2010s Afrobeats Essentials

2010s Afrobeats Essentials

While the 2000s revealed how flexible Afrobeats could be, the genre’s emerging superstars showed just how exportable it was in the 2010s. From artists like Yemi Alade blending dancehall and highlife (“Johnny”) to Ghanaian rapper Sarkodie teaming up with Castro for an infectious Twi groove (“Adonai”), the stars of the day found magic with sounds that transcended continental borders—and they grew into international superstars. Wizkid paid homage to his hometown on “Ojuelegba”, an exercise in authenticity that would later attract international attention in the form of a Skepta- and Drake-assisted remix. Afro B’s “Drogba” became a diasporic anthem; Burna Boy’s “Ye” offered an immediately relatable message to millions; and Davido broke global records with “Fall”. Later, TikTok and its never-ending flow of dance challenges would help send Afrobeats tracks into the stratosphere—CKay’s ubiquitous and irresistible “love nwantiti” became so popular it attracted several international remixes in multiple languages. Discover these and more of Afrobeats’ most groundbreaking hits with this collection.

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