Spotlight on Afrobeats’ Breakout Stars of 2024.
As the music scene keeps evolving, several rising stars have made notable strides this year, captivating both fans and critics. Here’s a closer look at some of these promising talents.
Ayo Maff
Ayorinde Ayodele, popularly known as Ayo Maff, burst into the limelight with a series of viral singles that resonated with audiences. His track, ‘Are You There’ was particularly well-received among music lovers. The singer, famed for his hit song ‘Dealer’, has worked with top artistes such as Fireboy, Blaqbonez and Bella Shmurda. Notably, ‘Dealer’ emerged as one of the most streamed songs on Spotify Nigeria in 2024.
Darkoo
Oluwadisayo Isa, better known as Darkoo, solidified her presence on the Nigerian music scene this year. Renowned for her unconventional sound and distinctive voice, she topped various music charts with her hit single ‘Favourite Girl’. The remix of the track featuring Divine Ikubor, aka Rema, further amplified her reach and popularity, with many people searching on the Internet for the lyrics of the viral jam.
Mannywellz
Although not a newcomer, Mannywellz captured the hearts of fans this year, particularly among “women of colour”. His infectious tracks like ‘Ouu Wee (Brown)’, ‘Masterpiece’, and ‘Magic’ have taken social media by storm, making him the favourite of many.
Khaid
Singer, Sulaimon Solomon, known as Khaid, is not a newcomer to the list of rising Nigerian artistes. Despite facing significant health challenges this year, he made a remarkable comeback with his Extended Play album titled, ‘444’, and the hit single, ‘Orobo’.” He earned a spot on Google’s list of the most searched Nigerian personalities in 2024.
Boy Spyce
Mavin Records artiste, Ugbekile Osemeke, aka Boy Spyce, created a buzz this year with his romantic anthem, ‘I Don’t Care’. The track dominated streaming platforms and became a favourite among celebrity couples and social media influencers. According to Google Trends, it is the most searched song by Nigerians in 2024.
Nasboi
Social media comedian, Lawal Nasir, better known as Nasboi, started his career as a singer and he returned to his first love last year with his viral hit ‘Umbrella’. This year, he continued to build on that success with his singles, ‘Small Money’ and ‘Short Skirt’, which has resonated well with fans. He also released an Extended Play album titled, ‘In Nasboi I Trust’, featuring collaborations with notable artists such as 2baba, Falz, Joeboy, Chike and MI.
