There are a few Afrobeat songs I've been totally hooked on lately, and I find myself putting them on repeat every day—they’ve just got that vibe you can’t get enough of.
The first song is "Alone Remix" by Fola and BNXN (formerly Buju). I had heard the original version of Alone, but to be honest, I didn't really enjoy the parts sung by Bhadboi OML. Nothing personal against him; it's just that his style didn’t really resonate with me. However, the remix featuring BNXN is on a whole different level. His verse brought the exact energy the song needed, and his unique voice added this magical touch that made the entire track more enjoyable. As usual, BNXN's smooth vocals and melodic flow make any song catchy, and this one was no different. What really makes this song stand out for me, though, is the effort that Fola put into getting it out there. This song didn’t blow up instantly; it took a lot of promoting and resilience from Fola to keep pushing until it finally went viral. It even made it to Nigeria’s top 10 songs for a few months, which is impressive because many artists usually rely on influencers to get that kind of reach. Fola, however, did it mostly on his own, which adds a level of respect and admiration to the track for me.
The next track that’s been in my daily rotation is "Active" by Asake featuring Travis Scott. When I first listened to it, honestly, I wasn’t too impressed. The sound didn’t catch me right away, and I actually thought it might not be my kind of vibe. Plus, it felt surreal to even see Asake, who primarily sings in Yoruba, collaborating with a global superstar like Travis Scott. But after giving it a few more listens, the song really grew on me. They both brought their own unique flavors to the track, and it turned out to be something incredible. The beat has this fast rhythm that just makes you want to get up and dance, and the energy is so contagious. I also enjoyed the music video, which added a whole new layer to the song's vibe. Travis Scott’s verse was really dope, though I’ll admit it was a bit challenging to catch everything he was saying. Asake’s verse wasn’t that long, but he did his thing and kept it clean and catchy, blending his style with Travis’s seamlessly. All in all, it turned out to be a top-notch collab that I never expected to vibe with this much.
Finally, there’s "Fi Kan We Kan" by BNXN and Rema, which is another gem. The first time I heard a snippet of this track with Rema’s vocals, I already knew it was going to be a hit. Rema has this effortless way of delivering a verse that just makes you want to hear more, and his part of the song had me locked in right away. At one point, I even thought the song might be Rema’s because he practically stole the show with his verse, bringing that usual charm and flair we’ve come to expect from him. It was as if Rema was trying to make the song his own, which I totally didn’t mind because his energy was what pulled me in initially. BNXN’s part wasn’t as long, but he definitely held his own, adding a smooth balance to Rema’s hype energy. The rhythm of the song flows beautifully, and the fusion of their styles made it a unique experience that’s both relaxing and exciting to listen to.
These songs have not only given me an awesome playlist lately, but they've also shown the versatility of Afrobeat and how these artists keep pushing boundaries.
image is from Meta Ai
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