Music  

Top 10 Nigerian Songs of 2022

By Guardian Nigeria

30 November 2022   |   9:16 am

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The Nigerian music scene is buzzing with a mix of talented artists producing hit songs that showcase the diverse sounds and styles of afrobeats. In this article, we take a look at the top 10 Nigerian songs of 2022, featuring the likes of Asake, Burna Boy, Mavins, Crayon, Ayra Starr, Kizz Daniel, Adekunle Gold, Davido,…

Asake and Burna Boy

Asake’s sound is less-conventional afrobeats and more like a stir of fuji, street, and some amapiano. “Sungba”, meaning “lie flat” in Yoruba, has an oddly-appealing sexual undertone, with a hint of egotism about his musical know-how and financial stamina. The record took off on social media before snowballing into a national hit that would interest Burna Boy enough to jump on the remix.

Burna Boy – “Last Last”
On ‘Last Last’, Burna Boy references the pop culture parlance – ‘everybody go chop breakfast’ – to serve a refreshing spin on heartbreak, where he takes a more composed, less emotional turn. The song’s climax would be the resort to ‘Igbo and Shayo’ (colloquially meaning alcohol and weed) for escapism. The record which samples Toni Braxton’s 2000 R&B hit “He Wasn’t Man Enough” came ahead of the singer’s sixth album, Love Damini.

Mavins, Crayon, Ayra Starr, LADIPOE, Magixx & Boy Spyce – “Overloading (OVERDOSE)”
Mavin’s tenth anniversary culminated in the release of “Overdose” featuring two of the label’s seasoned acts – Crayon & Ladipoe and its newer talents – Ayra Starr, Magixx, & Boy Spyce. “Overdose”, a record made for lovers in the “breakfast” climate, marks an evolution of the label’s roster, inciting a hint of nostalgia for the “Dorobucci”, and “Adaobi” sweep in 2014. The record has been one of the hottest songs in Nigeria since its release, earning some of the artists their first number one’s on the charts.

Kizz Daniel – “Buga”
“Buga”, meaning “show off”  in Yoruba, draws from a well-bred aura in composition and messaging. It has become afrobeats’ poster record on platforms like Tiktok, accompanied by a uniquely candid choreography that drives home Kizz Daniel’s intent for the song. “As long as people work hard to make legitimate money, they should be proud to flaunt their worth,” he said. It became the fastest song to garner one million streams on Boomplay in 24 hours.

Adekunle Gold – “Catch Me If You Can”
In the title track of Adekunle Gold’s recent album, he’s confrontational as he takes a swipe at media critics and cynics. the singer had highlighted “Catch Me If You Can” as his favorite record on the then-forthcoming project. “The song almost tells the entire story of the album. It’s about my journey, how hard I worked to get to where I am,” he continued, “I know that people say you must be given their flowers, but I’m at the point where I’m getting my own flowers. A whole field of lavender.”

Ayra Starr – “Rush”
Ayra Starr is not backing down as she delivers some of her most self-confident lyrics yet. “‘Rush is really a description of where I am at the moment—a place of reflection, zeal, and gratitude,” she explained. “E dey rush well well—all that I’ve dreamt of is happening and I’m in the middle of it all, living my dream and it can only get better!”

Davido feat Sunday Service Choir – “Stand Strong”
Davido is reflective of his decade-long reign on “Stand Strong”, a message of hope and persistence. The track’s emotional undertones and serenity mark Davido’s foray into uncharted territory as he recruits Los Angeles’ Sunday Service Choir to make a purposely crafted symphony that mirrors his state of mind. “I know people love it when I make them dance, but now I want to make them feel,” he says, “I know what I’ve experienced over the past 10 years, and for the first time, I want to bring you into the other part of my world. The part where every day is a battle but I have no option but to ‘Stand Strong’”.

Yarden – “Wetin”

Nigerian singer-songwriter and talented artist, YARDEN, introduces a new song titled “Wetin”.

The song began to trend more after the Nigerian TikTok video creators community used the song in their videos, serving as a way of promoting the song online. Yarden really killed the record completely.

Okereke Blessed Jordan, popularly known as Yarden is a singer and songwriter who comes from a music and entertainment enthusiastic family. The 19 years old who is the newest male signee of Etins Record family was raised in Lagos but a native of Abia state

The song “Wetin” is an amazing record that should be on your Playlist.
In conclusion, YARDEN tapped on Blkdoe  x Molly for the song production.

Crayon – “Ijo (Laba Laba)”
Striking while the iron is hot, Crayon teams up with Sarz for “Ijo Lababa” (meaning “butterfly dance” in Yoruba), a dance trend involving some hand coordination that has since gone viral on social media. The amapiano-Afropop earworm is inspired by his dance move in the “Overdose” music video. The tantalizing dance rhythm would mark Crayon’s long-overdue ascent in the Nigerian music scene.

Oxlade – “Ku Lo Sa”
“Ku Lo Sa” debuted on Colors and has since incited a viral moment and wave of appearances on global charts. The record is a blend of soft but arresting melodies, making it an instant fan favorite. Oxlade proves that he can reliably remain in rotation among people from different walks of life.