Afrobeats
All Afrobeats Articles
How Lagos Became the Music Capital of Africa: The Full Untold History
The first time a recording studio opened on the Lagos mainland that was professional enough to record international-quality music, the year was 1969. The studio was Decca West Africa's facility … Read more»
Afrobeats Slang Decoded: 50 Words and Phrases Every Fan Should Know in 2026
At a barbershop in Surulere, a customer walks in, drops his bag on the counter, and announces to nobody in particular: "Omo, sapa don catch me." The barber laughs without … Read more»
The Headies Award: Complete History, Past Winners and Why It Matters to Afrobeats
When Ayo Animashaun decided in 2006 that Nigerian music deserved its own serious mirror, no one quite knew what a Hip Hop World Award would mean a decade later. The … Read more»
The Business of Afrobeats: How Nigerian Music Became a Billion-Dollar Global Industry
Somewhere between Wizkid trading verses with Drake on "One Dance" in 2016 and Universal Music Group writing what was reported to be a nine-figure check for a controlling stake in … Read more»
Every African Artist Who Has Ever Won a Grammy: The Complete List and Their Stories
Grammy gold and the African continent have a longer history than most casual music fans realize. The first African name engraved on the gramophone trophy was called more than half … Read more»
The Untold Story of How Afrobeats Got Its Name (And Why Fela Kuti Fans Still Argue About It)
Femi Kuti has said in interviews, more than once, that the contemporary Afrobeats genre has nothing to do with his father's music. He is not bitter about it. He is … Read more»
From Lagos to Los Angeles: How Afrobeats Conquered the BET Awards Stage
Cut to a stage in Los Angeles, the lights low and the crowd loud, and a Nigerian artist clutching a golden statue with a hometown accent still thick in their … Read more»
Where Is Ycee Now? The Full Story of One of Nigeria's Most Gifted Rappers and His Place in Afrobeats History
The bassline drops, a snare kicks in, and a voice that sounds like it is grinning through every syllable announces itself: "Jagaban, omo Jagaban." For a stretch of 2015 and … Read more»
Davido's "I Know Who I Be": The Story Behind the Song and What It Reveals About His Artistic Identity
A four-word phrase, posted to social media with a crown emoji, did most of the talking before a single note arrived. "The journey to the throne begins," Davido wrote, announcing … Read more»