The recording academy recently presented its 10 best “Afrobeats Evolution songs”, a cured list that highlights the fundamental clues that have promoted the genre to global recognition and led to the creation of the best grammy category of musical performance in Africa.
While celebrating the dynamic trip of Afrobeats, the list significantly excludes the main international figures such as D'anj, Davido and Burna Boy, instead of artists such as Asake, 2Baba and Wizkid for their fundamental contributions.
The Academy clarified that “Afrobeats” (with an 's') is different from “Afrobeat” (without a 's'), which refers to the music infused with jazz and the high pioneer life by Fela Kuti in the 1970 Trap for the new wave of infected pop music.
However, their sonic bases were placed much earlier, with artists such as 2Baba (then 2 Face Idibia), Styl-Plus, the Remedies and Daddy Showkey experimenting with reggae, R&B American and hip-hop to create infectious hybrids that establish the plan for contemporary sound.
The recording academy emphasized the ongoing evolution of Afrobeats, pointing out its incorporation of various global influences, from Angolan Kuduro to the South Africa and the Soca Casa. This generalized global presence and cultural importance were key factors in the Grammy's decision to introduce the new category of interpretation of African music in 2024.
The 10 Afrobeat Evolution songs identified by the Grammys include:
African Queen – 2Baba (2004) a seminal track that consolidated the state of 2Baba as a gender pioneer, which shows the global commercial and cultural potential of African music.
DO ME-P-SQUARE (2007) Instrumental in the Nigerian pop packaging for a global dance oriented audience, establishing new standards for high production music videos.
Bumper 2 Bumper – Wande Coal (2009) An important pop success of the era of Mo'hits records, influencing pop production and highlighting the vocal versatility of Wande Coal.
Pon-Dagrin (2009) popularized indigenous rap in indigenous language, giving voice to daily struggles and directly influencing the subgenre “Streetpop” and artists like Olamide.
Falling— Fuse Odg Feat. Tiffany Owusu (2014) crucial for the international progress of Afrobeats in the United Kingdom, showing the Ghana dance culture and becoming one of Afrobeats' first songs to reach the Top 10 of the United Kingdom.
Ojuelegba – Wizkid (2014) described as the “master key” for new levels of international consciousness, its organic attraction led to Drake and Skepta remixes, promoting Wizkid's career and the Afrobeats crossover in the United States.
Mad over You – Rentown (2016) a colossal success in Africa and the diaspora, her Ghana life and the rhythms of Alkayida stimulated innumerable imitations.
Maradona-Niniola (2017) was a pioneer in the Afro house, expanding the rhythmic and sound range of Afrobeats and led to global recognition, including a Beyoncé sample.
Sungba-Aasake (2022) with a saturated sound of AMAPIAN, this track, amplified by a remix of Burna Boy, Asake established as a new Afrobeats star, which leads to the vanguard naturalized at the forefront.
Ozeba-Rema (2024) that indicates a new direction for Nigerian pop, Rema incorporated “Mara”, a quick and heavy subgenre of singing, since Afrobeats went beyond the saturation of poppy.
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