Nigerian music has had an incredible year in 2023, filled with records that have reached the top of the charts, international recognition, and inventiveness that transcends genres. Additionally, a fantastic and sonically innovative body of work by both established and up-and-coming vocalists was observed, living up to some of the anticipations raised for them.
Nigerian musicians, such as Burna Boy, Davido, and Asake, have a lasting effect on listeners around the globe with their inventive music.
Here is a spotlight on the 10 best Nigerian albums of 2023.
Asake – ‘Work of Art’ (Released on June 16, 2023, 14 songs).
Asake’s second album, “Work of Art,” is a masterwork of his creative development.
The album’s evocative soundscape envelops the listener with its lush synths, pulsing basslines, and crisp percussion.
Asake’s incredible talent is on display in songs like “Lonely at the Top,” “Peace Be Unto You,” and “Amapiano.”
Spotify called the “Work of Art” album a compilation of aural beauty in June.
With 12 tracks, the album also made its debut in July on the Billboard Afrobeats list.
Davido – ‘Timeless’ (Released on March 31, 2023, 17 songs).
After the devastating death of his kid in 2022, Davido’s return with “Timeless” was much awaited.
This is the singer’s fourth studio album, and it has garnered praise both domestically and internationally.
Just four months after its debut, “Timeless” hit one billion streams on all major distribution channels.
The collection was just listed as one of Billboard’s “Top 50 Best Albums of 2023.”
Additionally, it led to Davido receiving his first-ever Grammy nominations for Best Global Music Performance, Best African Performance, and Best Global Album.
Burna Boy – ‘I Told Them’ (Released August 25, 2023, 15 songs).
‘I Told Them’ is Burna Boy’s seventh studio album. The project boasts stellar collaborations including J. Cole, US rapper, Seyi Vibez, street-pop artiste, Dave, the British rapper, and RZA, the US rapper.
‘I Told Them’ debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart, selling 14,164 album-equivalent units in the first week.
The album is the first album to ever be on the chart by an African artiste.
Odumodublvck – ‘Eziokwu (Uncut)’ (Released on October 6, 2023, 21 songs).
Odumodublvck’s talent has been evident ever since his breakthrough. The Igbo word for “truth,” “Eziokwu,” which is the title of his fifth mixtape album, is accurate.
With ease, Odumodublvck creates intense hip-hop hits and demonstrates his flexibility over the course of the 21 tracks. “Eziokwu” made its debut at the top of TurnTable’s official Top 50 Albums Chart in Nigeria in October.
The album amassed 12.2 million on-demand streaming in the week of October 6–10, according to the ranking.
Teni – ‘Tears Of The Sun’ (Released November 17, 2023, 16 songs).
‘Tears Of The Sun’ is Teni’s second studio album. Although recently released, the album has gained momentum as well.
In an interview with Billboard News, Teni shared that the album was inspired by the “changes she and the people around her were going through”.
She added that she wanted to create music that was both introspective, reflecting on her own experiences, and relatable, tapping into the emotions of her listeners.
The album recently secured a spot among Apple’s top albums of 2023.
Adekunle Gold – ‘Tequila Ever After’ (Released July 28, 2023, 18 songs).
‘Tequila Ever After’ is a musical tapestry, showcasing Adekunle’s signature blend of Afrobeats with highlife, pop, and soul influences.
The singer effortlessly navigates various tempos and moods, from upbeat party anthems like ‘Party No Dey Stop’ to an introspective sound like ‘To My Own’.
‘Tequila Ever After’ is Adekunle Gold’s 5th studio album and has been featured among Apple Music’s top albums of 2023 and Spotify’s top 50 on December 12.
Shallipopi – ‘Presido La Pluto’ (Released November 11, 2023, 13 songs).
Shallipopi is a singer whose career skyrocketed after his first single ‘Elon Musk’.
‘Presido La Pluto’ is the debut project of the singer and has become a staple at events.
The album spent two weeks at the No.1 spot on the TurnTable chart immediately after its release and debuted at the No.1 spot on the Spotify Nigeria Weekly Albums chart on November 17.
‘Presido La Pluto’ is also performing well on the Apple Music album list for the year.
BNXN – ‘Sincerely, Benson’ (Released October 6, 2023, 15 songs).
‘Sincerely, Benson’ is BNXN’s first album and is a testament to his talent and songwriting prowess.
In ‘Sincerely, Benson’, the singer showcased his versatility with tracks like ‘Gwagwalada’ featuring Kizz Daniel and Seyi Vibez, and ‘Finesse’.
The album has also received several recognitions.
In October, the album debuted at number 11 on the Billboard World Albums chart.
Seyi Vibez – ‘Thy Kingdom Come’ (Released June 24, 2023, 10 songs).
Seyi Vibez’s fourth studio album, ‘Thy Kingdom Come,’ is a blend of Afropop and highlife.
The project features collaborations with Phyno, the Nigerian indigenous rapper, and Ami Faku, a South African artiste.
‘Thy Kingdom Come’ reached the eighth spot on the Top 10 US Apple Music Album chart in June.
Blaqbonez – ‘Emeka Must Shine’ (Released on October 27, 2023, 14 songs).
‘Emeka Must Shine’ is the third studio album by Blaqbonez. The album benefits from a diverse palette of beats, courtesy of talented producers like Ramoni, Blaise Beatz, and MasterKraft. Blaqbonez’s collaboration with Ludacris, the US rapper, on ‘Cinderella Girl’, adds to the uniqueness of the project. ‘Emeka Must Shine’ is currently on Apple’s top music albums of 2023.
