In 2025, Wizkid: Long Live Lagos made its grand debut at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York, marking a special moment in both African music and global storytelling. More than just a documentary, the film is a celebration of Lagos culture, the rise of Afrobeats, and the life of one of Nigeria’s most iconic artists, Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid.
A Cinematic Tribute to Wizkid
Directed by Karam Gill and produced alongside Daniel Malikyar, Long Live Lagos is a full-length documentary that takes fans on an emotional and cinematic journey through Wizkid’s life. From his early days in Surulere, Lagos, to the bright lights of international stardom, the film unpacks not only his success but also the spiritual and cultural roots that shaped him. It isn’t just about music; it’s about legacy, identity, and the city that birthed a global movement.
Inside the Film: What to Expect
The documentary offers never-before-seen footage of Wizkid’s life — intimate family moments, studio sessions, and electrifying performances. It’s an unfiltered look at the man behind the music, revealing his vulnerabilities, growth, and deep connection to Lagos.
Featuring appearances and commentary from influential voices such as:
Femi Kuti – Afrobeat legend and cultural icon
Jada Pollock – Wizkid’s longtime manager and partner
Sunday Are – Veteran manager and music executive
Julie Adenuga – British-Nigerian media personality and radio host
These voices help narrate Wizkid’s evolution and the role he’s played in reshaping how African talent and Afrobeat as a whole is seen around the world.
A Landmark Premiere at Tribeca
Long Live Lagos was part of Tribeca Film Festival’s Spotlight+ category — a prestigious slot that included films on Billy Joel and Miley Cyrus. The premiere was powerful, personal, and unforgettable. Wizkid attended with his young daughter, providing an emotional glimpse into his life as a father and artist. During the post-screening Q&A, he admitted the decision to let cameras into his private life was tough. “It wasn’t easy,” he said, “but I want my fans to see the real me.”
The Broader Message: Lagos as a Creative Force
Beyond Wizkid’s personal story, Long Live Lagos is a love letter to the city that raised him. It captures the essence of Lagos. Its hustle, creativity, rhythm and positions it has as a central player in the global entertainment scene. The documentary doesn’t just follow a superstar’s rise; it also talks about how a city gave birth to a sound that changed the world.
Previous Documentaries vs. Long Live Lagos
While Wizkid has appeared in other documentaries before, like Lagos to London (2018), A Day in the Live of Wizkid (2020), and A Superstar Made in Lagos (2021), this is his most complete and personal documentary to date.
Where & When to Watch
Currently, Long Live Lagos is available only through screenings at Tribeca Film Festival (June 4–15, 2025). However, because of its ties to HBO Documentary Films, it is expected to be released on HBO Max or similar streaming platforms soon. Follow Streamdorm on all major social media to get updates on possible HBO announcements, or festival updates for global release dates.
Are you a true Wizkid fan?
For fans, this film is more than a biography. It’s a mirror into Wizkid’s soul, his journey, and the impact he has had on a generation. It’s also a powerful reminder of how far Afrobeats has come and how Lagos remains its beating heart. Wizkid: Long Live Lagos is not just a music documentary, it’s a cultural moment. It blends emotion, history, and the magic of Lagos to tell a story that fans across the world will connect with. Whether you’ve followed him since Superstar or you’re just discovering his music, this film is a must-watch celebration of one of Africa’s big three.
South African pop queen Tyla is at it, but this time it’s a top record: only one person has broken it—the first African solo artist with a song to surpass 1 billion streams on Spotify.
As of February 2025, Tyla became the first solo artist with a song (“Water”) to surpass one billion streams on Spotify. The song, which was released on July 28, 2023, took the entire world to the borders of South Africa.
The song peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Hot R&B Songs charts. It also spent 15 weeks on the Billboard 200, peaking at #24.
‘Water’ won many international awards, including MTV VMAs, MTV EMA, BET, and Grammys.
Another Billion club member achieved this but with the help of Selena Gomez on “Calm Down Remix.”
It’s Industry’s biggest night! The 2025 Grammys is now in our footsteps and we couldn’t be more proud. The 67th Academy Awards is currently held at the Crypto.comArena, Los Angeles.
The host tonight is South African comedian, Trevor Noah for the consecutive fifth time. Beyoncé (who leads with 11 nods), Charli xcx, Kendrick Lamar, Sabrina Carpenter, ChappellRoan and Shaboozey lead the nomination nods.
Beyoncé at the Grammys in Los Angeles on Feb. 2, 2025. Kevin Winter/Getty
Some of Nigeria’s biggest stars, including Tems, Wizkid, Burna Boy, Davido, and Asake, will represent the country on the global stage, here’s the full nominees:
Record of the Year The Beatles – Now and Then Beyoncé – Texas Hold ’Em Billie Eilish – Birds of a Feather Chappell Roan – Good Luck, Babe! Charli XCX – 360 Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us – WINNER Sabrina Carpenter – Espresso Taylor Swift Featuring Post Malone – Fortnight
Album of the Year André 3000 – New Blue Sun Beyoncé – Cowboy Carter – WINNER Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard and Soft Chappell Roan – The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess Charli XCX – Brat Jacob Collier – Djesse Vol. 4 Sabrina Carpenter – Short n’ Sweet Taylor Swift – The Tortured Poets Department
Song of the Year Beyoncé – Texas Hold ’Em Billie Eilish – Birds of a Feather Chappell Roan – Good Luck, Babe! Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us – WINNER Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – Die With a Smile Sabrina Carpenter – Please Please Please Shaboozey – A Bar Song (Tipsy) Taylor Swift Featuring Post Malone – Fortnight
Best New Artist Benson Boone Doechii Chappell Roan – WINNER Khruangbin Raye Sabrina Carpenter Shaboozey Teddy Swims
Producer of the Year, Non-Classical Alissia Daniel Nigro – WINNER Dernst “D’Mile” Emile II Ian Fitchuk Mustard
Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical Amy Allen – WINNER Edgar Barrera Jessi Alexander Jessie Jo Dillon Raye
Best Pop Solo Performance Beyoncé – Bodyguard Billie Eilish – Birds of a Feather Chappell Roan – Good Luck, Babe! Charli XCX – Apple Sabrina Carpenter – Espresso – WINNER
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance Ariana Grande, Brandy & Monica – The Boy Is Mine – Remix Beyoncé Featuring Post Malone – Levii’s Jeans Charli XCX & Billie Eilish – Guess Featuring Billie Eilish Gracie Abrams Featuring Taylor Swift – Us. Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – Die With a Smile – WINNER
Best Pop Vocal Album Ariana Grande – Eternal Sunshine Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard and Soft Chappell Roan – The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess Sabrina Carpenter – Short n’ Sweet – WINNER Taylor Swift – The Tortured Poets Department
Best Dance/Electronic Recording Disclosure – She’s Gone, Dance On Four Tet – Loved Fred Again.. & Baby Keem – Leavemealone Justice & Tame Impala – Neverender – WINNER Kaytranada Featuring Childish Gambino – Witchy
Best Dance Pop Recording Ariana Grande – Yes, And? Billie Eilish – L’Amour de Ma Vie [Over Now Extended Edit] Charli XCX – Von Dutch – WINNER Madison Beer – Make You Mine Troye Sivan – Got Me Started
Best Dance/Electronic Music Album Charli XCX – Brat – WINNER Four Tet – Three Justice – Hyperdrama Kaytranada – Timeless Zedd – Telos
Best Remixed Recording Charli XCX – Von Dutch A. G. Cook Remix Featuring Addison Rae Doechii & Kaytranada Featuring JT – Alter Ego (Kaytranada Remix) Julian Marley & Antaeus – Jah Sees Them (Amapiano Remix) Sabrina Carpenter – Espresso (Mark Ronson x FNZ Working Late Remix) – WINNER Shaboozey & David Guetta – A Bar Song (Tipsy) (Remix)
Best Rock Performance The Beatles – Now and Then – WINNER The Black Keys – Beautiful People (Stay High) Green Day – The American Dream Is Killing Me Idles – Gift Horse Pearl Jam – Dark Matter St. Vincent – Broken Man
Best Metal Performance Gojira, Marina Viotti & Victor le Masne – Mea Culpa (Ah! Ça ira!) – WINNER Judas Priest – Crown of Horns Knocked Loose Featuring Poppy – Suffocate Metallica – Screaming Suicide Spiritbox – Cellar Door
Best Rock Song The Black Keys – Beautiful People (Stay High) Green Day – Dilemma Idles – Gift Horse Pearl Jam – Dark Matter St. Vincent – Broken Man – WINNER
Best Rock Album The Black Crowes – Happiness Bastards Fontaines D.C. – Romance Green Day – Saviors Idles – Tangk Jack White – No Name Pearl Jam – Dark Matter The Rolling Stones – Hackney Diamonds – WINNER
Best Alternative Music Performance Cage the Elephant – Neon Pill Fontaines D.C. – Starburster Kim Gordon – Bye Bye Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Song of the Lake St. Vincent – Flea – WINNER
Best Alternative Music Album Brittany Howard – What Now Clairo – Charm Kim Gordon – The Collective Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Wild God St. Vincent – All Born Screaming – WINNER
Best R&B Performance Chris Brown – Residuals Coco Jones – Here We Go (Uh Oh) Jhené Aiko – Guidance Muni Long – Made for Me (Live on BET) – WINNER SZA – Saturn
Best Traditional R&B Performance Kenyon Dixon – Can I Have This Groove Lalah Hathaway Featuring Michael McDonald – No Lie Lucky Daye – That’s You – WINNER Marsha Ambrosius – Wet Muni Long – Make Me Forget
Best R&B Song Coco Jones – Here We Go (Uh Oh) Kehlani – After Hours Muni Long – Ruined Me SZA – Saturn – WINNER Tems – Burning
Best Progressive R&B Album Avery Sunshine – So Glad to Know You – WINNER[TIE] Childish Gambino – Bando Stone and the New World Durand Bernarr – En Route Kehlani – Crash NxWorries – Why Lawd? – WINNER [TIE]
Best R&B Album Chris Brown – 11:11 (Deluxe) – WINNER Lalah Hathaway – Vantablack Lucky Daye – Algorithm Muni Long – Revenge Usher – Coming Home
Best Rap Performance Cardi B – Enough (Miami) Common & Pete Rock Featuring Posdnuos – When the Sun Shines Again Doechii – Nissan Altima Eminem – Houdini Future, Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar – Like That Glorilla – Yeah Glo! Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us – WINNER
Best Melodic Rap Performance Beyoncé, Linda Martell & Shaboozey – Spaghettii Future, Metro Boomin & The Weeknd – We Still Don’t Trust You Jordan Adetunji Featuring Kehlani – Kehlani (Remix) Latto – Big Mama Rapsody Featuring Erykah Badu – 3:AM – WINNER
Best Rap Song Future, Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar – Like That Glorilla – Yeah Glo! Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us – WINNER Rapsody & Hit-Boy – Asteroids ¥$, Kanye West, Ty Dolla $ign & Rich the Kid Featuring Playboi Carti – Carnival
Best Rap Album Common & Pete Rock – The Auditorium Vol. 1 Doechii – Alligator Bites Never Heal – WINNER Eminem – The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce) Future & Metro Boomin – We Don’t Trust You J. Cole – Might Delete Later
Best Spoken Word Poetry Album Malik Yusef – Good M.U.S.I.C. Universe Sonic Sinema Episode 1: In the Beginning Was the Word Omari Hardwick – Concrete & Whiskey Act II Part 1: A Bourbon 30 Series Queen Sheba – Civil Writes: The South Got Something to Say Skillz – The Seven Number Ones Tank and the Bangas – The Heart, the Mind, the Soul – WINNER
Best Jazz Performance The Baylor Project – Walk With Me, Lord (Sound | Spirit) Chick Corea & Béla Fleck – Juno Dan Pugach & Nicole Zuraitis Featuring Troy Roberts – Little Fears Lakecia Benjamin Featuring Randy Brecker, Jeff “Tain” Watts & John Scofield – Phoenix Reimagined (Live) Samara Joy Featuring Sullivan Fortner – Twinkle Twinkle Little Me – WINNER
Best Jazz Vocal Album Catherine Russell & Sean Mason – My Ideal Christie Dashiell – Journey in Black Kurt Elling & Sullivan Fortner – Wildflowers Vol. 1 Milton Nascimento & Esperanza Spalding – Milton + Esperanza Samara Joy – A Joyful Holiday – WINNER
Best Jazz Instrumental Album Ambrose Akinmusire – Owl Song Chick Corea & Béla Fleck – Remembrance – WINNER Kenny Barron – Beyond This Place Lakecia Benjamin – Phoenix Reimagined (Live) Sullivan Fortner – Solo Game
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra – And So It Goes Dan Pugach – Bianca Reimagined – WINNER John Beasley Featuring Frankfurt Radio Big Band – Returning to Forever Miguel Zenón – Golden City Orrin Evans & The Captain Black Big Band – Walk a Mile in My Shoe
Best Latin Jazz Album Donald Vega Featuring Lewis Nash, John Patitucci & Luisito Quintero- As I Travel Eliane Elias – Time and Again Hamilton de Holanda & Gonzalo Rubalcaba – Collab Horacio ‘El Negro’ Hernandez, John Beasley & Jose Gola – El Trio: Live in Italy Michel Camilo & Tomatito – Spain Forever Again Zaccai Curtis – Cubop Lives! – WINNER
Best Alternative Jazz Album Arooj Aftab – Night Reign André 3000 – New Blue Sun Keyon Harrold – Foreverland Meshell Ndegeocello – No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin – WINNER Robert Glasper – Code Derivation
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album Aaron Lazar – Impossible Dream Cyrille Aimée – À Fleur de Peau Gregory Porter – Christmas Wish Lake Street Dive – Good Together Norah Jones – Visions – WINNER
Best Contemporary Instrumental Album Béla Fleck – Rhapsody in Blue Bill Frisell – Orchestras (Live) Julian Lage – Speak to Me Mark Guiliana – Mark Taylor Eigsti – Plot Armor – WINNER
Best Musical Theater Album Hell’s Kitchen – WINNER Merrily We Roll Along The Notebook The Outsiders Suffs The Wiz
Best Country Solo Performance Beyoncé – 16 Carriages Chris Stapleton – It Takes a Woman – WINNER Jelly Roll – I Am Not Okay Kacey Musgraves – The Architect Shaboozey – A Bar Song (Tipsy)
Best Country Duo/Group Performance Beyoncé & Miley Cyrus – II Most Wanted – WINNER Brothers Osborne – Break Mine Dan + Shay – Bigger Houses Kelsea Ballerini & Noah Kahan – Cowboys Cry Too Post Malone Featuring Morgan Wallen – I Had Some Help
Best Country Song Beyoncé – Texas Hold ’Em Jelly Roll – I Am Not Okay Kacey Musgraves – The Architect – WINNER Post Malone Featuring Morgan Wallen – I Had Some Help Shaboozey – A Bar Song (Tipsy)
Best Country Album Beyoncé – Cowboy Carter – WINNER Chris Stapleton – Higher Kacey Musgraves – Deeper Well Lainey Wilson – Whirlwind Post Malone – F-1 Trillion
Best American Roots Performance The Fabulous Thunderbirds Featuring Bonnie Raitt, Keb’ Mo’, Taj Mahal & Mick Fleetwood – Nothing in Rambling Rhiannon Giddens – The Ballad of Sally Anne Shemekia Copeland – Blame It on Eve Sierra Ferrell – Lighthouse – WINNER
Best Americana Performance Beyoncé – Ya Ya Gillian Welch & David Rawlings – Empty Trainload of Sky Madi Diaz & Kacey Musgraves – Don’t Do Me Good Madison Cunningham – Subtitles Sarah Jarosz – Runaway Train Sierra Ferrell – American Dreaming – WINNER
Best American Roots Song Aoife O’Donovan – All My Friends Iron & Wine & Fiona Apple – All in Good Time Mark Knopfler – Ahead of the Game Shemekia Copeland – Blame It on Eve Sierra Ferrell – American Dreaming – WINNER
Best Americana Album Charley Crockett – $10 Cowboy Maggie Rose – No One Gets Out Alive Sarah Jarosz – Polaroid Lovers Sierra Ferrell – Trail of Flowers – WINNER T Bone Burnett – The Other Side Waxahatchee – Tigers Blood
Best Bluegrass Album Billy Strings – Live Vol. 1 – WINNER Bronwyn Keith-Hynes – I Built a World Dan Tyminski – Dan Tyminski: Live From the Ryman The Del McCoury Band – Songs of Love and Life Sister Sadie – No Fear Tony Trischka – Earl Jam
Best Traditional Blues Album Cedric Burnside – Hill Country Love The Fabulous Thunderbirds – Struck Down Little Feat – Sam’s Place Sue Foley – One Guitar Woman Taj Mahal – Swingin’: Live at the Church in Tulsa – WINNER
Best Contemporary Blues Album Antonio Vergara – The Fury Joe Bonamassa – Blues Deluxe Vol. 2 Ruthie Foster – Mileage – WINNER Shemekia Copeland – Blame It on Eve Steve Cropper & The Midnight Hour – Friendlytown
Best Folk Album Adrianne Lenker – Bright Future American Patchwork Quartet – American Patchwork Quartet Aoife O’Donovan – All My Friends Gillian Welch & David Rawlings – Woodland – WINNER Madi Diaz – Weird Faith
Best Regional Roots Music Album Big Chief Monk Featuring J’wan Boudreaux – Live at the 2024 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival Kalani Pe’a – Kuini – WINNER New Breed Brass Band Featuring Trombone Shorty – Live at the 2024 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival The Rumble – Stories From the Battlefield Sean Ardoin & Kreole Rock and Soul – 25 Back to My Roots
Best Gospel Performance/Song Doe – Holy Hands Melvin Crispell III – Yesterday Ricky Dillard – Hold On (Live) Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Erica Campbell & Israel Houghton Featuring Jonathan McReynolds & Jekalyn Carr – One Hallelujah – WINNER Yolanda Adams – Church Doors
Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song Bethel Music, Jenn Johnson Featuring CeCe Winans – Holy Forever (Live) CeCe Winans – That’s My King – WINNER Elevation Worship Featuring Brandon Lake, Chris Brown & Chandler Moore – Praise Honor & Glory & Disciple – Firm Foundation (He Won’t) Jwlkrs Worship & Maverick City Music Featuring Chandler Moore – In the Name of Jesus Maverick City Music, Naomi Raine & Chandler Moore Featuring Tasha Cobbs Leonard – In the Room
Best Gospel Album CeCe Winans – More Than This – WINNER Karen Clark Sheard – Still Karen Kirk Franklin – Father’s Day Melvin Crispell III – Covered Vol. 1 Ricky Dillard – Choirmaster II (Live)
Best Contemporary Christian Music Album Brandon Lake – Coat of Many Colors Doe – Heart of a Human – WINNER Elevation Worship – When Wind Meets Fire Forrest Frank – Child of God Maverick City Music, Chandler Moore & Naomi Raine – The Maverick Way Complete
Best Roots Gospel Album Authentic Unlimited – The Gospel Sessions, Vol. 2 Cory Henry – Church – WINNER The Harlem Gospel Travelers – Rhapsody Mark D. Conklin – The Gospel According to Mark The Nelons – Loving You
Best Latin Pop Album Anitta – Funk Generation Kali Uchis – Orquídeas Kany García – García Luis Fonsi – El Viaje Shakira – Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran – WINNER
Best Música Urbana Album Bad Bunny – Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana Feid – Ferxxocalipsis J Balvin – Rayo Residente – Las Letras Ya No Importan – WINNER Young Miko – Att.
Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album Cimafunk – Pa’ Tu Cuerpa El David Aguilar – Compita del Destino Mon Laferte – Autopoiética Nathy Peluso – Grasa Rawayana – ¿Quién Trae las Cornetas? – WINNER
Best Música Mexicana Album (Including Tejano) Carín León – Boca Chueca, Vol. 1 – WINNER Chiquis – Diamantes Jessi Uribe – De Lejitos Peso Pluma – Éxodo
Best Tropical Latin Album Juan Luis Guerra 4.40 – Radio Güira Kiki Valera – Vacilón Santiaguero Marc Anthony – Muevense Sheila E. – Bailar Tony Succar & Mimy Succar – Alma, Corazón y Salsa (Live at Gran Teatro Nacional) – WINNER
Best Global Music Performance Angélique Kidjo & Soweto Gospel Choir – Sunlight to My Soul Arooj Aftab – Raat Ki Rani Jacob Collier Featuring Anoushka Shankar & Varijashree Venugopal – A Rock Somewhere Masa Takumi Featuring Ron Korb, Noshir Mody & Dale Edward Chung – Kashira Rocky Dawuni – Rise Sheila E. Featuring Gloria Estefan & Mimy Succar – Bemba Colorá – WINNER
Best African Music Performance Asake & Wizkid – MMS Burna Boy – Higher Chris Brown Featuring Davido & Lojay – Sensational Tems – Love Me JeJe – WINNER Yemi Alade – Tomorrow
Best Global Music Album Antonio Rey – Historias de un Flamenco Ciro Hurtado – Paisajes Matt B & Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – Alkebulan II – WINNER Rema – Heis Tems – Born in the Wild
Best Reggae Album Collie Buddz – Take It Easy Shenseea – Never Gets Late Here Various Artists – Bob Marley: One Love – Music Inspired By the Film (Deluxe) – WINNER Vybz Kartel – Party With Me The Wailers – Evolution
Best New Age, Ambient, or Chant Album Anoushka Shankar – Chapter II: How Dark It Is Before Dawn Chris Redding – Visions of Sounds De Luxe Radhika Vekaria – Warriors of Light Ricky Kej – Break of Dawn Ryuichi Sakamoto – Opus Wouter Kellerman, Éru Matsumoto & Chandrika Tandon – Triveni – WINNER
Best Children’s Music Album Divinity Roxx & Divi Roxx Kids – World Wide Playdate John Legend – My Favorite Dream Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band – ¡Brillo, Brillo! – WINNER Lucy Kalantari & the Jazz Cats – Creciendo Rock for Children – Solid Rock Revival
Best Comedy Album Dave Chappelle – The Dreamer – WINNER Jim Gaffigan – The Prisoner Nikki Glaser – Someday You’ll Die Ricky Gervais – Armageddon Trevor Noah – Where Was I
Best Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling Recording Barbra Streisand – My Name Is Barbra Dolly Parton – Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones George Clinton – …And Your Ass Will Follow Jimmy Carter – Last Sundays in Plains: A Centennial Celebration – WINNER Various Artists – All You Need Is Love: The Beatles in Their Own Words
Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media London Symphony Orchestra, Yannick Nézet-Séguin & Bradley Cooper – Maestro: Music by Leonard Bernstein – WINNER Various Artists – The Color Purple Various Artists – Deadpool & Wolverine Various Artists – Saltburn Various Artists – Twisters: The Album
Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media (Includes Film and Television) Kris Bowers – The Color Purple Hans Zimmer – Dune: Part Two – WINNER Laura Karpman – American Fiction Nick Chuba, Atticus Ross & Leopold Ross – Shōgun Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross – Challengers
Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media Bear McCreary – God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla John Paesano – Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Pinar Toprak – Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora Wilbert Roget II – Star Wars Outlaws Winifred Phillips – Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord – WINNER
Best Song Written for Visual Media Barbra Streisand – Love Will Survive (From The Tattooist of Auschwitz) Jon Batiste – It Never Went Away (From the Netflix Documentary “American Symphony”) – WINNER Luke Combs – Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma (From Twisters: The Album) *NSync & Justin Timberlake – Better Place (From Trolls Band Together) Olivia Rodrigo – Can’t Catch Me Now (From The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes)
Best Music Video A$AP Rocky – Tailor Swif Charli XCX – 360 Eminem – Houdini Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us – WINNER Taylor Swift Featuring Post Malone – Fortnight
Best Music Film Jon Batiste – American Symphony – WINNER June Carter Cash – June Run-DMC – Kings From Queens Steven Van Zandt – Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple Various Artists – The Greatest Night in Pop
Best Recording Package The Avett Brothers – The Avett Brothers Charli XCX – Brat – WINNER iWhoiWhoo – Pregnancy, Breakdown, and Disease Kate Bush – Hounds of Love (Baskerville Edition) The Muddy Basin Ramblers – Jug Band Millionaire Post Malone – F-1 Trillion William Clark Green – Baker Hotel
Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package Alpha Wolf – Half Living Things John Lennon – Mind Games – WINNER Kate Bush – Hounds of Love (The Boxes of Lost at Sea) Nirvana – In Utero Unsuk Chin & Berliner Philharmoniker – Unsuk Chin 90 Day Men – We Blame Chicago
Best Album Notes Alice Coltrane – The Carnegie Hall Concert (Live) Ford Dabney’s Syncopated Orchestras – After Midnight John Culshaw – John Culshaw – The Art of the Producer – The Early Years 1948-55 King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band & Various Artists – Centennial – WINNER Various Artists – SONtrack Original de la Película “Al Son de Beno”
Best Historical Album King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band & Various Artists – Centennial – WINNER Paul Robeson – Paul Robeson – Voice of Freedom: His Complete Columbia, RCA, HMV, and Victor Recordings Pepe de Lucía & Paco de Lucía – Pepito y Paquito Prince & the New Power Generation – Diamonds and Pearls (Super Deluxe Edition) Rodgers & Hammerstein & Julie Andrews – The Sound of Music (Original Soundtrack Recording) (Super Deluxe Edition)
Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical Charlotte Day Wilson – Cyan Blue Kacey Musgraves – Deeper Well Lucky Daye – Algorithm Peter Gabriel – I/O – WINNER Sabrina Carpenter – Short n’ Sweet Willow – Empathogen
Best Engineered Album, Classical Los Angeles Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel & María Dueñas – Gabriela Ortiz: Revolución Diamantina Los Angeles Philharmonic, John Adams & Los Angeles Master Chorale – John Adams: Girls of the Golden West Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra & Manfred Honeck – Bruckner: Symphony No. 7 – Bates: Resurrexit (Live) – WINNER Skylark Vocal Ensemble & Matthew Guard – Clear Voices in the Dark Timo Andres, Andrew Cyr & Metropolis Ensemble – Timo Andres: The Blind Banister
Producer of the Year, Classical Christoph Franke Dirk Sobotka Dmitriy Lipay Elaine Martone – WINNER Erica Brenner Morten Lindberg
Best Immersive Audio Album Ensemble 96, Current Saxophone Quartet & Nina T. Karlsen – Pax Peter Gabriel – I/O (In-Side Mix) – WINNER Ray Charles & Various Artists – Genius Loves Company Roxy Music – Avalon Trondheim Symphony Orchestra & Nick Davies – Henning Sommerro: Borders
Best Instrumental Composition Akropolis Reed Quintet, Pascal Le Boeuf & Christian Euman – Strands – WINNER André 3000 – I Swear, I Really Wanted to Make a “Rap” Album but This Is Literally the Way the Wind Blew Me This Time Chick Corea & Béla Fleck – Remembrance Christopher Zuar Orchestra – Communion Shelly Berg – At Last
Jaden Smith and Willow Smith at The 67th Annual Grammy Awards Sunday.Francis Specker / CBS
Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella Béla Fleck – Rhapsody in Blue(Grass) Henry Mancini & Snarky Puppy – Baby Elephant Walk (Encore) Jacob Collier Featuring John Legend & Tori Kelly – Bridge Over Troubled Water – WINNER Säje – Silent Night Scott Hoying Featuring Säje & Tonality – Rose Without the Thorns
Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals Cody Fry Featuring Sleeping at Last – The Sound of Silence John Legend – Always Come Back Säje Featuring Regina Carter – Alma – WINNER Willow – Big Feelings The 8-Bit Big Band Featuring Jonah Nilsson & Button Masher – Last Surprise (From “Persona 5”)
Best Orchestral Performance Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra & JoAnn Falletta – Kodály: Háry János Suite, Nyári este & Symphony in C Major Esa-Pekka Salonen & San Francisco Symphony – Stravinsky: The Firebird Los Angeles Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel & María Dueñas – Gabriela Ortiz: Revolución Diamantina – WINNER ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra & Marin Alsop – John Adams: City Noir, Fearful Symmetries & Lola Montez Does the Spider Dance Susanna Mälkki & Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra – Sibelius: Karelia Suite, Rakastava & Lemminkäinen
Best Opera Recording Los Angeles Philharmonic, John Adams & Los Angeles Master Chorale – John Adams: Girls of the Golden West Lyric Opera of Kansas City & Gerard Schwarz – Moravec: The Shining The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra & The Metropolitan Opera Chorus – Catán: Florencia en el Amazonas The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra & The Metropolitan Opera Chorus – Puts: The Hours San Francisco Symphony Chorus & San Francisco Symphony – Saariaho: Adriana Mater – WINNER
Best Choral Performance Apollo’s Fire & Jeannette Sorrell – Handel: Israel in Egypt, HWV 54 The Choir of Trinity Wall Street, Artefact Ensemble & Novus NY – Sheehan: Akathist The Crossing, Donald Nally & Dan Schwartz – Ochre – WINNER Skylark Vocal Ensemble & Matthew Guard – Clear Voices in the Dark True Concord Voices & Orchestra, Jeffrey Biegel & Eric Holtan – A Dream So Bright: Choral Music of Jake Runestad
Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance Caroline Shaw & Sō Percussion – Rectangles and Circumstance – WINNER JACK Quartet – John Luther Adams: Waves & Particles Lorelei Ensemble & Christopher Cerrone – Christopher Cerrone: Beaufort Scales Miró Quartet – Home Yo-Yo Ma, Leonidas Kavakos & Emanuel Ax – Beethoven for Three: Symphony No. 4 and Op. 97 “Archduke”
Best Classical Instrumental Solo Andy Akiho – Akiho: Longing Curtis J Stewart, James Blachly & Experiential Orchestra – Perry: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra Mak Grgić & Ensemble Dissonance – Entourer Seth Parker Woods – Eastman The Holy Presence of Joan d’Arc Víkingur Ólafsson – J. S. Bach: Goldberg Variations – WINNER
Best Classical Solo Vocal Album Fotina Naumenko – Bespoke Songs Joyce DiDonato, Il Pomo d’Oro & Maxim Emelyanychev – Wagner: Wesendonck Lieder Karen Slack & Michelle Cann – Beyond the Years – WINNER Nicholas Phan, Farayi Malek & Palaver Strings – A Change Is Gonna Come Will Liverman & Jonathan King – Show Me the Way
Best Classical Compendium Amy Porter, Nikki Chooi, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra & JoAnn Falletta – Lukas Foss: Symphony No. 1 & Renaissance Concerto Andy Akiho & Imani Winds – BeLonging Danaë Xanthe Vlasse, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra & Michael Shapiro – Mythologies II Experiential Orchestra, James Blachly & Curtis J Stewart – American Counterpoints Los Angeles Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel & María Dueñas – Gabriela Ortiz: Revolución Diamantina – WINNER
Best Contemporary Classical Composition Andrea Casarrubios – Casarrubios: Seven for Solo Cello Decoda – Coleman: Revelry Esa-Pekka Salonen, Fleur Barron, Nicholas Phan, Christopher Purves, Axelle Fanyo & San Francisco Symphony Chorus & Orchestra – Saariaho: Adriana Mater Eighth Blackbird – Lang: Composition as Explanation Los Angeles Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel & Los Angeles Master Chorale – Ortiz: Revolución Diamantina – WINNER
Making it to Complex’s top album of 2024 ahead of Gunna, Charlie XcX, Glorilla, J.Cole, and Kanye West (Ye) are part of Nigeria’s greatest music talent exports, Tems and Ayra Starr.
Sitting at number 14 is Tems ‘Born in the Wild, and Ayra Starr’s ‘The Year I Turned 21’ is at number 12.
14. Tems, Born in the Wild
Released on the 7th of June, in the article it was stated “But even when Tems was behind the scenes, she faced betrayal and growing pains, which tested the resilience that encapsulates her storytelling on Born In the Wild. She flawlessly makes a 1997 Seyi Sodimu staple her own on the amorous track “Love Me JeJe.” Elsewehere, she looks for a bad boy who can match her freak over the rhythmic acoustics of “Gangsta.” And she comes to grips with her regret of becoming a romantic avoidant when confronted by collaborator J. Cole on “Free Fall.” Tems gets real with her internal struggles and doesn’t run from herself.“
Ayra Starr is described as: “She doesn’t mince her words on opener “Birds Sing of Money,” popping off saucy lines like “I don’t watch my tone ’cause I like how I sound, bitch,” because time is, well, money. When social media tried to instigate a feud between Starr and Grammy winner Coco Jones, they joined each other and Brazilian artist Anitta on the feminist war cry “Woman Commando.” As sultry as she is sharp, Starr takes control on 21. It’s only up from here.“
Your only excuse should be that you’re on a remote island with no access to the internet and don’t notice the wave of new talents in the Nigerian music industry. The wave is led by those I will consider the latest Big 4, starring Ayra Starr, Asake, Rema, and Tems. These talents have well-crafted and mastered the art of making good music, and it’s high time they get their flowers.
The Rolling Stone’s 2024 Top Albums List, released on Monday, features Rema’s ‘Heis,’ Tems’ ‘Born in the Wild,’ and Ayra Starr’s ‘The Year I Turned 21.’
Ranking them, we have:
Rema’s second studio album, ‘Heis,‘ was ranked 11th overall. The album recently received a Grammy nomination for Best Global Album Performance.
Description: “Rema has taken to calling his own style of Afrobeats “Afro-rave,” in the tradition of Burna Boy and the like who have fought to differentiate themselves from what became a catchall for African music in general. Yet, there was no real sonic signifier for Rema’s Afro-wave — he seamlessly traverses hip-hop, house, R&B, and dancehall. Heis sounds more like a rave than almost anything Rema has made prior (excluding the excellent loosey “Bounce,” for example, raging while everything else simmers. The result is the buzzy, visceral, sweat-it-out music that no one else in the mainstream is making.”
Tems’ debut album, ‘Born in the Wild,‘ ranked 37th overall. Tems, whose voice is captivating, earned Grammy nominations for both ‘Best African Music Performance’ and ‘Best Global Music Album.’
Description: “Tems has already remade Nigerian pop in her own image. Her debut album measures the soul work it’s taken to get here. All of it has paid off on an album so rich that the listening experience is a physical one as much as it is emotional. “Wickedest” is primed for the dance floor, while the single “Love Me Jeje” is a masterpiece, soaked in the sun and major-key dopamine. Her vision is made timeless via a seamless blend of stripped-down ballads, the cool of 1990s R&B with flecks of SWV and Sade, joyous high life, Afro-dance music like amapiano, and rugged hip-hop.”
Ayra Starr’s sophomore album, ‘The Year I Turned 21,′ ranked 53rd on the list according to Rolling Stone.
Rolling Stone describes it as: “With the follow-up to her 2021 debut, Ayra Starr asserts a musical maturity that could be considered far beyond her years, but perhaps more aptly serves as a reminder of the emotional depth, logical prowess, and enviable passion young people often possess. Across it, Starr refreshes tried-and-trueAfrobeats elements with the type of songwriting that SZA fans flock to, darting between Nigerian Pidgin, Yoruba, and English with endless finesse and attitude in all three languages.”
I, for one, am glad for the recognition of Nigerian musical talents on a global stage, and this should continue for a long time. Last year the list featured legends like Mr. Eazi, Burna Boy, Adekunle Gold, and Asake.
Streamdorm has compiled the list of first day streams on Spotify as of May, 2024. Davido ‘Timeless’ released March 31st, 2023 currently holds the number one spot with 4.91 million streams.
This year alone Shallipopi holds the highest first day streams with “Shakespopi” having 1.59 million (11 April, 2024). Ayra Starr “The Year I Turned 21” (30th May, 2024) holds the biggest first day for a female artist with 1.27 million streams.
Here’s the top 10 list of biggest album first day stream on Spotify:
Talented musician YKus has released a hit song featuring DJ Lyght titled Steady Income.
Check out the lyrics:
(Intro) Are you ready? DJ Lyght is here Ykus let them know Umbala umbala umbala oh no o Oh no o yeh yeh Bad man kush Ykus on top
Chorus
Where God dey man no dey Where mummy dey friends no dey I dey pray for grace everyday Make enemy no block my way, no block my way
I just wanna dey ok Make I dey alright Ke mi ma fo loke Kin ma fo loke Hun huh Hun
Only money ginger me When nobody ginger me Oh no ooo Only mother pray for me when nobody pray for me Only mother pray for me Hun Hun
Man dey hustle everyday Kowo Sha tipe Hun wan Hun wan Man dey grind everyday Kowo Sha wole Kowo nla wole
Omo ope ti gbera tan Ko ma se jabo mo Bowo se un wole Ko ma se duro mo Hun steady money Steady income, steady wire Steady aza, steady income, steady wire Hun Hun Mi o le shalaye Orin Ori gbemi trabaye Steady income mi o le shalaye Bowo se wole mi o shalaye Mi o le shalaye Hun Hun oh no ooo
I just wanna dey ok Make I dey alright Ke mi ma fo loke Kin ma fo loke Hun huh Hun
Oh no ooo, Hun Hun Hun wan Hun God dey man no dey
Chorus Where God dey man no dey Where mummy dey friends no dey I dey pray for grace everyday Make enemy no block my way, no block my way
Here is a track-by-track breakdown of the album, according to Ayra Starr. [From Pulse]
Birds Sing of Money
“My brother, who is a music video director, paid a guy to just sing a Fuji song about me, which is at the beginning of ‘Birds Sing of Money’. This was a day after I released my first EP, as a gift. And the guy was just hyping me up. That’s a very Yoruba thing.”
Goodbye (Warm Up) with Asake
“This is one of my favourite tracks I’ve ever recorded. Ever. Before I sent it to Asake, I wasn’t even sure if he was going to like the song. He was like, ‘OK Ayra, give me some time.’ He sent me his verse in two days. I was like, ‘Oh, this is sounding good.’ ”
Commas
“‘Commas’ is about how God has blessed me and I’m really grateful for where I am in life and where I’m about to go. I’m grateful for just even being present in this moment and being alive. I feel like that’s what has brought me here, my gratitude and the continuous hard work I will keep putting into this job. God is good.”
Woman Commando with Anitta & Coco Jones
“‘Woman Commando’ is such an Afrobeats/amapiano banger in a way, because of the log drums, and I wanted different perspectives. I’ve been watching CocoJones since I was 12 on Disney’s Let It Shine. I sent her a different song, which she loved, but she was like, ‘Ayra, I want to be on your Afrobeats vibe’, and I was like, ‘Say less.’Anitta is such an amazing musician and I really just knew that I wanted to go for that Latin element. Her verse is perfect.”
Control
“Is relinquishing control the same as submission? It depends on how the listener and the audience want to take it. The lyric goes: ‘I’m lit tonight/You know my lips lie.’ I want you to take control. I want you to be the man. Do your thing. It’s not really about submission, it’s more like I’m giving you hints—take control.”
Lagos Love Story
“‘Lagos Love Story’ is about being in a very happy state of mind. We have that moment where we are so happy, [that] it starts to feel wrong. It starts to feel like, ‘I feel guilty for being this happy’. You kind of feel relieved when something bad happens, because you’re not used to that amount of happiness. That’s what the song is about being in a very high state of happiness.”
Rhythm & Blues
“When I released ‘Rhythm & Blues’ [in 2023], I didn’t know if it was the right time. The headspace I was in was a lot of work. I remember recording this song for the first time and how beautiful it was. Also, there is a lyric that goes, ‘My Jigga, my muse’, which I wrote because you don’t expect girl singers to refer to a male love interest as a muse.”
21
“The first demo of ’21’ was a 21st birthday gift from a friend. Writing it, I was kind of stuck because I didn’t really know how to write about myself. I’m really good at writing about other people and the TV shows I watch and movies I watch, but never myself. So this album was the first time I actually put myself out there and learned how to write by myself.”
Last Heartbreak Song with GIVĒON
“GIVĒON’s verse made me cry the first time I heard it; I was so happy. I’ve always wanted to see what we would sound like together because we both have a really low range. GIVĒON came with the most perfect perspective, because anybody that has been in an argument with a man, or any man that’s been arguing with a girl, would know [that] ‘Last Heartbreak Song’ is literally the dynamic.”
Bad Vibes with Seyi Vibez
“Translating Yoruba to English is so annoying sometimes because it doesn’t just hit the same in English. In the hook, the lyric in Yoruba means ‘Don’t poke me in my eye or don‘t hit me in my eye. I don’t break. I’m good.’ It’s an idiom, right? For the guest feature, I wanted a perspective from somebody who would understand what I was trying to do with the song. I felt like that with SeyiVibez, we sound amazing together.”
Orun
“‘Orun’ is a highlife song and a juxtaposition of a puzzle of life. Highlife songs are usually known for being joyful and you want to dance to it. But with ‘Orun’, it’s kind of different because I’m talking about mental health and depression.”
Jazzy’s Song
“I’ve been wanting to sample a Don Jazzy production [WandeCoal’s 2009 single ‘You Bad’ (feat. D’banj)] for so long and I’m glad I did. The title ‘Jazzy’s Song’ shows my respect for him and how much I admire him as a person, as an artist, and as a musician.”
1942 with Milar
“This song is introspective and so vulnerable. I’ve been working for so long, and for the first time in my life, I took a vacation on my birthday. I remember being in the pool with a bottle of 1942 tequila, and I was like, ‘Wow, this moment makes everything all worth it.’ After all the time we’ve put into this job, all the hard work, everything I’ve done, that moment of relaxing in that villa, overlooking the ocean, made everything worth it.”
The Kids Are Alright
“Turning 21 is a big [moment] and you start to notice things—like certain behavioural patterns are reflections of certain childhood trauma, or things that you’ve gone through in the past. I noticed that I had not really mourned the death and the loss of my father, and it was something I was holding at the back of my head.”
Santa with Rvssian & Rauw Alejandro
“I’ve been a big fan of Rvssian for so long, and we’ve been wanting to work [together] for so long. I recorded the verse and was made to sing in Spanish, literally. It’s so crazy that, once it drops, it becomes this global song, and I’m so happy.”
Being referred to as an African artist has come a long way. Once upon a time, we were considered underlings on the global stage, but in the past decade, we’ve broken that barrier. Artists like D’Banj, PSquare, Wizkid, and Davido fought for global dominance.
On streaming, Wizkid’s ‘More Love, Less Ego’ proved to Nigerians that our music can break the language barrier with 1.21 million streams on the first day. This year, Shalipoppi’s ‘Shakespopi’ earned over 1.5 million streams on Spotify, making it the biggest first-day stream of the year, followed by Mavin’s queen, Ayra Starr (1.27 million).
Here’s a full list of the biggest first-day stream on Spotify:
