Unlike last year when full-length albums stole the show, this year has been more of short projects, especially extended plays.
The idea is to create something that won’t really have a lasting dent on an artist’s should it fail to make the mark it was expected to make.
But even at that, there were quite a number of good EP’s released this year. Some are from new artists, while some are from established artists who didn’t seem ready for an album release.
Anyway, here is Naijaloaded’s top list of the best extended plays (EP’s) released in the year 2021. Which of these is your favorite?
1. Kizz Daniel — Barnabas
Not so many people were expecting a Kizz Daniel resurgence in 2021, but it happened. After that single, “Lie,” he just had to follow up with a body of work, and “Barnabas” was the answer.
“Barnabas,” which happens to be the most commercially successful EP this year is a perfectly positioned EP that has reinstated Kizz Daniel as one of Nigeria’s top artists.
2. Reekado Banks — OTR 2
The second edition of his 2020 EP, “Off The Record,” EP had Reekado Banks on another level really. The young man was a bomb, doing afro records that not a lot of artists in the country can pull off.
The EP houses the smash hit, “Ozumba Mbadiwe” and four other bops, and that’s just more than enough.
3. Lojay — LV N ATTN
Well, Sarz did it again.
Lojay and Sarz created this classic 5-track project that has been the soundtrack of the year 2021. A solid afro project, it introduced Lojay and gave us more than one hit. That’s definitely something!
4. Buju — Sorry I’m Late
Buju was having a good year and he decided to just put out something to make the streets hot.
“Sorry I’m Late” is his debut offering and it’s just as good as you’d expect any debut to be. It’s beautiful.
5. Ruger — Pandemic
One of the good tidings 2021 came with is Jonzing World artist, Ruger, who released an EP that housed what is arguably the hottest song of the year 2021, “Bounce.”
Ruger has followed up with another project, but the standard “Pandemic” set is just unbelievable.
6. Ayra Starr — Ayra Starr
The Mavin Records new girl was introduced early this year with an eponymous project that was good enough to ground her as one of 2021’s breakout artists.
The EP had the hit track, “Away,” a song that brought about the Tems comparison. Ayra Starr has since released an album, but “Ayra Starr” remains her best project without a doubt.
7. Ladipoe — Providence
Ladipoe capped his impressive form from 2020 with an EP that all but establishes him as one of the top artists of the year.
A song from Rema and another from Fireboy can only make a project better.
8. Tiwa Savage — Water and Garri
Last on this list is Tiwa Savage. This EP, “Water and Garri” was released to mixed reviews earlier this year but it started to grow on people, especially that “Somebody’s Son” hit with Brandy.
Not Tiwa Savage’s best, but still a good one.
