Nigerian albums to expect in 2022

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

■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: “Man”: Fiokee’s 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

■Album Title: Playboy

■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 Fireboy’s 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

■Album Title: To be Honest

■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 Gold’s “Catch me if you can” 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 D’or” 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

■Album Title: Bahd
■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

■Album Title: Young Preacher
■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

■Album Title: Boy Alone
■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

■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.

“Catch me if you can” is Adekunle Gold’s 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 –“Gold” debut on Billboard World Album Chart. The album debuted as No 7 on the chart upon release.

After this, he released two more albums “About 30” (2018) and “Afropop Vol 1″ (2020).

Here’s our first look into what Adekunle Gold’s fourth studio album “Catch me if you can” 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 “Catch me if you can”, Adekunle Gold has released three singles
 “High” ft. Davido
 “Sinner” ft. Lucky Daye
 “It is what it is”

The first single “It is what it is” was released April 2021. “Sinner” was released in July 2021 and “High” was released in September 2021.

Of all these singles, “High” has gained more traction and more streams, with more than 8 million views on YouTube within two months.

Also, the album will be a “feast of dynamic sounds”

Upon the release of Adekunle Gold’s “High” with Davido, a user commented on YouTube that Adekunle Gold has reinvented himself to boost his status, streams and income in the industry.

“It is what it is” sounded like what signposts a new decision. Like “Hey guys, I been singing “good boy songs” since all this while, but let’s switch it up”.

So yeah, it is what it is. In all sincerity, this new sound is really helping Adekunle Gold’s career and status in the industry because his song “High” is literally everywhere in Nigeria.

It has gained so much traction and popularity that it is competing with his greatest hits “Orente” and “Pick up”.

These dynamic sounds will also usher in a new stage in Adekunle Gold’s career as he seems to have “broken” 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 “bad boy songs”, 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

“Gold”– Adekunle Gold’s 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 “Catch me if you can” will be delicious, as the singles released ahead the album already proved that fact.

The sound engineering will help the authenticity of Adekunle Gold’s 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 “Catch me if you can” 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 he’s bringing the heat on his new album “Catch me if you can”.

Click here to pre-order Adekunle Gold’s album – “Catch me if you can”

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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