Complete these lyrics: "I'm happy, I know, Amapiano, _________"

ContinueGive Up

What Naija Amapiano song recently got removed from streaming sites. It rhymes with "Alagba, faraway"?

ContinueGive Up

What spot in Lagos is popularly known for throwing Amapiano parties?

ContinueGive Up

As a Nigerian, what's your expected response to "No matter where you go, remember the road that'll lead you home"

ContinueGive Up

Which artist was the face of Nigerian Amapiano in 2023?

ContinueGive Up

Which Nigerian song did CAF play to celebrate South Africa when they scored against Morocco in a 2024 AFCON match?

ContinueGive Up

Which Nigerian artist introduced the Amapiano sound to DJ Maphorisa?

ContinueGive Up

Who did Davido feature on "Champion Sound"?

ContinueGive Up

Who made the club-banging "Ameno Amapiano"?

ContinueGive Up

Complete this sentence: "You wanna bamba, ______"

ContinueGive Up

You got #{score}/#{total}

You're a big vibe, all the girls dem know!

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Retry

You got #{score}/#{total}

Not bad. You're a party rider.

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Retry

You got #{score}/#{total}

Who do we have here? AN IMPOSTER! A FAKE PATRIOT!

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Retry

Our Valentine Special is out now. We brought back three couples 鈥� one now with kids, one now married and the last, still best friends 鈥� to share how their relationships have evolved in the last five years. Watch the first episode below:

We made a timeline of her journey from Jo鈥檅urg to the Grammys.

2019 鈥� Tyla, Garth von Glehn and Getting Late

Tyla had just graduated from high school and started posting singing and dancing covers on social media when a photographer named Garth von Glehn discovered one of her Instagram videos. She mistook him for an online scammer until he met her parents to discuss managing her in 2019. 

Throughout that year, she and her bestie and stylist, Thato Nzimande, spent weekends writing and recording songs at von Glehn鈥檚 studio until she met South African DJ and music producer, Kooldrink, and recorded her eventual debut single, Getting Late. This was when she picked up her , a fusion of amapiano and afrobeats with R&B and pop music.

2021 鈥� Epic Records deal and Blood & Water series

After a quiet COVID year, writing and recording, Tyla signed to Epic Records 鈥� home to Mariah Carey, Travis Scott, DJ Khaled, the late Michael Jackson, among other icons. This happened in a joint venture with the Jo’burg/New York-based music company, Fax Records, in 2021. Soon after, she dropped her next song, Overdue, a collaboration between Tyla and DJ Lag, a South African DJ, producer and pioneer of (a style of electronic dance music). The song was featured in the season two trailer of Netflix鈥檚 South African hit series, Blood and Water. 

2022 鈥� Nomination at SAMA

Getting Late music video was nominated for 鈥淏est Video of the Year鈥� at the 28th edition of the South African Music Awards (SAMA). At this point, it had amassed several million views on YouTube. She didn鈥檛 win, but the nod was a big deal for such a new artist on the scene. In November, Tyla released To Last and made a remix with DJ Maphorisa and Young Stunna.

2023 鈥� Tour with Chris Brown and breakout hit

In January, Tyla released the dancefloor jam, Been Thinking. At Tricky Stewart鈥檚 Grammy party later that month, the head of Epic Records, Sylvia Rhone, asked Tyla if she鈥檇 like to open Chris Brown’s 鈥淯nder the Influence鈥� Europe and UK tour. She joined the tour on February 14th, solidifying her audience base, especially in the U.S.

For the first episode of our Valentine Special, we brought back three couples 鈥� one now with kids, one now married and the last, still best friends 鈥� to share how their relationships have evolved in the last five years. Watch below:

During the tour, she attended Dolce & Gabbana鈥檚 Fall/Winter 2023 runway show, where she was seen with Kim Kardashian and performed at the after-party. She also featured Ayra Starr on her next promotional single, Girl Next Door, in May, and dropped what would be a life-changing global hit 鈥� Water 鈥� in August, the same month during which her iconic choreo went viral. Water debuted at number 67 on the US Billboard Hot 100, the only South African song to do this in 56 years, since Hugh Maskela鈥檚 Grazing in the Grass (1968).

In October, Tyla made her U.S. TV debut on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, performing Water. The same month, Water was considered for nomination for the Best African Music Performance at the 2024 Grammys Awards. In December, Tyla released her self-titled introductory EP. The project opened with Water and ended with its remix, but has now been extended to a full album coming on March 22, 2024.

2024 鈥� First platinum, Grammy nomination and win

In January, Water was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. On February 5, Tyla won the first Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance with Water, among nominees like Nigeria鈥檚 Davido, Burna Boy, Asake and Olamide.

The year is still young; who knows what more it鈥檒l bring the aspiring global African popstar.

Check Out the Complete List of Grammy Awards 2024 Winners

Apparently, it’s the sound Swae Lee’s been enjoying since his arrival in Nigeria almost a week ago.

Enraged South Africans virtually pounced on him and Nigerians for trying to rewrite history and not giving credit to the originators of the sound. It’s understandable, since they’re not wrong with their claims; Nigerians have been talking about the South African sound with ownership because several Nigerian artists have made popular hits with it.

Swae Lee tried to clear the air about the context of his tweet but no one cared.

No culture grows if you gatekeep it. But the failure to give due credit to its roots is a disservice to it. Which is why 91大神 has come to do what’s right with a peace offerings to reconcile us with our dear Mzansi family.

First of all, stop all the lies

Amapiano didn’t start in 2021, nor did it start this year. These are bold claims; we shouldn鈥檛 engage cap like these

Credit should be given to South African acts like , , , etc.

There is that amapiano didn’t start in Nigeria and it has been around the world before it got popular here.

Dissolve the “Afropiano” title

What does even mean other than a shameless way of appropriating the amapiano culture? Let afrobeats be Nigerian and keep amapiano South African. Both can lovingly coexist.

Or South Africa can have Asake

His two album鈥檚 sounds are dominantly amapiano. He even titled a recent single of the same name. Maybe it’s a cry for naturalisation. Who knows?

In fact, they can have afrobeats too

If all afrobeats credits are given to South Africa for a year, I’m sure Nigerians won’t be annoyed . Music crosses borders, right? After all, we’re all one; African brothers and sisters.

QUIZ: Which Music Genre Are You?

More collaborations with SA

The biggest Nigerian artist right now literally has a song called Amapiano and credit wasn’t given. That’s appropriation right there. This is about the Nigerian music industry in general, and credit can be given in the form of working with SA producers, collaborating with SA artists, or even shooting videos even in the country. Need I say more?

Focus on Nigerian sounds

Before Nigerian artists started facing the same direction, they explored a variety of sounds. The craze for amapiano-hits is shifting focus from motherland sounds.

Listen to only Mzansi’s amapiano

We can still enjoy the music even without making it ourselves.

QUIZ: This Quiz Knows Which Nigerian Amapiano Song You Think Is the Greatest

Yawa 鈥� Fireboy DML

A groovy afropop song far removed from the Jersey sound experiment on previous single, Someone.

Fireboy DML teamed up with music producers, Magicsticks and Telz, to make a statement about not minding haters and busybodies. He reveals a new smoking habit, and you can even hear Olamide smoothly backing him up at the end, but the clearest takeaway from the whole song is that it鈥檚 very much for the Nigerian audience.

Angelus and My Darling 鈥� Victony

Victony finally served us the singles he鈥檚 been teasing since June 11, 2023. On Angelus, Victony went back in time to pick inspiration from sounds reminiscent of Oliver De Coque. My Darling, produced by Ghana’s Juls, Victony continues to admonish to be in his life. No wonder Victony has been dancing in his promotional videos, these songs are groovy af.

Sittin’ On Top Of The World (Remix) 鈥� Burna Boy ft. 21 Savage

Burna Boy first released this single on the 2nd of June, but it didn’t pick up as you’d expect. Today, he re-released Sittin’ On Top Of The World with a verse from British-American rapper, 21 Savage. Hip-hop鈥檚 influence is clear on this remix; another proof Burna doesn’t miss when he links with foreign rappers.

My Own 鈥� Major AJ ft. Blaqbonez

Major AJ tapped his labelmate, Blaqbonez, to collaborate on this song. They’re saying what most people already know: finding love in Lagos is the hardest. My Own is a chilled bop with choral backup and serenading trumpets. It sounds inspired by Burna Boy’s Last Last, but with it, Major AJ shows he’s a versatile artist who can’t be boxed.

Sokoto 鈥� Minz ft. Zinoleesky

Apparently, Minz is now in a better position compared to the pre-release of Wo Wo, and he’s less-concerned about what detractors have to say about him and his music. His new single, Sokoto, is a party jam that explores his sexcapes. Coming from the success of Wo Wo single, Minz links with Zinoleesky to bring this sensual song to life. It’s afrobeats with a sprinkle of house music, produced by Babybeats and Mike Bgrz.

Chasing Wind 鈥� Tim Lyre

There’s nothing like staying original to your sound as a musician, perfecting it while dropping quality projects. Alternative singer-songwriter and producer, Tim Lyre, has made himself a standout among peers with his unconventional approach and reggae-influenced tone. On his latest single, Chasing Wind, he details the burden of dream-chasing.

Pariwo 鈥� Mohbad & Bella Shmurda

Since Adura came out in 2020, these two have returned with Pariwo, an uptempo song, telling whoever cares to listen that they’re unavailable for stressful conversations. Mohbad warns that he’s not in a playful mode, and no one should step on his toes. Pariwo is a testimony to the trajectory of their careers and how far they intend to go.

Eleyele 鈥� Taves

Taves is BNXN, fka Buju’s, new signee. His debut, Eleyele, is a laid-back fusion of afropop and r&b. On it, Taves bares his feelings about longing for a faraway lover.

Submit your contribution .

Prior to his debut album, Asake first made a colourful splash on the scene with his EP Ololade Asake, which took Nigerians straight to the dance floors. Carefully fusing Afropop with styles that slowly creep into Fuji and Apala, Asake sang about having money, a good time and being streetwise. With MMWTV, Asake became the biggest breakout star Nigeria has ever seen with the biggest album of the year and the most streams for an artist, culminating in a recent BET award nomination. It鈥檚 Asake鈥檚 world and the rest of us are just paying rent and agency fees.  

In the buildup to his latest, Work of Art, Asake released three songs, Yoga, 2:30 and Amapiano, and they were all number one singles on Official Nigeria Top 100. In all this, Asake hasn’t strayed from the fast life narrative. But while we enjoy the omo jaiye jaiye persona, the important question is: will it keep fans to their feet like it did nearly ten months ago?

The Breakdown

Asake opens the album with a mouth full of gratitude to God who translates to Olorun (the opening track title) in Yoruba. On this record, he recalls his life’s journey, the hard times and his meteoric rise. The introspective track is followed by the indulgent Awodi in which he continues the story of his successes and turns Pasuma’s name into wordplay. Early single, 2:30 comes after and it fits in seamlessly, picking up the pace of his Amapiano-inspired direction. Asake asks what the probability of anyone catching up to him is, or if they have the agility to even move. 

On Sunshine, Ololade Asake becomes more flexible. The song is a shift from his usual pattern (stripped down beat, minimal horns, whistle and choral backups), but still manages to deliver a light-hearted message of motivation. 

Maintaining a similar direction to Sunshine production-wise, Asake shifts gears to Mogbe which finds Olamide鈥檚 prot茅g茅 in top form, with infectious lyrics about having a good time. Basquiat, the sixth track named after the famous American painter, Jean Micheal-Basquiat finds Asake in his artistic bag, comparing himself to a priceless work of art. After the year that was 2022, Asake鈥檚 worth on the music scene fully reflects his position on this track. The Olamide-assisted Amapiano enters next to subtly remind us of their exotic lifestyles and the overall sound the album sets to achieve.

The party continues with What’s Up My G and I Believe, songs complete with log drums, drawn out storytelling and braggadocious lyrics meant to assert his dominance. At this point, it’s clear the plan is to keep us dancing鈥� he reminded us again on Introduction that he’s Mr. Money with a sprinkle of no food for a lazy man.

Asake admonishes his lover to “give it to him” while flexing his big vocabulary muscles on Remember. Lonely At the Top follows and switches up the ambience, now in a more solemn but groovy mood; Asake shows some vulnerability and preaches self-love. We’re with him on this.

Before you proceed, take our survey .

Mr. Money’s fun isn’t stopping anytime. He flexes on Great Guy about catching flights, wearing the finest satin, and being in his woman’s bosom. The song ends with a popular Michel Legris’ Mo Capitane sample, ushering us into the trance-like closing track, Yoga, where he accepts the burdens of success, warns detractors and vibe killers.

Final thoughts

Asake has never shied away from being heavy on vibes and melodies. He heavily taps in feel-good grooves and since Amapiano is still a darling out here, it works in his favour.

Though the hooks and choruses are infectious, the album sounds like he’s using the same beat for the 100th time sometimes. Asake paces himself on Work of Art and triumphantly soaks in the momentum.

We’re not lying. See for yourself.

10. Too Sweet (O dun) 鈥� Niniola 

Niniola has already shown us that deep down, she鈥檚 South African. Taking over the afro-house music scene, it made sense for her to take a stab at another South African genre. If we ever doubted her, Squander was staring us right in the face. Too Sweet has become the go-to 鈥淚 came to slay鈥� song on social media and honestly, we can鈥檛 stop listening.聽

9. 44 鈥� Ayanfe

While Ayanfe鈥檚 name might not be popular, we have a strong feeling you鈥檝e heard this song before. Off his recent All that Matters EP, this joint also features verses from other upcoming acts like Mystro and Jamopyper. 

8. Stella Riddim 鈥� Wavy the Creator

Wavy the Creator is one of those artists you can鈥檛 put in a box. We doubt there鈥檚 a genre she hasn’t tried out (and done well, to be honest). Jumping on the amapiano train with some help from Ckay and Ghana鈥檚 Efya, Stella Riddim is a standout track from her new EP, PS: Thank you for waiting. 

7. Mosafejo 鈥� Dunnie 

With production credit on songs for Wande Coal, Yemi Alade, Niniola and Focalistic, singer Dunnie is not new to the music scene. While her work as a producer might grab your attention, it鈥檚 her amapiano inspired single, Mosafejo that will have you pulling out all the moves you鈥檝e picked up from Instagram. If her single is this good, then we are ready for her upcoming album. 

6. Come My Way 鈥� Wande Coal 

You know it鈥檚 real when folks like Wande Coal decide to hop on a vibe. A match made in musical heaven for us, we got a chance to hear our Black Diamond flex his voice on one of the sickest amapiano beats of the year. Are we upset that Davido鈥檚 verse didn鈥檛 make the final song? Yes. But that doesn鈥檛 mean this version doesn鈥檛 slap, because omo, it does. 

5. Ozumba Mbadiwe 鈥� Reekado Banks 

If someone told us that after a string of major misses Reekado Banks would have one of the biggest songs of the year, we would have called the person a detty liar. This song came out in October and now just like the traffic on the road it鈥檚 named after, we can鈥檛 escape it. Major shout-out to Reekado for doing the needful by paying tribute to victims of the Lekki toll gate massacre of October 2020. We have a feeling that amapiano might be his true calling, who knows?

4. Yaba Buluku 鈥� DJ Tarico, Burna Boy and Nelson Tivane 

Contrary to what you might think, this song isn鈥檛 even South African, it鈥檚 from Mozambique. This goes to show the rate at which amapiano has infiltrated not just the Nigerian music scene, but Africa as a whole. Leave it to Burna Boy to add his Jerusalema magic to the song for the rest of the world to catch up. Like most of the other crossover hits on this list, we don鈥檛 know what the lyrics mean. But who cares? We鈥檝e already learnt the dance steps and that鈥檚 enough. 

3. High 鈥� Adekunle Gold and Davido

Is it okay for us to admit that Adekunle Gold hasn鈥檛 missed all year? Because look at the receipts. Since dropping Afro Pop, Vol. 1 last year, he has been serving us hit after hit. When we heard about his collaboration with Davido, naturally, we knew it was going to bang but did we expect it to bang this hard? No. High is one of the best examples of taking amapiano and making it as Nigerian as possible without removing the sauce that made us fall in love with the genre. Maybe we鈥檙e pushing it at this point, but we wouldn鈥檛 mind a joint EP from these two. 

2. Ke Star Remix 鈥� Focalistic, Davido and Virgo 

Remixes work sometimes and other times they just end up being a hot pile of garbage. Already a massive hit when the original dropped in 2020, the Ke Star remix is a major example of a remix that works. With everyone constantly shouting OBO鈥檚 famous 鈥淓 goes down when my gs connect鈥�, we doubt anyone remembers the original. Do you? 

1. Monalisa 鈥� Lojay and Sarz

When Lojay and Sarz dropped their joint EP LV N ATTN, our focus was immediately drawn to the title track featuring Wizkid and then, it eventually shifted to another hit on the album, Tonongo. While we were focusing on these two, Monalisa came out of nowhere and became one of the biggest songs of the year. This song proves yet again that there鈥檚 nothing Sarz can鈥檛 do. Is Lojay saying 鈥淢onalisa鈥� or 鈥淢onalisan鈥�? Well, hold on, let鈥檚 listen again, maybe we鈥檒l figure it out this time. 

After聽interviewing Detty December聽about how it plans to remain outside despite all that is going on with COVID-19, Amapaino ran into our office to hide because a Detty December means an overworked Amapiano.

From being the hot cake of musical beats to becoming a regular thing to Nigerians, Amapiano鈥檚 journey is a classic see-finish story.

[Amapiano runs in]

91大神: Ahan, what鈥檚 going on? Who is pursuing you?

Amapiano: [Panting hard] Please, let me hide here.聽

91大神: Why? What did you do?

Amapiano: I鈥檒l explain later, just let me hide here.

91大神: Omo, that will be hard oh. We cannot just hide you here without knowing why you are hiding.

Amapiano: Look, I won鈥檛 be a burden. I鈥檒l just stay where you keep me and remain quiet until I can escape back to my country.

91大神: Where is your country?

Amapiano: South Africa.

91大神: So why do you want to go back? Have you not tasted Nigerian Jollof?

Amapiano: I have but鈥�

91大神: Our national treasure! You see, the country might be going to shit, but once you eat Nigerian Jollof, everything automatically fixes itself.

Amapiano: No, that鈥檚 not鈥�

91大神: In fact, Nigerian Jollof is the plane that will carry us to heaven on the last day.

Amapiano: Well, that doesn鈥檛 matter to鈥�

91大神: You know what, let me ask them to serve you Jollof rice again, maybe you will be convinced to stay with us.

Amapiano: No, I beg of you, I don鈥檛 want any more Jollof rice. I don鈥檛 want anything that has to do with Nigeria, especially now that Christmas is here.聽

91大神: Amapiano, you are proving difficult and I don鈥檛 like it.

Amapiano: Just let me hide here for a while. Before the end of this week, my people will come for me and fly me back to South Africa. It is the only thing I desire from you.

91大神: Is Nigeria not enough for you?

Amapiano: [Screams] Nigerians want to finish me! Can鈥檛 you read between the lines?!

91大神: Oh.

Amapiano: [Bursts into tears] I never knew it would be like this. If I knew, I would have refused to come when I was being invited. Had I known, had I known, I would have just stayed back in South African clubs and parties.

91大神: How did you end up in Nigeria in the first place? 

Amapiano: What does not end up in Nigeria eventually? Especially music. You people have a good number of hot music stars. When one of them sampled me in their music, I knew I had arrived.

91大神: Tell me more鈥�

Amapiano: I felt on top of the world. I was this new sound with the gift of becoming a club banger and a street anthem. That鈥檚 a great level of versatility, and you know how Nigerians like versatile sounds.聽

Not every artiste knew how to use me, but they all wanted me in their songs, even if it was just for the sake of appearance. The collaborations were plenty, even artistes that have no business collaborating were doing it because of Amapiano. I was the 鈥榠t girl鈥�. I felt so classy. But this is Nigeria. You can鈥檛 be special for too long. They will eventually overwork you and see-finish will enter it.

91大神: So see-finish has entered it for you now?

Amapiano: Yes oh. In fact, my own is more than see-finish. Nigerians claim they want a bad bitch but the bad bitch arrives and you all cannot handle it. Why are you people clamouring for Amapiano when you know you will not dance when it is played live?

91大神: Eeyah.

Amapiano: Now, I have gone from being the hotcake of sounds to a regular sound. Let me be going to my country, please. The disgrace I have encountered here is enough.聽

91大神: How would you say this see-finish happened?

Amapiano: I blame myself, honestly. I don鈥檛 know who gave Nigerian artistes the idea that they need to include me in their songs, but I blame myself for agreeing. My eyes are clear now.

91大神: Me I think you have become popular sha.

Amapiano: Did I beg you people for popularity? Was I not popular before you people came to put me in your songs? If I was not popular, would you even have known me? Please don鈥檛 get me angry, it鈥檚 too early in the morning for this.

91大神: Sorry oh. But now that you are planning to escape, what will happen to Christmas parties in Nigeria?

Amapiano: Christmas is to celebrate the birthday of Jesus. I鈥檓 not sure Mary鈥檚 son would have wanted you to play Amapiano on his birthday anyway.

91大神: If you go, do you have any brothers or sisters that can replace you?

Amapiano: As how?

91大神: Should we be expecting Amaguitar and Amadrum anytime soon?

[Amapiano stares very hard at 91大神, sighs deeply, hisses, and then walks out]

91大神: Amapiano wait now! Don鈥檛 you want to hide here again?

Check back every Friday by 9AM for new Interview With episodes. To read previous stories, click聽here.

READ NEXT: Interview With Detty December: 鈥淐ome Rain, Come Shine, We Outside鈥�

[donation]