Top 10 Artistes Of The Year 2021
Musically, the year 2021 has been eventful and one of the most eventful in recent times.
As we bow out of the year, we reflect on what Nigerian artists have taken the top spots when it comes to dominating and putting out materials that moved the place.
A couple of years before now, there’s always been some particular names taking almost all of the top spots, but 2021 has been a different year—as different as anyone could be.
There has been some kind of renaissance; a positioning of young artists who have come out of nowhere to take their places among big artists who have been here all their careers. All this is what has made 2021 one of the most exciting years in Nigerian music.
Quickly, here is our final list of the top ten artists of the year, in descending order.
10. Reekado Banks
Reekado Banks has risen against all odds to become one of 2021’s top artists and it’s something we like to see.
The former Mavin artist found his balance when he put out “Ozumba Mbadiwe,” months ago and it became a hit. He quickly followed with a sleek EP, “OTR 2” that has been a good one. He’s even managed to snag another mild hit in “Lupita Nyongo.” Who knows what next year holds for this guy?
9. Ladipoe
What a year it’s been for the Mavin Records rapper who started the year with the hit single, “Feeling” with Buju, and ended with the Fireboy-assisted “Running.”
He finally got to release a project people paid attention to and for the first time in a while, it seemed like people were paying attention to rap again. Ladipoe did that!
8. Tiwa Savage
Tiwa Savage was involved in one of the most controversial scandals of the entertainment industry this year and this may actually have clouded her achievements this year.
Well, Tiwa Savage released an experimental project in 2021 called “Water and Garri” and for what it’s worth, that effort was a huge success. She also created one of the hottest songs of the year in “Somebody’s Son” and we’re grateful for that.
7. Buju
Buju ate well this year, for real. Mostly off features. He secured hits for Ladipoe, Blaqbonez, Timaya, Basketmouth among others, and still did some of the best singles of the year.
His debut project was released a couple of months ago, and it’s unironically one of the best we’ve heard in a long time. Buju capped that performance with a lively show in Lagos days ago where Burna Boy and WizKid graced him with their presence. It doesn’t get better than this.
6. CKay
Six months ago, no one would have thought Ckay would have made a list like this at the end of the year. I mean, he had a good project in “Boyfriend,” and a good hit in “Felony.” But that’s not all it takes.
But when a guy starts making it to the Billboard Hot 100, and crossing 100 million on YouTube, well you gotta pay attention to someone like that. His 2019 hit, “Love Nwantiti” was revived with a remix and Ckay‘s been eating since.
5. Tems
Tems was a Next Rated nominee at the Headies earlier this year—an award Omah Lay snagged rightfully. But after that, she went on to do great things with WizKid, as part of the hit song, “Essence.”
She has not only been on the Billboard, and appeared on Drake‘s album, she has also performed the O2 Arena back-to-back, and she had that one hit single, “Crazy Tings” at some point. Phenomenal.
4. Kizz Daniel
Kizz Daniel was all right in 2020, with the release of his third studio album, “King of Love.” But it wasn’t enough to place him among the best of that year.
2021 has been very different for him though. He started the year with a run of singles and collaborations like “Flex,” and “Currently,” then continued with the resurgence of his 2021 song, “Necesari.” But that wasn’t all. He went on to drop one of 2021’s best projects, “Barnabas” and he’s been trending since. King!
3. Burna Boy
Without an album, Burna Boy managed to steal the show once again with a run of singles that started with “Kilometre” some months ago and ended with his long-awaited collabo with WizKid, “B’Dor.”
He won a Grammy this year, made a song with Don Jazzy and WizKid, featured on one of the hottest international singles of the year (“Yaba Buluku”); it’s been a remarkable year for the “Ye” singer whose last album came almost a year and a half ago.
2. Olamide
Before now, people thought Olamide was finished. But the release of “Carpe Diem” last year changed everything for the rap star.
He started this year 2021 on a high note with the hit single “Rock” and followed up with a 10-track album, “UY Scuti” which has sincerely been one of the biggest highlights of the year.
1. Wizkid
Again, Wizkid has taken the top spot as he continued to ride his Made in Lagos wave deep into 2021, with the release of the deluxe version that spurred three new hits and a remix to his smash, “Essence” that featured Justin Bieber.
A year of Grammy’s, Billboard entries, and sold-out concerts, no single artist has been able to touch Wiz this year. For this reason, he’s the number one artist in the country, the second year in a row. Beautiful!
