New Afrobeats superstars are emerging at an increasing rate, the genre is constantly evolving and going through various redefinitions. 2021 introduced us to some great new acts who are not just redefining Afrobeats but pushing underground genres to the mainstream, and we can’t wait to see what 2022 has in store.
While no one knows what 2022 holds, here is a list of new artists who are poised to take their music to the next level in the year ahead.
Black Sherif
Ghana’s drill scene has continued to put out amazing talents like Yaw Tog, Jay Bahd, Joey B, Black Sherif & more. Undoubtedly Ghana’s breakout star of 2021, Black Sherif’s First Sermon earned him a cosign from Sarkodie, in July, he released the follow up single Second Sermon, which quickly got him attention internationally and landed him a remix with Burna Boy that gave the song the crossover push it needed. With over 8 million views on YouTube, Black Sherif is quickly becoming one of the continent’s top rappers and one of the faces of drill on the continent.
Moliy
Things picked up for this Ghanian-American artist when Amaarae’s Sad Girlz Luv Money blew up from TikTok to land a spot on Billboard’s Hot 100, certifying the song as a global hit. Moliy delivered an arresting hook on M.anifest‘s No Fear, which also featured Vic Mensa. While her feature verses have gotten her spotlight, her EP, Wondergirl, shows the true beauty of her sound. Wonder Girl is a 6-track project that shows her talent and distinct sound that merges elements of jazz, soul, hip-hop, dancehall, and R&B.
Solis
In Nigeria’s growing bedroom pop and lo-fi underground scene, Solis has been slowly drawing attention to herself. From her debut appearance on hectic off Odunsi‘s Rare to her debut project Stairway To Heaven, which dropped last year, Solis has carved a path for herself with the soulful rawness with which she sings about the emotions that drive her.
T.I Blaze
In 2020, when Olamide decided to hop on a song that had been getting attention on the streets of Lagos, the song turned into a mainstream hit and propelled Bella Shmurda‘s career. With T.I Blaze, a repeat seems on the mark. Sometimes was a relatively unknown song until Olamide tweeted and announced a remix. Within minutes, “sometimes food no dey give man joy, but Canadian loud the feeling is different” became one of the most popular lines on the internet. T.I Blaze is currently enjoying the euphoria of having one of Afrobeats’ biggest artists putting him on. If history is anything to go by and Olamide’s exceptional a&r skills for spotting talent, we just might be witnessing the birth of a promising career.
AV
Tik Tok has been influential since 2020, catapulting virality to new heights. AV’s Big Thug Boys started gaining traction on the platform mid-way through 2021 and unlike most songs that have a short-lived viral period, Big Thug Boys morphed into a mainstream hit song. His latest single, Confession, shows he is definitely not a one-hit-wonder, and his blend of trap and Afropop will definitely keep him around for a while.
Victony
Victony released his debut project Saturn in 2020, but it wasn’t until 2021 things kicked up for him despite suffering injuries from a car accident. Temporarily wheelchair-bound, he made the most of his reflections and returned with a bang that included impressive singles and features: Holy Father, Rosemary, Pray, and Ego.
Fave
Fave’s Baby Riddim took her from bubbling under during the pandemic to having one of the biggest Afrobeats songs last year. But before that, 2021 saw her get featured twice on Olamide’s UY Scuti, and getting a deal with Empawa. Fave has been laying down the works and growing her fanbase ever since her first widely-listened release N.B.U, with singles and freestyles. She already has a strong following, and her debut project Riddim 5 was a smooth pack of melodic songs that became 2022’s first Apple Music chart-topper.
Magixx
The announcement of Magixx’s signing to Mavin was quickly followed by his self-titled debut EP. The Magixx EP is a perfect blend of Afro-fusion and R&B, which intentionally shows Magixx’s unwillingness to be boxed. His distinctive, hybrid sound seamlessly pieces together stories about his experiences on love, life, and humanity and shows his ability to effortlessly switch between genres. His unique vocal ability, versatility, and style make him one to watch in 2022.
Mizzle
Mizzle first went viral on social media with his videos showing him perfectly recreating the unique sounds of some of Afrobeats’ biggest stars. His videos immediately earned him a following on social media, but behind the videos showed an artist buzzing with talents, from his songwriting, knack for melodies, and production. Building on the fame, Mizzle dropped his debut project with Wande Coal, Sarz, Niniola and Oxlade features. Mizzle’s growth from imitating and reimagining various artists’ sounds on TikTok to releasing his debut project and having his own fan base within the space of a year has been exciting to watch.
Ria Sean
Ria Sean’s signing to Aristokrat and the release of the hypnotic single, Money Bag, and the dreamy Lemonade, was quickly followed by her debut EP, Fluid. Fluid shows the many sides of Ria Sean, as she uses her sensual and soulful voice to deliver sultry stories that resonate. With a major label’s backing and her own unique sound, Ria Sean is well on her way to becoming one of Afrobeats’ most defining female voices.
Oladapo
Oladapo’s unique style of Afropop aided by productions from P.Prime saw him drop one of the best EPs last year, “Blind”. The five-track EP touched on love, lust, cheating, and heartbreak. With such an impressive debut and backing by Sony Music West Africa, Oladapo is quite likely to hit mainstream success this year.
PSIV
PSIV’s switch to drill was the spark that got him the attention of everyone in Nigeria’s hip-hop scene. His debut project, Welcome To The 234, channels the rawness of drill and his experiences as a young Nigerian. In his recent single So Sexy, he taps into the nostalgia of Y2k, showing his ability to deftly navigate the blend of influences that make him stand out.
OdumoduBlvck
OdumoduBlvck’s energy, flow, and style immediately set him apart from other rappers in Abuja. With a work rate that is unmatched – 2021 saw the rapper release three different projects: Eye Don Red, Odiegwu, and Time & Chance – whatever OdumoduBlvck has in store this year is sure to be exciting.
Droxx
The pandemic saw the growth of Nigeria’s underground drill scene. 2021 saw Droxx on the forefront of the #234Drill movement on Twitter and cement his place as one of the major voices in the scene. His collaborative EP with Mo’gunz, Riot showed both rappers’ skills and how drill could be successfully mixed with the Nigerian experience. A member of D.S.6, Droxx has been on an underground feature run that puts a spotlight on the genre and uses collaborations to create a community around drill music in Nigeria.
Seyi Vibez
Street hop artists are continuing to break into the mainstream. Seyi Vibez blend of Afrobeats with elements of hip hop and Fuji led to his stellar run of underground sleeper hits that cumulated with the release of his debut project, NSNV. NSNV is an acronym for No Seyi No Vibez and features production credit from Rexxie and collaborations from Reekado Banks and Teni.
Dai Verse
Cocaine & Colorado were among the hottest songs last year. Despite not being able to attach a face to it, almost everyone across the country can recognise Dai Verse’s distinct voice and his soft Afropop style. Dai Verse has a discography that is shaping up really well with just four songs out. It would be interesting to see what more Dai Verse has under his sleeves, especially as he is yet to drop his debut project.
Guchi
Guchi’s brand of Afropop is sweet and tingly mixed with lyrics about head over heels love, as quietly found success on TikTok and YouTube within the last year. Her debut project, I Am Guchi was released in 2020 and was followed by Jennifer and the Zlatan assisted Scatter My Head. While Guchi is still relatively unknown to most people, she has successfully built an audience for herself and stands on the cusp of mainstream success.
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