The 100 Best Songs of 2023

Nigerian artists continued their winning streak in 2023 with hits that took the sounds of Naija to the world. Ayra Starr’s “Rush” dominated social media and took over charts in the UK and France. Locally, the street scene continued to grow and spill over into the mainstream, with Seyi Vibez (“Chance [Na Ham]”) living up to his name with his modern take on Apala that blends elements of Fuji, amapiano, hip-hop and Afro-soul. Fiery collabs with stars like Joeboy, Bnxn and Adekunle Gold made ODUMODUBLVCK one of the country’s hottest rappers, known for hopping between drill, grime and Afrobeats, yet it was his breakout single “DECLAN RICE” that sent him into the stratosphere. Nigeria’s biggest superstars made quite the outing, too: Burna Boy’s “Giza” featuring Seyi Vibez and Davido’s “UNAVAILABLE” featuring Musa Keys were the sort of boundary-breaking crossover hits that further cemented Afrobeats’ place on the world stage. This playlist recaps the best songs of the year, as chosen by our editors.