𝗔𝗽𝗲𝘅𝘄𝘅𝗹𝗱

Chris Brown to Headline Afro Nation 2025 with Afrobeats' Biggest Stars Afro Nation Portugal has unveiled its final headliner for its fifth-anniversary celebration, set to take place at Praia da Rocha beach in Portimão, The Algarve, Portugal. The festival announced that American R&B superstar Chris Brown will join an already stellar lineup featuring Afrobeats giants Burna Boy, Davido, and Tems, alongside R&B icon Mary J. Blige. The announcement underscores Afro Nation’s reputation for curating lineups that bridge African music with global sounds like hip-hop, R&B, dancehall, and Amapiano . Brown’s inclusion is particularly fitting given his deep ties to the Afrobeats scene. Over the years.  He has collaborated with some of Nigeria’s biggest names, including Davido on the 2023 track “Sensational,” Wizkid on “Call Me Every Day” from 2022, and Rema on “Time N Affection” from his Breezy album . These partnerships have seamlessly blended his smooth R&B vocal...

Ruger’s ‘BlownBoy RU’ Tops Charts and Shatters Streaming Records BlownBoy RU, which dropped on March 28, 2025, under his independent label, BlownBoy Entertainment. The 13-track project has swiftly risen to prominence, claiming the No. 1 position on the Apple Music Nigeria Top Albums Chart within 24 hours of its debut. The album has also broken streaming records, amassing an impressive 1.17 million streams on Spotify globally on its first full day. The album’s meteoric rise reflects months of anticipation built through strategic single releases and Ruger’s evolving artistry. BlownBoy RU features a dynamic blend of Afrobeats, dancehall, and pop, showcasing the versatility that has become a hallmark of Ruger’s sound.  Leading the charge are standout tracks like “ Toma Toma ,” a collaboration with Afrobeats queen Tiwa Savage, which had already garnered over 30 million global streams as a pre-release single.  Other highlights include “Jay Jay,” a high-energy anthem, ...

Playboi Carti’s "I AM MUSIC" Projected to Debut at No. 1 on Billboard 200 with Over 300K First-Week Sales Playboi Carti’s long awaited album I AM MUSIC is poised to make a seismic impact on the charts, with industry projections now estimating first week sales exceeding 300,000 album equivalent units. Released on March 14, 2025, through AWGE and Interscope Records, the 30-track opus is on track to claim the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200. The Atlanta rapper’s fourth studio album has shattered expectations since its drop, fueled by a powerhouse lineup of collaborators including Travis Scott , The Weeknd, Kendrick Lamar, and Future. Early data highlights its streaming dominance, with Spotify reporting 139.3 million global streams in its first 24 hours making it the platform’s most streamed album in a single day this year.  This milestone outpaces even the most optimistic predictions, positioning I AM MUSIC as a cultural juggernaut less than a week after its rel...

Davido and Omah Lay Set to Headline Couleur Café Festival 2025 in Brussels The Couleur Café Festival, one of Europe’s most celebrated showcases of global music and culture, has unveiled its headliners for the 2025 edition, with Davido and Omah Lay topping the bill. Scheduled to take place from June 27 to 29, 2025, at the picturesque Osseghem Park near the iconic Atomium in Brussels, Belgium. Organizers announced the star studded lineup via the festival’s official Instagram account and website, igniting excitement among fans and music enthusiasts worldwide. Couleur Café , now in its 34th year, has long been a cornerstone of Brussels’ summer calendar, renowned for its eclectic mix of genres spanning funk, reggae, hip-hop, soul, and world music.  The inclusion of Davido and Omah Lay as headliners reflects the festival’s ongoing commitment to embracing diverse sounds and spotlighting the meteoric rise of Afrobeats on the global stage. Joining them are an impressive arr...

Kanye West Unveils New Album "Bully" Through Experimental Short Film Featuring Son Saint West Kanye West has returned to the music scene with his latest solo project, Bully. The Grammy-winning artist, known for pushing creative boundaries, opted to debut the album not through traditional streaming platforms but via a series of short films shared directly on his X account. Directed by West himself and edited by the renowned Hype Williams. The film, ranging from 30 to 45 minutes across its various iterations, features Saint West in a wrestling ring, playfully taking on professional wrestlers from New Japan Pro Wrestling, including notable names like YOH, Toru Yano, Tiger Mask, and El Desperado.  Armed with a toy mallet, Saint’s presence adds a personal and unexpected dimension to the project, which Kanye West has described as a reflection of his own experiences with his son. The title Bully itself draws inspiration from a story West shared earlier in 2025, reco...

Wizkid’s "Made in Lagos" Makes a Triumphant Return to Billboard World Albums Chart Wizkid has once again claimed a spot on the prestigious Billboard World Albums chart. His critically acclaimed album Made in Lagos re-entered the chart at No. 17, marking its 146th week overall and solidifying its position as the longest-charting African album in the chart’s history.  Originally released on October 30, 2020, Made in Lagos has been a cornerstone of the Afrobeats movement, blending infectious rhythms with soulful R&B influences. The 14 track album, featuring collaborations with artists like Burna Boy , Skepta, and Tems, quickly captured the attention of fans and critics alike.  Its standout single, “ Essence ,” featuring Tems, became a global anthem, earning widespread acclaim and significantly contributing to the album’s longevity. The track’s success was further amplified by a remix with Justin Bieber, which propelled it to new heights and introduced Afrobea...

Davido’s 5ive Album Draws Closer with Reflective New Single “Be There Still” Davido, the Nigerian Afrobeats icon, has taken another significant step toward the release of his fifth studio album, 5ive, with the unveiling of his latest single, “Be There Still,” on March 14, 2025. Dropped at midnight WAT, the track marks the third preview from the highly anticipated project, set to arrive on April 18, 2025, via DMW, RCA/Sony Music. Davido's “ Be There Still ,” released today as as the third single from 5ive, following the infectious “Awuke” featuring YG Marley and the street-savvy “Funds” with ODUMODUBLVCK and Chike. Co produced by Marvey Muzique, South African amapiano maestro DJ Maphorisa, and Black Culture.  With mixing handled by D RO, the track seamlessly blends Afrobeats with amapiano’s signature log drums and melodic undertones. The result is a polished, groove laden anthem that showcases Davido’s knack for merging global influences with his Nigerian roots. Lyri...

Playboi Carti Drops "I Am Music": A 30-Track Triumph After Years of Anticipation After tears of anticipation, Playboi Carti has finally delivered his third studio album, I Am Music, released today, March 14, 2025, via AWGE and Interscope Records. The project marks the Atlanta rapper’s first full length offering since his polarizing 2020 release, Whole Lotta Red, and arrives as one of the most eagerly awaited hip hop albums of the decade.  The road to I Am Music has been a winding one, characterized by delays, cryptic teases, and fervent fan speculation. Carti first hinted at a follow up to Whole Lotta Red in 2022, when he posted an enigmatic Instagram story declaring, “I am music” a phrase that would later become the album’s title and mantra.  Over the ensuing years, the rapper kept his audience on edge with sporadic updates, including rare interviews where he described the project as an exploration of his most ambitious sonic ideas yet. The rollout gained mom...

Afrobeats Boom: Nigerian Musicians Earn Record ₦58 Billion from Spotify in 2024 Spotify’s 2024 Loud & Clear report revealed that Nigerian artists collectively earned over ₦58 billion in royalties from the streaming giant throughout the year. This staggering figure, announced in early 2025, marks a dramatic leap from the ₦25 billion recorded in 2023 and a fivefold increase from the ₦11 billion amassed in 2022. The ₦58 billion payout reflects not only the commercial success of Nigerian artists but also the broadening appeal of their work. According to Spotify , the number of Nigerian artists generating at least ₦10 million in royalties more than doubled since 2023 and tripled compared to 2022, signaling a deepening pool of talent reaping significant financial rewards.  This growth is largely attributed to the global appetite for Nigerian sounds, with international listeners driving a substantial share of the revenue. In 2024 alone, Nigerian artists were discovered b...

Wizkid Makes Directorial Debut with "Kese (Dance)" Music Video Wizkid has added a new dimension to his illustrious career with the release of his self-directed music video for "Kese (Dance)." The video marks the artist’s first foray into video direction, showcasing his creative talents beyond the microphone. The track, a standout from his sixth studio album Morayo, has already cemented its place as a cultural milestone. Kese (Dance) is one of the lead singles from Morayo , an album released in November 2024 as a heartfelt tribute to Wizkid’s late mother. The song quickly soared to prominence, shattering streaming records with over 1.5 million plays on Spotify Nigeria within its first 24 hours.  It also claimed the No. 1 spot on the Official Nigeria Top 100 chart and dominated Apple Music’s Top Charts, underscoring Wizkid’s enduring dominance in the Afrobeats scene. Now, with the accompanying video, the artist takes fans deeper into his creative world,...

Rihanna Signals She’s Nearing the Finish Line for Long-Awaited Ninth Album Rihanna whose last full length album graced the world nearly a decade ago, appears to be on the cusp of delivering her highly anticipated ninth studio project, tentatively titled R9. In an in depth interview with Harper’s Bazaar the 37 year old artist offered her most promising update yet, declaring that she has “finally cracked the code” on the creative direction for this long gestating release.  Since the release of Anti in 2016, a critically acclaimed album that showcased her genre defying versatility, Rihanna has kept her musical output sparse, focusing instead on her flourishing Fenty fashion and beauty empire and her growing family with rapper A$AP Rocky.  The couple welcomed their first son, RZA, in 2022, followed by their second, Riot, in 2023, adding layers of personal evolution to her already illustrious career. Yet, music has never fully left her orbit. As she told Harper’s Ba...

Davido’s Highly Anticipated Album "5ive" Pushed Back to April 2025 Davido has shifted the release of his eagerly awaited fifth studio album, 5ive, from its original March 14, 2025, date to April 18, 2025, according to updates spotted on digital streaming platforms like Apple Music. The Nigerian superstar first announced the March drop in December 2024 via his social media channels. Davido had teased 5ive as a significant chapter in his discography, building on the monumental success of his 2023 album Timeless , which solidified his status as a leading voice in African music. In his initial announcement, he described the forthcoming release as a deeply introspective work, promising a mix of his signature Afrobeat sound with fresh influences.  Tracks like “Awuke,” featuring YG Marley, and “Funds,” a collaboration with Odumodublvck and Chike, were highlighted as early tastes of what’s to come, fueling anticipation for a genre-defining record. Yet, with the new Ap...

Drake Postpones Remaining Australia-New Zealand Tour Dates Amid Scheduling Conflict Drake has postponed the remaining dates of his "Anita Max Win Tour" across Australia and New Zealand, citing an unforeseen scheduling conflict. The announcement, made on February 26, 2025, impacts four scheduled performances: Brisbane’s March 4 show at the Entertainment Centre, Sydney’s March 7 concert at Qudos Bank Arena, and two Auckland shows at Spark Arena on March 15 and 16.  The postponement affects fans across the region who had eagerly awaited the artist’s return, marking his first tour in Australia and New Zealand since 2017.  Drake’s team released an official statement addressing the situation: “Due to a scheduling conflict, we’ve had to postpone the remaining dates on Drake’s Australia and New Zealand tour. We’re actively working on rescheduling these dates along with adding some additional shows, with new details to be announced soon.”  The statement emphasized ...

Shallipopi Signs with RCA/Sony Music UK and Drops Anticipated Single ‘Laho’ Shallipopi has kicked off 2025 with a bold double announcement: a new record deal and the release of his highly awaited single, “Laho.” Unveiled on February 21, 2025, the track arrived after weeks of buzz sparked by a viral TikTok teaser that had fans eagerly counting down the days. The song has quickly resonated with his growing fanbase, cementing his reputation as one of Nigeria’s most exciting emerging talents. Notably, “ Laho ” is currently exclusive to Apple Music , with its absence from Spotify stirring curiosity about potential distribution strategies or delays. This release marks a significant milestone in Shallipopi’s career, coinciding with his transition to a new label. After parting ways with Dapper Music in late 2024 reportedly due to disagreements over financial transparency and restrictive contract terms the artist has now inked a deal with RCA/Sony Music UK.  The partnersh...

Rema Announces New Single After Being Spotted with Sade’s “Promise” Album Rema has officially announced the release of his new single, which samples Sade’s classic track "Is It a Crime" from her iconic 1985 album, "Promise". The announcement, made via Twitter, confirms that the highly anticipated song will drop this Friday, putting an end to months of speculation sparked by Rema’s earlier teasers. The connection to Sade’s timeless sound has sent fans into a frenzy. Known for her smooth vocals, soulful melodies, and sophisticated blend of jazz, R&B, and soul, Sade has been a major influence on artists across generations.  Her music, including the hauntingly beautiful " Is It a Crime ," continues to resonate deeply with listeners worldwide. Rema’s decision to sample the track highlights his appreciation for her artistry and signals a bold new direction in his own musical journey.   Rema first hinted at the project months ago when...