Our biggest music exports may be Afrobeats but it hasn’t stopped us from exploring other genres, Nigerian-Born or not.
‘Amapiano Nigeria’ is an inquest on how Nigerian music creators have forayed into the South-African-owned Amapiano, a fast-rising genre which is a hybrid of their house music, to create a new blend of Afrobeats.
Niniola – Addicted
Anytime you hear ‘Nini de’ and then hear ‘Riddim,’ shortly after or before– that is if Sarz drops a spoiler on creation credits in the early seconds of the record, your ears already know to expect an afro-house blessing.
But this time, Niniola the Nigerian Queen of afro-house delivered her sweet melodies, not on Mzansi-elemented instrumentals, rather on the new rave, Amapiano.
On ‘Addicted,’ soft instrumentalization perfectly compliments her voice and Afrobeats-meets-RnB style. And the airy pads, bass, and horns blend right in like the chemical x from Professor Sarz needed to seal the track.
Accolade in mind, it’s no surprise she took this route. At this point, she’s literally South African by creativity and it’s only right the playlist starts off on this number.
Mr. Money – Asake
Warning: this song is to be played at the highest volume available and taken judiciously after waking like an early morning pill.
Like me, you’ve probably heard this song without knowing it- ‘Me I no dey cap, me I no dey form, my energy is high what the fuck’ sung in Acapella has been transposed on several funny clips.
But that is far from the apex potential of this song and like the note reads, ‘Mr. Money’ who we all want to date but is very much the elusive lover, is the element of ginger you need to start your day.
With its baby falsetto voice-over, mumble-singing, and high energy vocals from Asake, mixed with intoxicatingly heavy Amapiano spices, this is also very much a street-anthem ready to explode from your barber’s shop and the Bluetooth speakers playing in your bathroom.
Kabza de Small – Sponono Feat. Wizkid, Burna Boy, Cassper Nyovest and Madumane
My Canada-based friend once tweeted how listening to Sponono enticed her to make a dance pad of her accelerator while driving. Like a good friend, I DMed her to caution her and troll her but honestly, I’d have done no different if I were behind the wheels.
‘Sponono’ is the aural masterpiece crafted by Kabza de Small who touts himself the King of Amapiano and on this track, he featured fellow kings in the sound kingdom. And as the amapiano beats do that thing where they emanate as if breaking, the voices of the artistes’ featured break in smoothly or glide over.
Definitely a road jam. And for every other place of course.
Rema – Woman
Every woman-loving person swears Rema created a sub with this one and failed to mention them but I can bet you, even bitter misogynists will find themselves moving and singing to this song.
And it’s two reasons; Rema’s melody weaving skills and the Amapiano Ozedikus deftly wove around it.
The drums, vocalising, horns and rattles are very prominent on this song that serves as one of the industry’s earliest submissions on how to score an Amapiano-infused Afrobeats jam and an earworm that is pleasing to the homegirls and homeboys.
DJ Neptune, Joeboy, Mr Eazi & Focalistic – Nobody (Amapiano)
When Cobhams Asuquo dropped his remix of ‘Nobody,’ everyone swore that he had killed Joeboy on his own song. But Joeboy simply said, hold your pot of noodles, and voila this was served and he made us eat our words.
This Amapiano version of ‘Nobody’ starts off in an unexpected verse from Focalistic, as if to pay homage to the gods of Amapiano with lines rendered in his South-African tongue.
While Nigerian DJs are known for being sound innovators, this remake from DJ Neptune is a pleasant novelty and we’re here for how he blended the vocals from all the artistes so they sounded acapella while being backed with heavy and wide basslines.
Mr. Dutch & Masterkraft – Mamacita
It starts with even-paced hoops and vocalising and just as you’ve settled into its easy-going pace and de-amplified ambiance that serves as the bedrock for Mr. Dutch’s singing, Masterkraft switches it upon us.
The heavy bass lines that come after serving as lingering escorts to the chorus and really set the tone for how much glorious damage this song is meant to have on the dancefloor. And since Nigerians can never resist adding their influence to things, the ‘opor’ ad-libs on ‘Mamacita’ serve as the quantifier for said damage.
Straffitti – Shanawole
An Amapiano excerpt from his 6-track EP titled ‘Straff From Nigeria.’ It’s a brilliant blend of party time Afropop and Amapiano. Guitar riffs are met with hypnotic hoops and rattles as Straffitti’s honeyed voice echoes from the background and then comes out in full force the second the beat drop makes an appearance.
Given the EP title, it’s safe to say that on ‘Shanawole,’ Straffitti did justice to the versatility and adaptability that Nigerians tend to be blessed with.
Tiwa Savage – Dangerous Love (DJ Ganyani & De Mogul Remix)
If you’re a member of Tiwa’s Army and you didn’t know about the existence of the Amapiano version of Tiwa Savage’s Dangerous Love, you’ll even be madder to find out there are four other different versions but your anger won’t be for too long after listening.
This Amapiano version is a subtle take on the genre. While like most of the records kissed with a touch of the genre, it starts slow, it however not only has obvious basslines and drums but is quite heavy on piano riffs so sweet, in the background, it sounds like the thrilling of birds and even like a coin popping fest on subway surf.
That’s not all that makes it mind-blowing though; Tiwa actually re-sang ‘Dangerous Love’ to create this version and after the first listen, you’ll be ready to swim in her voice and throw your shoulders to the beats on repeat.
Patoranking – Nobody
Patoranking is also known for experimenting with dance and house music and on his album, he served us a reminder of his versatile prowess with ‘Nobody.’
‘Nobody’ is a perfect rendition of dancehall-tinged Amapiano that comes bearing snares, sweet electronic vocalising, Patoranking’s distinct singing style, and a call and response laced over basslines that mean the business of getting you on your feet and in a conga line by all means.
Underground Pick
Ayo Bishi – Kuwecha
This may come in as the underground pick but it’s definitely not a lesser entry on this list.
On ‘Kuwecha’ which is as good an Amapiano record as the South-African sounding title hints with sharp sweet riffs and enthralling basslines, Ayo Bishi did what had to be done by flowing with the instrumentals and of course, leaving those interludes where the basslines do their thing and transport us to the southern parts of Africa.
You can listen to all the songs with out curated playlist below:
