From multiple Grammy nods to chart-breaking history, Afrobeats – Nigeria’s biggest music export – rose up the ranks in global musicdom, last year. Among the most interesting things that happened within the multi-billion dollar scene, the flux of new voices soundtracking the evolution of the industry was most laudable to watch.

Interestingly, with increasing access to new technologies, especially, in this digital age of music distribution, there’s no more gatekeeping by big-wig record labels on new artistes breaking into the limelight. Now, with the right amount of push, talent and creativity, just about anyone can go viral on social media. The streets of social media have now become the new discovery grounds for fresh talent across the country.

As we delve into a new year, we take a closer look at this bustling community of superstars and the new class of voices soundtracking its future.

Odumodublvck
His signature Okpu Agu (Igbo traditional cap) headwear might be the most noticeable thing about Tochukwu Gbugbemi, the 30-year-old Abuja-based rapper professionally known as Odumodublvck (pronounced Owe-do-moe-do-black). Yet, it’s barely a slice of the hallmarks of the Native Records signee, whose breakout in 2023 remains the most popular for a Nigerian Hip Hop act in recent times. After bootstrapping a music career with his peers under the collective, Antiworld Gangstars, for several years, the emcee struck gold with his smash single, ‘Declan Rice’, which garnered applauds from even the English footballer himself. The song, which also featured as the official soundtrack for Rice’s Arsenal unveil, last July, heralded his era-defining album, Eziokwu, which solidified his fan bases across West Africa and the UK. With his indigenous and melodic approach to Drill music – a subgenre of Hip Hop – his vivid storytelling and energetic delivery, Odumodublvck is presently soaring across the household of Afrobeats lovers and is definitely set to sail for a long time.

Bloody Civilian
From her obvious controversial moniker, Khamofu Emoseh, is running the race that Weird MC was unable to complete in the early 2000s. From her masterful genre-bending, to revolting lyricism and her unique lithe vocals, Bloody Civilian was the chanteuse that broke glass ceilings in 2023. Her production and singing credits on the official soundtrack of Marvel’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever flick, which eventually earned her a Grammy nod, last year, were unprecedented big wins that are rare for even more experienced artistes. On her debut album, Anger Management, the singer, songwriter, producer and creative director showcased her brilliance behind a microphone, scoring some instant fan-favourites such as ‘How To Kill A Man’, ‘Family Meeting’, and ‘I Don’t Like You.’ Interestingly, she’s so endeared that despite the content mismatch, people are eager to see her perform at occasions including weddings, she’s previously commented. Signed to Native Records/Def Jam Recordings, the 25-year-old is wearing a proud crown and is leading a sonic revolution in Afrobeats.

Majeeed
Majeed, with the three e’s, seems to make Afrobeats with a suspicious type of ease. The Dream Empire Music signee, born Joseph Ekeh, first made a great impression in 2022, with his song Yawa No Dey End. His debut EP, Bitter Sweet, released later that year, shot him up into the public radar, and the rest of 2023 was a rollercoaster of releases, from his Tiwa Savage duet, Gbese, to his debut album, Cheers To Life, sharpening his stardom status across the Afrobeats scene. His incognito life as a songwriter where he’s written for several notable voices including Tiwa Savage, Seyi Shay, among others, also colours his artistry with a sense of longevity. The soft-toned lyricist continues to make profound expressions of Pop and Afro RnB that are firm reasons why he should be on your radar if you’re looking to get familiar with the new cats.

YKB
FROM a previous career in the photo studio, to a new life in recording booths, Yusuf Gbolaga, better known as YKB, is a vibrant young musician one can better describe as a Knight in a chess board. His unorthodox creative direction, music rollouts, fashion choices, lithe vocals and enjambing lyricism are some of the most colourful feathers on his artistry. After securing a slot on Mr Eazi’s Empawa Africa accelerator, in 2020, the 28-year-old singer broke out into the limelight with his song, San Siro, in 2022. Although he had scored some notable releases before then, including the Zlatan-assisted Dey Your Dey the previous year, YKB netted a larger fanbase and garnered more critical reception leading up to his sophomore EP, Yusful Music, which became an instant fan-favourite across Afrobeats.

Qing Madi
IF you took one listen to American Love by Qing Madi, one would think that it was a Miley Cyrus comeback on African soil. However, the 17-year-old songbird, born Chimamanda Chukwuma, is one notable maverick that gained popularity after her debut single, See Finish, went viral on TikTok, in 2022. Her follow-up songs, including the BNXN-assisted Ole and Why became answers to questions surrounding her identity and prowess in the Afrobeats scene. In her recently-released eponymous debut album, Qing Madi showcased her soothing fusion of Soul, RnB and Pop, creating yet another landscape where Afrobeats can be enjoyed by diverse listeners. She remains one of the youngest and most harmonious songbirds to emerge in the new wave of Afrobeats superstars.

Kold AF
Born Aninooritsewarami Oritsesa, Kold AF is one of the most distinctive Afro-fusionists to join the new class of Afrobeats singers across the country. Her brilliant debut, a two-track EP dubbed, Kold Szn, put her on major airwaves and topical conversations in Afrobeats all through 2022. In the following year, her collaborative EP with acclaimed French Producer BGRZ titled, Kollide, cleared all doubts as to her stealthy ascent into the front row of Afrobeats superstars set to leave a mark in this industry.

Tar1q
When Tar1q (stylised with the number ‘1’ but pronounced as Tah-reek) stepped into the music scene, in 2022, all ears paid attention. His alluring vocalisation and breezy poetic lyricism turned his debut record, Son of the Moon, into a country-wide fan favourite. Newly signed to Chocolate City Music, the 22-year-old Geology student has harvested more music gems than most other newcomers in the newest class of Afrobeats mavericks. Born Tariq Olokun, the young singer has also earned his stripes among vocalists to watch out for in today’s Afrobeats. His lyricism soars as one of the finest among his contemporaries, while his emotive delivery has projected him beyond any doubts that he’s among the game changers to usher Afrobeats into its next eras.

Seyi Vibez
Hailed as the torchbearer of the Neo-Fuji flame, Seyi Vibez, born Balogun Oluwaloseyi, has left an indelible mark on the face of street-pop music in Nigeria, since his 2021 breakout song, Godsent. While his mesmeric Fuji and Apala influence, especially in his harmonies and call-and-response style, revived the nostalgia in his audience, his deliberate fusion of Amapiano with these local styles spread the gospel of his musicianship far beyond the grassroots to even more urban audiences both in Nigeria and abroad. After collaborating with Burna Boy, on Giza off his acclaimed I Told Them record, the Ikorodu-bred star quelled any doubts as to his inclusion in the next tranche of breakout acts set to shake the scene by a storm. With a young-but-robust discography, Seyi Vibez is upping the ante for Street-pop/Hop musicians set to leave their mark on a heavily Westernised music scene.

Shallipopi
Just when we thought there was nothing new coming out from the Southern sphere of the country, Benin-bred musician Crown Uzama, professionally known as Shallipopi, seemed to pull a King of Hearts on the music scene. The self-acclaimed ‘Pluto President’ spinned off into the limelight with his signature Naijapiano fusion dubbed, ‘Elon Musk’. The song gained virality across all media channels; from social media, to broadcast platforms, and even in social spaces like clubs and pubs. The catchy sing-rap, pidgin lyricism, and indigenous innuendos from the 27-year-old musician became his most hallowed trademarks, endearing him to fun-loving Afrobeats listeners. After that, his slew of releases including Oba Pluto, which sampled the Ebohon International Theatre Troupe’s rendition of the Edo folk song, Oba Ovoranmwen, showcasing his alluring interpolation of Benin culture and heritage in his artistry.

Morravey
When Davido signed Daniella Daniel, professionally known as Morravey, last year, to his Davido Music Worldwide record label, the Afrobeats community was agog over her exceptional singing voice, laced with confident delivery. Lauded for brilliantly hitting the high notes on Davido’s In The Garden off his Timeless album, the Port Harcourt bred singer has joined the league of songbirds characterised with powerful voices among the new Afrobeats class. Her debut EP, Ravi, is a strong ensemble of boundary-stretching instrumentation and masterful delivery, two hills that Morravey confidently balances her unique singing talents upon.

Yarden
After Blessed Jordan, professionally known as Yarden, stepped into the halo, in 2022, with his hit song, ‘Wetin’, it was glaring that the young musician, signed to Etins Records, was poised for fame. With a rather unique approach to RnB, the singer-songwriter etched his name on the roster of new mavericks set to redefine Afrobeats, with his five-track EP, The One Who Descends, released last month. His vocalisation reminds one of the Irish legend Ed Sheeran, while his songwriting solidifies his intentionality as an artiste set to leave a mark in the space.

Azanti
Described as Afrobeats’ Boy Wonder, Nathan Otekalu-Aje, professionally known as Azanti, is a 20-year-old singer and songwriter with very distinct vocals that ring through as a bridge between vintage RnB and modernist fusions. Signed to both the Abuja-based Apex Village collective, and the UMG-owned multinational music company, Def Jam Recordings, Azanti came into the limelight with his joint tape with Psycho YP dubbed, YP and Azanti Vol 1, in 2020, and he continued his ascent with an eponymous project the following year. His 2022 album, Hearts, Parts and Nostalgia, which had a deluxe edition last year, brought him to the frontline of the Afrobeats new school, where his intriguing harmonisation, poetic songwriting and composition placed him on the list of ones to watch out for in 2024.