Studio Albums are projects that define a musician’s discography. They influence their level of effect and determine their place in the music industry.
Fans and stans cherish and adore these undertakings in all their grandeur, making them masterpieces and major cultural influences.
Beyond the outward recognition, We believe that fans primarily stream music and purchase merchandise to express their appreciation for the artists and their staff’s labours, according to the author, editor, and professor Arushi Raj.
The number of streams, record sales, and accolades show that the celebritity’s music is good. That they are well-liked. That they are superior.
Albums are vital to any conversation in the music industry and serve as an artist’s portfolio.
Five albums are pushing the narrative of Afrobeats evangelism to the globe, and these remarkable bodies of work deserve to be recognized.
Here is a list of the 5 best Afrobeats Albums of all time in 2023.
Made In Lagos By Wizkid
Wizkid’s Made in Lagos album, is a classic which featured many top artists from across the globe like Burna Boy, Skepta, H.E.R., Ella Mai, Tay Iwar, Projexx, Tems, Damian Marley, and Terri, was executively produced by P2J. The follow up Made In Lagos Deluxe edition was made available on August 27, 2021.
Special guests Justin Bieber and Buju were enlisted on the deluxe edition. Wizkid started the Made in Lagos Tour to promote the album in 2021–2022. The Album was nominated for Best Global Music Album at the 64th Grammy Awards, it didn’t win in the category but there were speculations that the album might have been robbed.
The biggest track on Made In Lagos Album “Essence,” featuring Tems, was released as the album’s fourth single on April 9, 2021. On August 13, 2021, a remix of the song featuring Canadian singer Justin Bieber was released. The song peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the highest-charting single by an African act.
“Essence” was the first Nigerian song to reach the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard Global 200. At the 64th Annual Grammy Awards, the song was nominated for Best Global Music Performance.
In the United States, the album has sold over 500,000 units and has been certified Gold. The first Nigerian album to accomplish this accomplishment.
Wizkid’s ‘Made In Lagos’ album has added another big blow in the industry by breaking an African record on the Billboard World Album Chart and it is the first African album to lead Billboard’s world album chart for 100 weeks. This feat was completed on October 15th, 2022, during the chart week.
Twice As Tall By Burna Boy
Twice as Tall is the fifth studio album by Nigerian artist Burna Boy. Atlantic Records, Spaceship Entertainment, Bad Habit, and Warner Music released the album on August 14, 2020. The album, which was recorded in 2020, was executive produced by Burna Boy, American singer and songwriter Diddy, and Mama Burna Bose Ogulu.
Afrobeats, Afrobeat, dancehall, pop, and hip-hop are all featured on the CD. Telz was the lead producer, with help from Rexxie, Timbaland, and DJDS, among others.
Youssou N’Dour, Naughty by Nature, Sauti Sol, Chris Martin, and Stormzy were all enlisted on the album. On June 26, 2020, the first single off the album “Wonderful,” was released.
Twice as Tall was nominated as Best Global Music Album at the 63rd Grammy Awards.The album won flawlessly defeating other amazing body of works from other legends. The album is one of the most streamed on Apple Music.
African Giant By Burna Boy
On July 26, 2019, Burna Boy’s fourth studio album African Giant album was published and distributed by Spaceship Entertainment, Bad Habit, Atlantic Records, and Warner Music. The album includes a wide range of genre which includes Afrobeats, Afrobeat, dancehall, pop, and hip-hop and cements Burna Boy as an Afrofusion artist as acclaimed.
The primary producer was Kel-P, with assistance from Benjamz, Dre Skull, and Skrillex among others. Jorja Smith, Zlatan Ibile, Jeremih, Serani, Damien Marley, Angelique Kidjo, M.anifest, YG, and Future are among the artists who appeared on the album.
Eight singles were released in favour of the album, including “Anybody,” which Burna Boy performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live, “On the Low,” which won Viewers’ Choice at the 2020 Soundcity MVP Awards Festival, and “Killin Dem,” which won Song of the Year at the same event.
Music critics lauded the album as cohesive and praised Burna Boy for not diminishing his sound. It was included on year-end lists by several magazines, including Billboard, Complex, and Pitchfork.
“African Giant” won many awards like Album of the Year at the 2019 All Africa Music Awards and was nominated for Best World Music Album at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards. The African Giant Album tour was held in Toronto in August 2019 which attracted so many support.
Love, Damini By Burna Boy
Burna Boy’s sixth studio album Love Damini dropped On July 8, 2022, Atlantic Records released it. The album hosted songs featuring Ladysmith, Black Mambazo, J Hus, Vict0ny, Popcaan, Blxst, Kehlani, Ed Sheeran, J Balvin, and Khalid.
It was made available along with the songs “Kilometre” and “Last Last” which was tagged song of the summer by many.
Love, Damini is the first album in history to reach 200 MILLION Boomplay streams. Making it the best-selling album of all time on the music platform. This record was set only three months after its release.
Love, Damini topped the Official UK Albums chart for 13 weeks. It is now the longest charting (13 weeks) and highest-peaking (#2) album in UK history by an African group.
A Good Time By Davido
Davido’s second studio album is part of the greatest Afrobeats Albums of all time. On November 22, 2019, Davido Music Worldwide (DMW), RCA Records, and Sony Music released it.
Chris Brown, Summer Walker, Gunna, A Boogie with da Hoodie, Dremo, Peruzzi, Popcaan, Zlatan, Yonda, Wurld, and Naira Marley are among the artists who appear on the album.
To produce the album, Davido enlisted the help of London on da Track, Ray Keys, Tekno, Shizzi, Kiddominant, Vstix, P2J, Fresh VDM, Seyi, Teekay Witty, London on da Track, Speroach Beatz, and Seyi.
To promote the album, Davido announced a North American tour in December 2019 that would run from the winter of 2019 through the spring of 2020. The March 2020 tour has been postponed by Davido due to the current COVID-19 pandemic.
The album has been designated as a Breakthrough album by the BRITs. According to the BRITs, this category is intended to assist new or recently established acts. Albums are eligible for this certification if they are an artist’s first title to sell more than 30,000 copies.
Editor’s Special Mentions
Asides the Albums listed above, the following are Afrobeats Albums doing amazingly well since their releases, breaking boundaries and putting the genre at the top right where it belongs.- More Love Less Ego – Wizkid
- Timeless – Davido
- Boy Alone – Omah Lay
- Rave & Roses – Rema
- Playboy – Fireboy
- Mr Money With the Vibez – Asake
- Catch Me If you can – Adekunle Gold
- Bad Since 97 – BNXN fka BUJU
- TBH – Simi
These records are setting the tone for Afrobeats’ global evangelization. Redefining and developing African music and culture narratives. I feel we are living in an exciting time to witness the beauty of this voice of life.
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