work is a compilation of songs of victory, thanksgiving, soul/spirit lifting, featuring Chioma Jesus, and J.J Hairston & Youthful Praise on the remix of her breakthrough track, Excess Love.
A Better Time: Though he didn’t plan recording an album in 2020, Davido had to push out the album after his original plan to tour the world was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and hey, it was and is lit. He doubled down on the 17 track body of work’s overall tone and message, as inspired by Africa’s ethos, making hits with Nicki Minaj, Lil Baby, Chris Brown, Young Thug, Mayorkun, Ckay, Mugeez, Hit-Boy, Nas, Sho Madjozi, Bella Shmurda and Sauti Sol.
Twice As Tall: Odogwu is keeping up and staying at the top of his game and with the new album TAT, he pushed himself and music a bit further in global recognition and fanbase. The 15 track is so rich in Afrobeats, Afrobeat, dancehall, pop and hip hop and see features with Youssou N’dour, Naughty by Nature, Sauti Sol, Coldplay and Stormzy.
AfroPop Vol 1: Adekunle Gold blessed our ears and souls with just the type of soft tender music that suits perfectly, and releasing it on a freaky Friday was just superb. He had shook the industry with amazing tracks like Sade, Orente and Pick Up, and had shown a his diversity and growth in recent time like Kelegbe Megebe, Before You Wake Up and Young Love, little did we know that he was going to blow us away in Afropop Vol 1.He weaved Afropop through a multitude of genres, and explored, giving his fans so much delight in 10 tracks.
What Have We Done: A year ago, Omah Lay was in the corners of his room, wondering if the world would ever get to hear him, but alas, he is one of the latest hotcake in the Nigerian music industry. His first EP, Get Layd received massive positive reviews. With this energy and his freshness, his second EP, What Have We Done dropped, not long after the first one. The 5 tracked EP with a feature with 6lack on Damn remix gives an insight into a different dimension of the usual Omah Lay bad boy swag who is growing lyrically, tonally and even physically.
Yabasi: Although a comedian, Basketmouth has always felt a connection to music. This year, he brought his long-held desire to fruition, releasing what is arguably the most remarkable compilation album to come out of Nigeria in recently. The richly layered project also serves as the soundtrack for the web series titled Papa Benji. The rich collaborations with lords of the Nigerian music Oxlade, Show Dem Camp, Waje, Ladipoe, Duncan Mighty, Flash, BOJ, Ice Prince, Flavour, Phyno, Chike, Zoro, Umu Obiligbo and Peruzzi, among others give the album a wealth of diversity that cannot be underrated. For a starter, kudos to Basketmouth.
For The Broken Ears: Edaki Timothy once wrote, “with Alté singer and songwriter Tems, what you see is what you get. There are no two ways about that. With the singer, there is always something for everyone. Its either her voice is the magic, or her poetry laced lyrics. It could very well be her rebel looks as titled in her 2019 hit song. The drill here is that Tems is an artiste for everybody”, and we can’t agree any less. Breaking through with Try Me, Tems showed us her superpower of blowing even without a record label, and went on to do more in various collabs. Now that she offered her EP, For The Broken Ears, the reaction is omoh x1m, this gyal is hottttt!!!!
Oxygene: With two previous EPs and great collaborations with other artistes, Oxlade drops another EP titled Oxygene, showing that he is not in the industry to play at all. He had named the EP in accordance to his passion for the art and a play on his name. “Music is the air that I breathe, which is why I’ve named the EP ‘Oxygene’. With the play on words with Oxy’ being my nickname and the biological ‘gene’, I’m letting out a part of myself to the world which contains love, consciousness and pain”, he said about the music. In the 6 tracked EP featuring Moelogo, Oxlade showed that his beautiful voice can be utilized for more than singing about love and the beauty of a woman, and then comes out full, like a flower that has finally attained its bloom.
Born Of God: If there is a female artiste who brings the streets in a splash of hip pop and dance hall into the gospel, it is surely Ada Ehi-Moses. Her single Jesus burst brains and she is here in another album titled Born of God with soo much dynamism. Her unique soft-even-when-pitching voice makes the whole album a delicacy for the soul.
Yellow: a list without Brymo’s Yellow album should be null and void please! Just like Chike’s music, many are still not coming to terms with Olawale Olofooro’s songwriting and singing prowess, and at such cannot appreciate it so much. Music isn’t in all of the dancehall and pop and beats alone, sometimes you need music that connects to your soul, and Brymo presented just that in his Yellow album. He continues to take his place as one of the gurus in the Nigerian music industry whether reckoned with or not.
Photos Credit: Getty
Related
