Sampling has always been part of how music is created. Musicians have regularly leaned on the songs that came before them to influence their music, and this has been the case in Afrobeats.
There’s something special about hearing a familiar riff or melody reworked into a brand-new banger. It’s like a big hug from the past, re-energised with new warmth. So, in celebration of this beautiful marriage of the old and the new, we’re counting down 12 of the best Afrobeats songs of the 2020s that sample Nigerian classics.
From Rema to Sade Adu, Johnny Drille to Original Stereoman, we’re diving into the tracks that keep the legacy of Nigerian music alive.
12. “You (Rum & Schnapp)” – Boy Spyce (2024)
Sample: “Fall” – Davido (2019)
In “You (Rum & Schnapp),” Boy Spyce embraces his romantic side, refusing to return to the streets as he pleads with his lover to stay. He glides effortlessly over the dancehall beat, delivering smooth melodies with ease.
At first, the sampling of Davido’s 2019 hit “Fall” isn’t immediately noticeable to the untrained ear. But on closer listening, the influence becomes clear—the song borrows heavily from the song’s signature percussion.
However, while Davido plays the confident Casanova, using his wealth to impress a love interest, Boy Spyce takes a different approach. He wears his heart on his sleeve, longing for a love as deep and intoxicating as rum and Schnapp.
11. “The Return of Eddie Quansa” – PayBac iBoro (2024)
Sample: “Eddie Quansa” – Peacock Guitar Band (1973)
PayBac iBoro breathes new life into the Highlife classic “Eddie Quansa” (1973), sampling the Peacock Guitar Band’s beats and vocals for his introspective rap track, “The Return of Eddie Quansa.” This moody production revisits the legend of Eddie Quansa, weaving it into a deeply personal narrative.
Eddie Quansa, a wealthy Ghana-based Nigerian, was once betrayed by his older brothers and vowed to seek revenge through success. If PayBac were Eddie Quansa, his verses would capture the moment just after betrayal—wounded but determined.
Though he sounds weary, his spirit remains unbroken. He refuses to bow to gatekeepers, pushing forward with the conviction of someone who has paid his dues and is ready for his breakthrough.
10. “Rodo” – Adekunle Gold (2024)
Sample: “Opon Apala Ti Sun” – Musiliu Ishola (2000)
The jiggy drums of Musiliu Ishola’s “Opon Apala Ti Sun” are sampled on Adekunle Gold’s groovy track, “Rodo” (meaning “pepper”). AG praises his babe, and like every “finished Nigerian man,” he implores her to pepper him more. But this isn’t a call for pain—or soup. It’s a smooth, melodic plea for more seduction, making “pepper me” sound even hotter.
“Rodo” is a song for the hot ladies, their admirers, and the sizzling parties they light up.
09. “Pick Up” – Tiwa Savage (2024)
Sample: “No Be Mistake” – 9ice (2009)
Relationship frustration gets to her neck and eventually leads Tiwa Savage to the studio in this Afrobeats-Amapiano jam. In this song, “Pick Up,” she calls out to an unresponsive lover. Despite its theme of longing and emotional turmoil, “Pick Up” carries a jubilant feel—perhaps because it samples the chorus and beat of 9ice’s “No Be Mistake,” a celebratory track made for joyous occasions.
Tiwa admits her lover’s silence is taking a toll on her mental health. She feels like her head is about to explode, yet she still holds on. If Africa’s Number One Bad Girl can put the party aside to worry about a man, then relationship palava truly spares no one.
08. “Sare” – Ayra Starr (2021)
Sample: “Orere Elejigbo” – Lijadu Sisters (1979)
Three years before Ayra Starr explores romance in “Lagos Love Story” (2024), she holds on tightly to love in “Sare,” a standout track from her 2021 self-titled debut EP. With a beautiful and unapologetic approach, she sings about the butterflies in her stomach, her lover’s absence, and her longing to have him back by her side.
In the hook, Ayra seamlessly blends with the chorus of the Lijadu Sisters’ “Orere Elejigbo” (1979). While the original is a politically charged protest song and Ayra’s “Sare” has no direct connection to its themes, both tracks share an undeniable grace, strength, and femininity—qualities also embodied by the mythological alpha woman, Orere Elejigbo.
Paying homage to legends on her debut project is a bold statement of Ayra’s creativity and intentionality. On “Sare,” she fuses R&B soulfulness with Afrobeats lamba, creating a delightful and memorable record.
07. “Obapluto” – Shallipopi (ft. Pa Monday Edo) (2024)
Sample: “Ogbaisi” – Pa Monday Edo (1996)
In “Obapluto,” Shallipopi declares himself Oba—not the ruler of Benin City or the music industry, but of Pluto, his record label. This declaration comes 28 years after Pa Monday Edo and Edo Benin Band’s “Ogbaisi” (1996), which is dedicated to a long-gone Edo ruler, Oba Ovonramwen Nogbaisi.
Pluto is a dwarf planet and the name of a Greek mythological figure who controls the underworld. It also refers to a world filled with excess wealth—a world that Shallipopi calls himself ruler.
Shallipopi’s “Obapluto” samples the vocals and beat of “Ogbaisi,” both as a nod to the older artist and as a signal to his Edo roots.
06. “Palava” – Johnny Drille (2024)
Sample: “Sample Ekwe” – Original Stereoman (2005)
Johnny Drille’s creativity comes alive in “Palava” which samples Original Stereoman’s “Sample Ekwe” beat (2005). What was once a cocky dancehall anthem celebrating artistry is transformed into a Country-Afrobeats fusion about bad belle—the haters.
“Ekwe” refers to a gong, which inspired “Sample Ekwe.” As Stereoman explained in an interview: “When you beat the gong, people must hear the sound. That is how the sample came into it. If you have a product, you sample it for people to know it first and foremost before they can patronise you. When I sample my Ekwe, people hear the sound.”
Though Johnny Drille takes a different sonic and thematic approach, “Palava” retains the bullish energy and defiance of “Sample Ekwe,” proving that no matter the genre, some messages remain timeless.
05. “Jazzy’s Song” – Ayra Starr (2024)
Sample: “You Bad” – Wande Coal (ft. D’Banj) (2009)
Ayra Starr takes us straight to the dance floor with “Jazzy’s Song” a tribute to her label boss, Don Jazzy, and his favourite track, “You Bad” (2009) by Wande Coal. She sets the tone for a night of intoxication and pure, unfiltered fun. From her verse to the hook and the sampled beat progression, every part of the song keeps the listener engaged.
A standout track from her sophomore album, The Year I Turned 21, “Jazzy’s Song” also holds deeper significance. “You Bad” isn’t just Don Jazzy’s favourite song—he produced it, and Wande Coal, its original performer, was once signed to Jazzy’s legendary Mo’ Hits Records. A true full-circle moment.
04. “Opelope Anointing” – OluwaMillar (ft. Evangelist Dr. Dunni Olarenwaju & Layo Isaac) (2025)
Sample: “Opelope Anointing” – Evangelist Dr. Dunni Olanrewaju (2000)
When it was released, the South-West Christian household buzzed with “Opelope Anointing” in 2000. The song remains relevant as a popular gospel and church classic and resonates with believers in a new decade. Its message and beats find a place in the 2024 Hip-Hop track of the same title by 24-year-old multilingual rapper OluwaMillar.
“Opelope Anointing” loosely translates to “Thankfully for the anointing” or “If not for the anointing.” Evangelist Dunni Olanrewaju’s original song expresses gratitude for divine protection—God’s anointing that shields her from spiritual battles and detractors.
OluwaMillar’s version follows a similar theme but through moody rap verses and personal storytelling. He reflects on his struggles and triumphs, ultimately recognizing that he’s been chosen by God. Layo Isaac closes out the song by softly modulating the chorus of the original, bringing a heartfelt, full-circle moment to this powerful rap joint.
03. “Wetin Dey” – Odunsi (The Engine) (2023)
Sample: “Wetin Dey” – Ruff Rugged N Raw (2005)
Odunsi (The Engine) channels nostalgia on “Wetin Dey” sampling Ruff Rugged N Raw’s classic of the same name. Both versions share a similar tempo, beat patterns, and feel-good energy, with Odunsi even lifting parts of the original chorus.
While Odunsi’s take is all about carefree fun, Ruff Rugged N Raw’s “Wetin Dey” blends enjoyment with caution—calling out pretentious friends in the chorus while flexing lyrical dexterity in the verses.
This is a solid homage from Odunsi—proper big-boy music.
02. “Active” – Asake (ft. Travis Scott) (2024)
Sample: “Raise Da Roof” – Jazzman Olofin (ft. Adewale Ayuba) (2004)
Asake’s last album may not have met expectations, but it delivered some standout tracks—one of them being “Active”, a fast-life anthem featuring Travis Scott. Produced by Sarz and MIKE DEAN, the song rides on high energy, flipping Jazzman Olofin’s 2004 hit “Raise Da Roof” into a vibrant sample. The track loops Adewale Ayuba’s signature line, “Ma jo, fine girl,” in a way that transforms the original fuji groove into an Afrobeats banger.
The sample shines even brighter with Travis Scott’s delivery. His first four opening lines subtly weave in the sample, making it feel like it’s completing his words. Each time he says “my,” the sample steps in—except it’s actually Ayuba’s “Ma” from the original lyric. It’s a slick, almost magical manipulation that adds to the song’s dynamic energy.
Both tracks are made for the party, but Active cranks things up a notch—bigger, bolder, and more disruptive.
01. “Baby (Is It A Crime)” – Rema (2025)
Sample: “Is It A Crime” – Sade (1985)
Forty years after Sade’s “Is It A Crime,” first explored unrequited love in a slow, breezy R&B ballad, the song finds new life through “Rema’s Baby (Is It A Crime).” Produced by P.Priime, the 2025 track flips the original’s melancholic yearning into a faster, bouncier groove—smooth, sultry, and undeniably modern. While Sade’s lyrics ache for a love that isn’t fully returned, Rema’s take feels more playful. He seeks love but delivers his words with the kind of detachment that suggests he may not need it by tomorrow.
Some might call this the carefree Nigerian approach to romance. Or maybe it’s just a generational shift—where old-school lovers held on tight, and the new school keeps love at arm’s length, torn between desire and self-preservation. Either way, Baby (Is It A Crime) is a jam—one that makes you croon like a hopeless romantic, even if you have avoidant attachment issues.
Clearly, listeners can’t get enough. It’s Rema’s first release of 2025, and it’s already sitting at number one on Apple Music Nigeria’s Top 100.
