Let’s be real, the music from 2022 slapped harder than the aftertaste of the best agbalumo you’ve ever had. Asake, Wizkid and Rema took us to the dancefloor. Asa, Victony and CKay made us fall in love, while Omah Lay and Obongjayar had us deep in our feelings. It was a great year for Nigerian music. But can 2023 repeat that magic?
With new stars on the horizon, and some of our faves returning with brand-new albums, 2023 might have some musical juju up its sleeves. These are some of the albums you should be excited about this year.
Davido
After showing us A Good Time in 2019 and A Better Time in 2020, Davido is gearing up to show us the best time in 2023. Initially scheduled for 2022 but postponed following a personal tragedy, Davido’s fourth album is one of the year’s most anticipated projects. With singles like Stand Strong and collaborations like Electricity with Pheelz and High with Adekunle Gold, it’s safe to say Davido has served us appetisers, and now, we’re ready for the main course in March.
P-Square
Mary Slessor is somewhere grinning for joy because her efforts were not in vain. After public back and forths pushed our favourite twins to try out life as solo artistes, Peter and Paul of P-Square reunited in 2022, proving that blood is thicker than beef. While the duo have been on tour since their surprise reunion, they’ve hinted at a new album in 2023, their first since 2014’s Double Trouble which gave us bops like Collabo and Shekini.
Tems
Billboard Hot 100 regular, BFF to Beyoncé and Rihanna, BET International Act of the Year winner and Oscar nominee? God of Tems, your boy is loyal.
With two goated EPs to her name and a long list of hits, the only thing left for Tems is a debut album, and 2023 might be the year we finally get it. This album is sure to have the whole world shook, but for me, I’m just hoping she considers calling it “Tems and Condition”, or “On My Own Tems” at least. That’s all I want from Temilade.
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Olamide
It’s been one year and six months since Olamide dropped his last album, UY Scuti and wallahi, I’m not okay. Despite working with Phyno and Wande Coal, and helping artistes like Asake and TI Blaze cross over into mainstream consciousness with his remix of Omo Ope and Sometimes in 2022, Olamide has been guarded with his own material for a while now. But all that is about to change in 2023 with the release of Unruly, his 10th and final album. No, you’re not the only one crying.
Asake
If there was one artiste who had their foot on our necks with back-to-back hits, it’s Ololade mi Asake. From the moment he dropped the remix of Omo Ope with Olamide in February 2022 to his latest single of 2023, Yoga, Asake has refused to leave the studio and the charts. Knowing his itch to drop new music every three to four business days, there’s a high chance Asake might drop a whole other album in 2023. But don’t fight me if he doesn’t.
Lady Donli
It’s hard to believe it’s been four years since Lady Donli showed us a good time with her 2019 debut album, Enjoy Your Life. From Tems to The Cavemen, that album introduced us to artistes who eventually became major rockstars. But most importantly, it provided an avenue for joy and escape despite all the wahala Nigeria kept throwing at us. With a new album, Pan African Rockstar, on the way, I can’t wait to see what Lady Donli has up her musical sleeves.
Tay Iwar
Tay Iwar is one of the most exciting voices on the Afrobeats scene right now. You don’t believe me? Well, ask Wizkid, M.I., Asa and Tiwa Savage why they’ve worked on features with him. Since dropping his 2018 debut album, Gemini and the 2021 pandemic-influenced Love and Isolation, Tay has worked behind the scenes with Wizkid and other artistes. But we might finally be getting a new EP this year. Hopefully, it has the song he recorded with Ayra Starr during that recording session they both posted on their Instagram stories .
Odumodublvck
Odumodu’s time is now, and he’s seizing the moment. The Abuja-based rapper, known for his punchy flows and Okpu Agu, has built a cult following within Nigeria’s burgeoning drill and rap scene since 2017 when his first tape dropped. But with the release of the Zlatan-assisted Picanto in 2022, Odumodu seems poised for a major crossover season. Currently lining up songs with Santi, BOJ and Blaqbonez, Odumodu’s next album might be his biggest yet.
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