In respect of 2022, this year’s list includes 10 artists embracing a myriad of music genres, from Afrobeats to Amapiano and Afro-fusion. Our artistes are a collage of semi-fresh acts or artistes who broke out immensely and charted in 2021, and who we trust will make remarkable statements in their careers this year.
Most of these names are familiar and a couple will be new to you. Here are our top 10:
Victony
If his name wasn’t familiar to you a few years ago, it certainly is now, especially after his feature on Mayorkun’s hit record Holy Father off Mayorkun’s 2021 album Back In Office, which racked about 4M views on Spotify and shut clubs down during the festive period. His big break came from the feature alone and a couple of unforgettable events including Davido’s 10-year anniversary concert where Victony did a big reveal to thousands of people; Victony stood up from his wheelchair after several months of recovering from the injury he sustained in an accident in the same year. With several singles and an EP, Saturn featuring Hip-Hop artiste Falz to his name, there is no doubt that he is set to take over the music industry. If Victony got you screaming Holy Father last year, there is a high possibility he will have you screaming again this year.
Lojay
At this point, everyone knows Lojay or his infamous Monalisa – well, except you live under a rock. Monalisa, his hit record off his life-changing EP, LV n ATTN produced by the genius producer, Sarz which debuted in June 2021, has had Lagos in a chokehold since its launch; an impressive 7-month run for a rising artiste. Monalisa was not the only record from the project floating on everyone’s ears and lips; Tonongo his breakout single, Panty, LV n ATTN featuring Grammy-winning artiste, Wizkid have received massive airplay.
Since his introduction, Lojay was featured on Dj Neptune’s Greatness 2.0 album and his December became busier than ever as he performed at the 02 Arena in the UK for the Wizkid Live in Concert and also, at nearly all Lagos concerts. His project is ageing well and It’s safe to say Lojay got our LV n ATTN last year. We are trusting that he will keep the same energy this year.
Fave
After going viral with now-banger Nobody But You freestyle on Twitter in 2020, Fave has been keeping fans on their toes, especially with her unique sound, incredible vocals and melodies. Subsequently, she has delivered excellent records and her fast-rising popularity earned her a couple of features on Olamide’s 2021 album, UY Scuti. Her recent single Baby Riddim was a hit and a popular TikTok song garnering about 600,000 video creations. Fave released her EP, Riddim 5 on January 20th and it has accumulated over 300,000 streams and counting.
Magixx
After creating covers to Dangote by Burnaboy and Sinner by Adekunle Gold, Magixx was signed to Don Jazzy’s record label Mavin where he debuted his first and eponymous-titled project Magixx in 2021. Love Don’t Cost a Dime stood out as a hit single off the 5-track love-induced project. After basking in his accomplishment with the project, the latest Mavin Records signee is back again with his first single of the year, Love Don’t Cost A Dime remix, which he termed the re-up, featuring labelmate Ayra Starr. Following this release, Magixx put out his next solo track Chocolate.
Jaywillz
Medicine is a banger record off his 2021 Love or the Word EP that has accumulated over 2M Spotify streams. His EP also featured the likes of Bella Shmurda, Zlatan and Papisnoop. Just like another artiste on this list, Jaywillz was featured on a track on the renowned Olamide’s album, UY Scuti and his streaks are expanding as he is gearing up to release an EP this year – perhaps another antidote for heartbreak season.
Guchi
Since her debut in 2019 with Addicted, her tracks have been doing huge numbers. In 2020, Guchi released her first body of work I am Guchi, a five-track love-induced EP. Following the release of her project, she dropped Jennifer in 2021 which has accumulated over 36M views on YouTube, making the video the most-watched of all her visuals. Subsequently, she put out Benzema, with over 4M views and her recent single Scatter My Head featuring Zlatan has been hitting our waves for a minute now, racking over 2M views on YouTube. Guchi’s sound is a blend of Afro-pop, R&B and Dance-hall and this year, we are anticipating more music and purple hairstyles from her.
1da Banton
1da Banton has been consistent with putting out singles and EPs dating as far back as 2015. His hit track No Wahala off his 2021 album Original Vibe Machine which featured the likes of Zlatan, Seyi Shay, Duncan Mighty and Stonebwoy has garnered over 300,000 video creations on TikTok. Who knew his breakout will come from a big social media platform? In the past, 1da Banton has collaborated with Timaya and Harry Song. Currently, No Wahala has accumulated about 8m streams on Spotify and he has teamed up with industry heavyweights Tiwa Savage and Kizz Daniel for the remix. Fans can’t wait to see what he will put out next.
Dai Verse
His mellow record Your Body (Cocaine) was not just a couples’ anthem in 2021, it was a banger that has racked up about a million streams on Spotify. He is not the mayor of Lagos but he is ready to own Lagos city. His first debut was in 2019 and he has been consistent in putting out works. Dai Verse listed Buju for the remix of his single Sweet Daddy this year and we are anticipating his first body of work.
AV
He is not just a baby boy like his social media handle implies. AV dropped one of the biggest songs in 2021, Big Thug Boys and followed it up with banger, Confession a couple of months later. Big Thug Boys has stacked over 7 million streams on Spotify and Confession, close to a million streams. AV has given us a taste of what to expect from him and now, we are craving more.
Ninety
He is an afro-fusion artiste merging multiple genres like R&B, Dancehall and Reggae into a great blend. Ninety’s first introduction was in 2021 releasing 4 singles. At this rate, he definitely has more up his sleeves and we are expecting him to roll some of those projects out this year.