It’s almost impossible to keep up with all the amazing albums that drop every year. The Top Ten Songs of 2023 is a Culture Custodian compilation of the best songs that defined the musical year 2023. From groundbreaking Afrobeats collaborations to the commanding rap anthems and the palpable street vibes and energy, we celebrate the heights of artistic brilliance as experienced in the songs that 2023 brought our way.
Welcome to The Culture Custodian Top Ten Songs of 2023 as voted by the Culture Custodian editorial team.
10. Kante- Davido & Fave
The hit track Kante was an unexpected yet invaluable addition to Afrobeats this year. From the start, the steady drum beats set the expectation for a vibrant track, which is easily sustained by the synergy between Fave and Davido. Fave’s star power shines with her distinct voice cutting through the track, stringing words in a clever fashion that ultimately gives birth to the title of the song “Kante” derived from her pronunciation of “can tell.” The fun approach to the song is also reflected in Davido’s delivery as he effortlessly navigates through his usual singing points: love and enjoyment. Both artists’ styles complement each other in a way that portrays how enjoyable the process of creating the track must have been.
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9. Stamina- Tiwa Savage. Ayra Starr, Young Jonn
Don’t you just love all the coded ways artists talk about sex? With the title alone, Stamina has an obvious nod to the subject matter of the song, but the delivery strips any potential vulgarity from the song. Tiwa Savage, Ayra Starr and Young Jonn craft a catchy sex positive song that promotes consent and speaks about the often consuming feeling of good sex. The lyric composition showcases their genius use of literary devices like metaphors, while the bouncy beat produced by Magicsticks lays the foundation for the artists to play off each other, shedding any expectation to avoid the “taboo topic.”
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8. Feel- Davido
Davido’s Feel immediately took off when his Timeless album dropped. This effect was a combination of its infectious beat, rhythm, and Davido’s perfect understanding of what facilitates an instant hit. Not long after the album was released, Feel had attracted a dance challenge on TikTok, and was the soundtrack to a lot of internet content. Although its lyrics weave through many somber topics like loneliness and heartbreak, Feel still embodies a triumphant quality that grips listeners and prompts them to dance.
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7. Moto- Lojay
Lojay’s Moto is a sober reflection on heartbreak and love lost, leaving a mark on Nigerian romantics. Released earlier this year, the song is a fusion of Afrobeats and elements from early 2000s R&B that offers a peek into Lojay’s vulnerability; we also experience his versatility as an artist in Moto. Moto is instantly catchy with its upbeat yet somber energy. Delivered in both English and pidgin, Lojay is clear with a profoundness that provides the song with a strong sense of depth, cementing his position as one of the most prolific writers in the music industry.
AS
6. No Competition- Davido & Asake
Coming in as a strong contender among this year’s top songs is No Competition by Davido and Asake. An instantly alluring feel good song that perfectly blends contemporary elements with energetic and vibrant beats. Its catchy, memorable hook and lyrical finesse resonates deeply with a lot of listeners. The seamless chemistry between Davido and Asake on this track is the best of both worlds as Asake’s passionate delivery of his verse compliments Davido’s vocals perfectly.
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5. Declan Rice- Odumodublvck
Among the standout songs of 2023 is Odumodublvck’s Declan Rice, a reflective anthem of resilience and triumph. Serving as an ode to perseverance, Odumodublvk echoes perceived similarities in his and Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice’s journeys. The song’s bouncy beats coupled with strongly worded lyrics paint a vivid picture of determination and triumph. Declan Rice enjoyed wide acceptance in the country, so much so that it played a vital role in convincing Arsenal to announce Declan Rice’s move to Arsenal with it. Its seamless cultural blend of Okporoko rhythms and contemporary rap created an infectious jam that elevates its status from more than a mere song to embody an inspirational narrative of perseverance, securing its place as a defining track of the year.
AS
4. Charm- Rema
After the release of his well-received debut album, Rema released the deluxe version of the album in April 2023 featuring a couple of tracks that didn’t make the cut for the first release of the album, including Charm. Charm, as the name suggests, is centered around love and romance. On the track, Rema delivers a catchy, strong musical attempt at catching the attention of his love interest. He urges her through the lyrics to stop presenting a front, let her guard down, and give him a fair chance, as he compliments her most enticing feature—her body, in a bid to serenade and convince her.
Unsurprisingly, this track, like many other Rema songs, indeed lived up to his tagline, “Another Banger” as the track topped the official Nigeria Top 100 chart in May 2023.
JA
3. Sability- Ayra Starr
After lighting up 2022 with Rush, Mavin Records’ , Ayra Starr, returned in February with another hit single, Sability. Perhaps the standout feature of Sability is that it samples Coupé Bibamba, the upbeat 1998 song by Congolese soukous musician Awilo Longomba. Coupé Bibamba must have been one of the songs Ayra Starr listened to as she grew up in the Republic of Benin, as it was a continental hit, and remained popular even in the early 2000s. When you consider the song and Sability, you will see that both are similar in some ways. They are both fast-paced and lavish in their use of drums, and are both about self-hype. Where they differ, though, is that Sability does not have some of the social commentary of the other song, as Awilo also touches on the economic problems facing Africa.
At only 21 years old, Ayra Starr is one of Nigeria’s leading pop stars. With Sability, she reveals her awareness of and confidence in her prowess as a musician. As she does this, she takes us to Congo-Kinshasa, while drawing references from religion, football, high fashion, and even Nigerian cuisine.
2. Ask About Me- Moh Bad
The death effect—the thesis that an artist’s passing increases both the popularity and monetary value of his works—may not always be accurate, but it feels true in Mohbad’s case. When he died at 27 this September, he quickly became a national phenomenon, as Nigerians poured into streets to hold candlelight processions but also protest marches on his behalf, convinced some foul play had been involved in his demise. The fervor on the streets was matched equally by a renewed appreciation for his music, as he came to rule the charts, in no time becoming the most streamed Nigerian artist on YouTube. His second EP Blessed, released this June, became the first EP to top the Spotify Nigeria weekly album chart. Ask About Me, a song in that album but which had been released as a single in April, also profited from this national curiosity, as it topped the TurnTable Top 100 Charts, in the first week of October, Mohbad’s first such honor. As with many of Mohbad’s songs, it is poignantly self-referential, this time seemingly pointing to a tragic chapter in his life.
2022 was a trying year for the artist. He had quit his former record label, Naira Marley-owned Marlian Records, a process which, as Mohbad accused, came with much physical and mental harm. As with several songs released in Mohbad’s new era as an independent artist, Ask About Me advertises his resilience, his refusal to be defined by his travails. As the song suggests, he could not have managed this without the divine: “omo olorun, won le mu mi,” translating to I’m God’s child, so my enemies cannot overcome me. Gnostic at some point, the lyrics, as well as the choral backup singing, gives the Amapiano track (produced by both Niphkeys and Nektunez) the appearance of a gospel song.
The song’s emotional power accounts for its popularity, but it also has the advantage of being accompanied by a catchy dance routine, one many TikTokers did not hesitate to recreate. Debate the truism of the death effect all you want, but what isn’t up for debate is that 2023 is Mohbad’s year, and Ask About Me typifies that fact.
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1. Lonely At The Top- Asake
When Asake, in 2022, proved to be one of the next best things in Nigerian pop, one of the things you noticed was that his music lacked the persecution complex common to most pop songs. Burna Boy’s songs may frequently double as an exercise in one-upmanship, but Asake seemed interested only in having a good time. But the new year ushered in a new rage: released this January, Yoga has the 28-year-old sporting a new combative edge: “enemies I get them too much,” he declares on the Séga-style song. You’re tempted to conclude that his new outlook was inspired by events from the previous month, during his O2 Arena concert which fell into disarray, leaving two dead and earning the YBNL signee a great deal of criticism. Whatever the reason might be, he carries some of that cynical attitude into Lonely At The Top, where his cynicism finds a best friend in a pensive soundscape created by Blaisebeatz (Kizz Daniel’s Buga and Chris Brown’s Call Me Everyday) for a soulful exploration of what it means to be young, rich and famous. Released in June, as part of his sophomore album Work Of Art, the song depicts the dehumanizing effects of celebrity. Fame will take you beyond the reach, and concerns, of most people, seems the song’s underlying lesson.
However, the song can also be parsed as a boast, as the singer’s way of setting himself apart not only from his music colleagues but the rest of humanity, a point he makes metaphorically: “ogogoro no be vodka.” Surely, Asake thinks of himself as vodka.
One of the year’s most popular songs, Lonely At The Top topped the TurnTable Top 100 chart for the most number of weeks ever, surpassing Omah Lay’s Godly during its twelfth-week run. When you top the charts that long, it can, indeed, get lonely.
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How We Voted
Oluwamayowa Idowu
- Lonely At The Top- Asake
- Kante- Davido ft. Fave
- Ojapiano- Kcee
- Ask About Me- Moh Bad
- Dog Eat Dog II- Odumodublvck ft Cruel Santino & Bella Shmurda
- Terminator- King Promise
- DND- Rema
- Sability- Ayra Starr
- Dey Play- Burna Boy
- The One (Chop Life)- Crayon x Yaba Buluku Boyz
Opeyemi Rasak-Oyadiran
- Lonely at the top – Asake
- Moto – Lojay
- Stamina – Tiwa Savage, Young Jonn, Ayra Starr
- Reason – Omah Lay
- Feel – Davido
- Ask about me- Mohbad
- Charm – Rema
- Sability- Ayra Starr
- Gwagwalada- Bxnxn, Seyi Vibez, Kizz Daniel
- Arizona- Lojay, Olamide
Adetoun Samiat
- No competition- Davido, Asake
- Lonely At The Top- Asake
- Unavailable- Davido
- Kante- Davido, Fave
- Gwagwalada – Bxnxn, Seyi Vibez, Kizz Daniel
- Ask About Me- Mohbad
- 2:30 -Asake
- Best of Me- Bxnxn
- Pray – Bxnxn
- Ogaranya – AG baby
Damilola Oyeleke
- No competition- Davido & Asake
- Lonely at the top -Asake
- Stamina -Tiwa Savage, Ayra Starr & Young Jonn
- Charm -Rema
- Jelo -Pheelz & Young Jonn
- Sability -Ayra Starr
- Me & U -Tems
- Get Gone -Tomi Obanure
- If At All -Oladapo
- John Wick -Lifesize Teddy
Dipo Akinsanya-Browne
- 2:30 – Asake
- Feel – Davido
- Moto – Lojay
- Jinja – Olamide
- Elon musk – Shallipopi
- Reason – Omah lay
- Holiday – Rema
- City boys – Burna boy
- Godfather – Davido
- Pariwo – Bella Shmurda, Mohbad
Alex Omenye
- Lonely At The Top- Asake
- My G-Kizz Daniel
- Big Baller – Flavour
- Na Money- Davido, The Cavemen, Angelique Kidjo
- Charm – Rema
- Party No Dey Stop- Adekunle Gold, Zinoleesky
- Sability- Ayra Starr
- City Boys – Burna Boy
- Nye M Ego – Blaqbonez
- Declan Rice- Odumodublvck
Jacqueline Alabi
- Me &U – Tems
- Remember – Asake
- Godfather – Davido
- No Days Off – Teni
- Sability – Ayra Starr
- Pick up – Tiwa Savage
- 42- Boj and Ajebutter 22
- DND- Rema
- Unavailable – Davido
- Basquiat- Asake
Oluwatobi Ayinde
- Declan Rice – Odumodu Black
- Lonely at the Top- Asake
- Ask about me – Mohbad
- My G- Kiss Daniel
- Bigger – Prinx Emmanuel
- Desire – Limoblaze
- Alone – AnEndlessOcean
- Jelo – Pheelz & Young John
- City Boys- Burna boy
- Unavailable- Davido
Michael Aromolaran
- Ask About Me -Mohbad
- Lonely At The Top -Asake
- Gwagwalada -Bnxn ft. Seyi Vibez and Kizz Daniel
- Na Money -Davido ft. Angélique Kidjo and The Cavemen
- Obapluto- Shallipopi ft. Monday Edo
- Party No Dey Stop- Adekunle Gold ft. Zinoleesky
- Declan Rice- Odumodublvck
- Charm- Rema
- City Boy- Burna Boy
- Terminator- King Promise