The Nigerian music industry is one of the biggest export to other countries right now.
Nigerian Music is becoming international Music, and this is all credit to the fact that a lot of evolution has happened to our sound. By evolution, think development in Lyricism, sound engineering, songwriting and collaborations.
All these factors contribute to Nigerian artists wanting to release an album as soon as possible, because the reception for it will not only be good, but great!
Therefore, here are the Nigerian albums to watch out for this year:
1) Wizkid
Chris Brown’s former manager announced on Twitter that Wizkid was already done with his next studio album.
Album Title: More Love, Less Ego
Release Date: August 5 2022
2) Davido
Album Title: We Rise by Lifting OthersRelease Date: TBA
While announcing his North America Tour We Rise by Lifting Others, Davido said he would be premiering some of his new songs from his forthcoming album.
3) The Brothers Keeper by Chike
Release Date: TBA
Chike had a successful debut as an artist.
His songs were well-received because of the kind of authenticity that came with his debut album Boo of the Booless.
Boo of the Booless was praised as the Nigerian album of the year in 2020 because the sounds were very original and the songs were lyrically embedded but not wordy. It was a masterpiece.
Chike has that kind of song dexterity that makes you wanna listen to him all day long long even if the lyrics to the song are not entirely unique.You just want to listen! With the announcement of his sophomore album The Brothers Keeper came a lot of joyful expressions and expectations from his fans. We truly cannot wait for his album.
4) Buju
Release Date: TBA
Album Title: Bad since 97
Daniel Benson, also called Buju or Buju TYE (Buju To your ears), has been intimating fans about the release of his debut album for a long time.Buju Although he hasn't specifically announced the album title, he has made mention of recording his first album and featuring artists like Kizz Daniel on the album.
Bujus prominence in the music industry was propelled by his feature on Ladipoes Feeling in 2021³. This made people get more invested in his sound and listen more to his music.
He released an EP titled Sorry Im late on October 27, 2021. The EP was released to positive reviews by critics.
The reception of his EP also made him get peoples signs of expecting an album from him, and Buju is so ready to give this album.
In December 2021, he sold out his first concert in Lagos- The Sorry Im late concert. He was also featured on Wizkids Made in Lagos Deluxe Version, on the song Mood.
Buju has six AFRIMMA nominations and was nominated for Rookie of the Year in Headies Award 2020.
six AFRIMMA nominations. In the year 2020, he won City People Entertainment Award for Revelation of the Year. City People Entertainment Award for Revelation of the Year
5) Fireboy DML
Album Title: Playboy
Release Date: TBA
We can all agree that Fireboy has enjoyed a lot of attention in the music industry, but this is just the beginning of it all.
With his latest feature with Ed Sheeran on his hit song Peru on which Ed Sheeran nailed his verse anyway, Fireboy his set for a very good year.
Peru remix charted on a lot of national and international charts, hit 10 million views on YouTube within a week( now on 19 million) and displaced Adele's Easy on me on UK Apple music chart, charting number one. Peru is the first single ahead Fireboys album, and the first single has left such a significant legacy for the other songs to come and for the release of his third album now on 19 million. He confirmed this in Peru remix when he said: I'm not playing with you, I'm not joking. My third album is loading
6) Simi
Album Title: To be Honest
Release Date:TBA
Simi is one of the leading female artists in the Nigerian music industry right now. She is holding it down well. Being a mother and managing music so well, mixing her husbands forthcoming studio album and working on her own album is a lot, but she is doing it all like magic.
Simi has released two singles ahead her forthcoming studio album- Woman and So bad ft. Joeboy.
Woman enjoyed a lot of popularity and positive reception upon its release and a lot of people praised Simi for the music video. So bad was also released to positive reception too.
Review: Adekunle Golds Catch me if you can could offer more
These receptions are indications that Simis forthcoming studio album is what her fans cannot wait for. She is a sound engineer, and not only any sound engineer- a good one at that. She knows how to write songs and she has one of the most angelic voices in the world. She cant release a bad album even if she recorded it while sleeping“ that's how good she is!
7)Burna Boy
Release Date: July 2022
Album Title: Love, Damini
With two Grammy Nominations and one win, Burna Boy remains a giant when it comes to music. He has released a number of singles ahead his forthcoming studio album.
Notable of these singles are: Questions ft. Don Jazzy, Ballon Dor ft. Wizkid. Although Ballon Dor was released to mixed reviews, Questions had a lot of fans upon its release.
Burna Boy fans cannot wait for the heat he's going to bring on his forthcoming album.
8) Falz The Bahd Guy
Album Title: Bahd
Release Date: June 8, 2022
Sharing the news on his social media platforms, Falz The Bahd Guy has revealed that he is indeed working on a new album. He even hints that the album is almost done. He does this by sharing photos of himself in the studio with some producers.
Sharing the news on his social media platforms, Falz The Bahd Guy has revealed that he is indeed working on a new album. He even hints that the album is almost done. He does this by sharing photos of himself in the studio with some producers. See post below:
8) Rema
Album Title: Rave and Roses
Release Date: March 25,2022
Rema has been tidying things up for the release of his debut album and its something we cannot wait for!
He already released a single off his forthcoming album- Calm down, and it is a good enough listen!
9) Blaqbonez
Album Title: Young Preacher
Release Date: To be Announced
Blaqbonez already released a single off his forthcoming album titled Young Preacher. Commander signals a good nod for his forthcoming album and we cant wait for it!
10) Omah Lay
Album Title: Boy Alone
Release Date: TBA
Omah Lay has announced the release of his debut album- Boy Alone.
He has released two successful EPs
11) Catch me if you can by Adekunle Gold
Release Date: February 4, 2022
Adekunle Gold announced Catch me if you can around last year. He has been working on the album and dishing out hot singles ahead of its release.Catch me if you can is Adekunle Golds fourth studio album. He has successfully released three studio albums all to acclaim three studio albums.
Adekunle Gold is one of few Nigerian artists to have his first album “Gold debut on Billboard World Album Chart. The album debuted as No 7 on the chart upon release. After this, he released two more albums About 30 (2018) and Afropop Vol 1³ (2020).
Heres our first look into what Adekunle Golds fourth studio album Catch me if you can will be about:
First, the title Catch me if you can suggests growth- enormous growth that requires people to catch up with Adekunle Golds new sounds and the level he aims to reach now.
He is not even suggesting that you can catch him, hes suggesting that you try, but even if you try, it doesnt sound like you may be able to catch up with him because like he says Catch me, if you can
Ahead Catch me if you can, Adekunle Gold has released three singlesï¶ High ft. Davidoï¶ Sinner ft. Lucky Dayeï¶ It is what it is
The first single It is what it is was released April 2021. Sinner was released in July 2021 and High was released in September 2021. Of all these singles, High has gained more traction and more streams, with more than 8 million views on YouTube within two months.
Also, the album will be a feast of dynamic sounds. Upon the release of Adekunle Golds High with Davido, a user commented on YouTube that Adekunle Gold has reinvented himself to boost his status, streams and income in the industry. It is what it is sounded like what signposts a new decision. Like Hey guys, I been singing good boy songs since all this while, but lets switch it up.
So yeah, it is what it is. In all sincerity, this new sound is really helping Adekunle Golds career and status in the industry because his song High is literally everywhere in Nigeria. It has gained so much traction and popularity that it is competing with his greatest hits Orente and Pick up.'
These dynamic sounds will also usher in a new stage in Adekunle Golds career as he seems to have broken whatever was holding him down from exploring all parts of his music. Though the songs actually sound more like bad boy songs, his fans are going crazy about it and accepting it very well because his music sounds good; sounds fire, and as long as he still makes good music, he has the support of his fans.
