10 Nigerian albums to watch out for in 2022
The Nigerian music industry is one of the biggest export to other countries right now.
Nigerian Music is becoming international Music, and this is all credit to the fact that a lot of evolution has happened to our sound.
By evolution, think development in Lyricism, sound engineering, songwriting and collaborations.
All these factors contribute to Nigerian artists wanting to release an album as soon as possible, because the reception for it will not only be good, but great!
Therefore, here are the Nigerian albums to watch out for this year:
1) Wizkid
Chris Brown’s former manager announced on Twitter that Wizkid was already done with his next studio album.
Album Title: More Love, Less Ego
Release Date: August 5 2022
2) Davido
Album Title: We Rise by Lifting Others
Release Date: TBA
While announcing his North America Tour “We Rise by Lifting Others”, Davido said he would be premiering some of his new songs from his forthcoming album.
3) “The Brother’s Keeper” by Chike
â Release Date: TBA
Chike had a successful debut as an artist.
His songs were well-received because of the kind of authenticity that came with his debut album “Boo of the Booless”.
“Boo of the Booless” was praised as the Nigerian album of the year in 2020 because the sounds were very original and the songs were lyrically embedded but not wordy.
It was a masterpiece.
Chike has that kind of song dexterity that makes you wanna listen to him all day long long even if the lyrics to the song are not entirely unique.
You just want to listen!
With the announcement of his sophomore album “The Brother’s Keeper” came a lot of joyful expressions and expectations from his fans. We truly cannot wait for his album.
4) Buju
Release Date: TBA
Album Title: Bad since ’97
Daniel Benson, also called “Buju” or Buju TYE (Buju To your ears), has been intimating fans about the release of his debut album for a long time.
Although he hasn’t specifically announced the album title, he has made mention of recording his first album and featuring artists like Kizz Daniel on the album.
Buju’s prominence in the music industry was propelled by his feature on Ladipoe’s “Feeling” in 2021″. This made people get more invested in his sound and listen more to his music.
He released an EP titled “Sorry I’m late” on October 27, 2021. The EP was released to positive reviews by critics.
The reception of his EP also made him get people’s signs of expecting an album from him, and Buju is so ready to give this album.
Read: âManâ: Fiokeeâs debut album is experimental but relatable.{Review}
In December 2021, he sold out his first concert in Lagos- The “Sorry I’m late” concert. He was also featured on Wizkid’s “Made in Lagos” Deluxe Version, on the song “Mood”.
Buju has six AFRIMMA nominations and was nominated for Rookie of the Year in Headies Award 2020.
In the year 2020, he won City People Entertainment Award for “Revelation of the Year”
5) Fireboy DML
â Album Title: Playboy
â Release Date: August 5, 2022
We can all agree that Fireboy has enjoyed a lot of attention in the music industry, but this is just the beginning of it all.
With his latest feature with Ed Sheeran on his hit song “Peru” on which Ed Sheeran nailed his verse anyway, Fireboy his set for a very good year.
“Peru” remix charted on a lot of national and international charts, hit 10 million views on YouTube within a week( now on 19 million) and displaced Adele’s “Easy on me” on UK Apple music chart, charting number one.
“Peru” is the first single ahead Fireboyâs album, and the first single has left such a significant “legacy” for the other songs to come and for the release of his third album.
He confirmed this in “Peru” remix when he said:
I’m not playing with you, I’m not joking
My third album is loading
6) Simi
â Album Title: To be Honest
â Release Date:Released
Simi is one of the leading female artists in the Nigerian music industry right now. She is holding it down well.
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Being a mother and managing music so well, mixing her husband’s forthcoming studio album and working on her own album is a lot, but she is doing it all like magic.
Simi has released two singles ahead her forthcoming studio album- “Woman” and “So bad” ft. Joeboy.
“Woman” enjoyed a lot of popularity and positive reception upon its release and a lot of people praised Simi for the music video.
“So bad” was also released to positive reception too.
Review: Adekunle Goldâs âCatch me if you canâ could offer more
These receptions are indications that Simi’s forthcoming studio album is what her fans cannot wait for.
She is a sound engineer, and not only any sound engineer- a good one at that.
She knows how to write songs and she has one of the most angelic voices in the world.
She can’t release a bad album even if she recorded itwhile sleeping– that’s how good she is!
7)Burna Boy
Release Date: July 8 2022
Album Title: Love, Damini
With two Grammy Nominations and one win, Burna Boy remains a giant when it comes to music.
Read: Nigerian artists with highest monthly listeners on spotify (January 2022)
He has released a number of singles ahead his forthcoming studio album.
Notable of these singles are: “Questions” ft. Don Jazzy, “Ballon Dâor” ft. Wizkid. Although “Ballon D’or” was released to mixed reviews, “Questions” had a lot of fans upon its release.
Burna Boy fans cannot wait for the heat he’s going to bring on his forthcoming album.
8) Falz The Bahd Guy
â Album Title: Bahd
â Release Date: June 8, 2022
Sharing the news on his social media platforms, Falz The Bahd Guy has revealed that he is indeed working on a new album. He even hints that the album is almost done.
He does this by sharing photos of himself in the studio with some producers. See post below:
8) Rema
Album Title: Rave and Roses
Release Date: March 25,2022
Rema has been tidying things up for the release of his debut album and it’s something we cannot wait for!
He already released a single off his forthcoming album- “Calm down“, and it is a good enough listen!
9) Blaqbonez
â Album Title: Young Preacher
â Release Date: To be Announced
Blaqbonez already released a single off his forthcoming album titled “Young Preacher”. Commander signals a good nod for his forthcoming album and we can’t wait for it!
10) Omah Lay
â Album Title: Boy Alone
â Release Date: July 15, 2022
Omah Lay has announced the release of his debut album- Boy Alone.
He has released two successful EPs
11) “Catch me if you can” by Adekunle Gold
â Release Date: February 4, 2022
Adekunle Gold announced “Catch me if you can” around last year. He has been working on the album and dishing out hot singles ahead of its release.
âCatch me if you canâ is Adekunle Goldâs fourth studio album..
He has successfully released three studio albums all to acclaim.
Adekunle Gold is one of few Nigerian artists to have his first album ââGoldâ debut on Billboard World Album Chart. The album debuted as No 7 on the chart upon release.
After this, he released two more albums âAbout 30â (2018) and âAfropop Vol 1″ (2020).
Hereâs our first look into what Adekunle Goldâs fourth studio album âCatch me if you canâ will be about:
First, the title “Catch me if you can” suggests growth- enormous growth that requires people to catch up with Adekunle Gold’s new sounds and the level he aims to reach now.
He is not even suggesting that you can catch him, he’s suggesting that you try, but even if you try, it doesn’t sound like you may be able to catch up with him because like he says “Catch me, if you can”
Ahead âCatch me if you canâ, Adekunle Gold has released three singles
ï¶ âHighâ ft. Davido
ï¶ âSinnerâ ft. Lucky Daye
ï¶ âIt is what it isâ
The first single âIt is what it isâ was released April 2021. âSinnerâ was released in July 2021 and âHighâ was released in September 2021.
Of all these singles, âHighâ has gained more traction and more streams, with more than 8 million views on YouTube within two months.
Also, the album will be a âfeast of dynamic soundsâ
Upon the release of Adekunle Goldâs âHighâ with Davido, a user commented on YouTube that Adekunle Gold has reinvented himself to boost his status, streams and income in the industry.
âIt is what it isâ sounded like what signposts a new decision. Like âHey guys, I been singing âgood boy songsâ since all this while, but letâs switch it upâ.
So yeah, it is what it is. In all sincerity, this new sound is really helping Adekunle Goldâs career and status in the industry because his song âHighâ is literally everywhere in Nigeria.
It has gained so much traction and popularity that it is competing with his greatest hits âOrenteâ and âPick upâ.
These dynamic sounds will also usher in a new stage in Adekunle Goldâs career as he seems to have âbrokenâ whatever was holding him down from exploring all parts of his music.
Read: We rise: The Davido story premiers
Though the songs actually sound more like âbad boy songsâ, his fans are going crazy about it and accepting it very well because his music sounds good; sounds fire, and as long as he still makes good music, he has the support of his fans.
Sound Engineering
âGoldâ– Adekunle Goldâs debut album, was a masterpiece. The sound engineering was on point and the reason for this was not far-fetched.
His wife- Simisola actually mixed and mastered the album. Simi is a sound engineer apart from being a singer and songwriter.
And if you know something about sound engineers and record producers who also happen to be singers and songwriters, they have no bad songs- no matter how hard they try to.
The sound engineering on âCatch me if you canâ will be delicious, as the singles released ahead the album already proved that fact.
The sound engineering will help the authenticity of Adekunle Goldâs sound and reduce all imbalances to produce the right effects that will get people more synced with his songs.
Features
So far, he has released three singles ahead âCatch me if you canâ and two of the singles have very interesting features. The first is with American Singer- Lucky Daye, and the second “High”- with Davido.
Both singles (“High” and “Sinner”) have cleared such a promising path for the album, and it’s only easy to assert that the album will do very well on streaming platforms and top numerous charts- both local and international.
There seems to be more promising features on the album that will make it a bomb upon release. Hopefully, he may have a song with Simi on the album.
But then, more interesting features on this album will increase its reception, streams and traction
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Facts? Adekunle Gold has come far and has tangible results to show for his journey. It may be difficult to say what record label he is signed to currently.
He has about 20 singles and most of them-in fact, majority of them are hit songs and we hope heâs bringing the heat on his new album âCatch me if you canâ.
Click here to pre-order Adekunle Goldâs album â âCatch me if you canâ
Nigerian Albums to Expect in 2022
1) “Catch me if you can” Adekunle Gold
2) “Rave and Roses” Rema
3) “Young Preacher” Blaqbonez
4) “Playboy” Fireboy
5) “To be Honest” Simi
6) “V” Asa
7) “Love, Damini” Burna Boy
8) “Bahd” Falz The Bahd Guy
9) “Boy Alone” Omah Lay
10) More Love Less Ego
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