Tag: Asake

Barack Obama’s annual favorite music list has become a cultural moment of its own. Every year, the former U.S. president shares songs he enjoyed the most, cutting across genres, generations, and continents.

In 2025, the list once again proved how global modern music has become and Nigeria stood tall once again.

Asake, Burna Boy, and Olamidé all earned spots on Obama’s favorite music list this year, reinforcing Afrobeats’ growing influence on the world’s biggest cultural stages.

Afrobeats’ Strong Presence on a Global Playlist

Obama’s music lists are not charts or awards. They are personal playlists that reflect what he listens to and enjoys. That’s what makes them powerful.

So, when Nigerian artists appear, it signals something deeper than popularity; it shows cultural relevance.

This year’s list included:

• Burna Boy with Tatata (featuring Travis Scott)
• Olamidé, Asake, Seyi Vibez, Daecolm, and Young Jonn on 99

These selections placed Nigerian street pop and Afrofusion side-by-side with global pop, hip-hop, indie, and jazz records.

Burna Boy’s appearance on the list comes as no surprise. Over the years, he has built a reputation as one of Africa’s most consistent global exports.

Tatata, his collaboration with Travis Scott, blends Afrofusion rhythms with international rap energy. Its inclusion reflects how Burna Boy continues to operate comfortably at the intersection of African identity and global appeal.

Perhaps the most significant moment on the list is the inclusion of 99; a song deeply rooted in Nigerian street pop culture.

Led by Olamidé and Asake, alongside Seyi Vibez, Daecolm, and Young Jonn, 99 represents a raw, energetic Lagos sound. It is the kind of song born from the streets, clubs, and everyday experiences of Nigerian youth.

Seeing it land on a playlist curated by a former U.S. president speaks volumes.

Olamidé’s role as a culture driver and Asake’s rise as one of Afrobeats’ most exciting modern stars come together on this track.

Barack Obama’s favorite music lists have always served as a snapshot of the year’s cultural mood. In 2025, that snapshot clearly includes Nigeria.

For Asake, Burna Boy, and Olamidé, making the list is not just a personal win; it’s another moment of validation for Nigerian music as a global force.

All eyes are on Sarz as he gears up for the release of his new album Protect Sarz At All Costs, dropping tomorrow September 26, 2025. Widely regarded as one of Afrobeats’ most innovative producers, Sarz has taken his creativity a step further with a rollout strategy that feels more like cinema than traditional album promotion.

The project is expected to be a landmark moment for both his career and the global Afrobeats scene, blending Nigerian rhythms with international collaborations.

Tracklist and Sound Direction

The tracklist reveals Sarz’s ambition to craft a global soundtrack rather than just another Afrobeats project. Here are the confirmed features:

• Grateful ft. WurlD & Ndlovu Youth Choir
• Happiness ft. Asake & Gunna
• Getting Paid ft. Asake, Wizkid & Skillibeng
• Mademoiselle ft. Zeina, Shallipopi, Theodora & Odumodublvck
• BMF ft Fireboy DML, Byron Messia
• Body ft Joeboy
• In A Mustang ft Qing Madi
• Nice n Slow ft Wurld
• Loved Me Then ft Lojay
• African Barbie ft Teni, Libianca
• Up ft Victony
• Billions ft Lojay

A Cinematic Rollout: How Sarz Reinvented Album Promotion

Where most artists drop teasers and trailers, Sarz has opted for short films and skits to build anticipation. His rollout strategy is playful, self-aware, and layered with storytelling, making the campaign as engaging as the music itself.

Mini-Movies and Skits

• A mock press conference where journalists demand answers about the album release date and features.
• A group therapy scene with fans venting frustration about the wait.
• A cinema parody featuring comedian Layi Wasabi, where a film villain demands Sarz’s album as the soundtrack.

I can’t even go to the movies in peace… pic.twitter.com/xY6l4d6qKx

— I am… (@beatsbysarz) September 10, 2025

These aren’t just promos, they’re part of the artistic universe Sarz is creating. By using humor, drama, and meta-commentary on the music industry itself, he has made his marketing content worth watching on its own.

Sarz has also been strategic about timing. By gradually unveiling features, artwork, and cinematic clips, he’s kept fans guessing and ensured that each reveal makes waves online.

Why This Rollout Matters for Afrobeats

Sarz is blurring the line between art and marketing. His rollout strategy elevates the album into a cultural event, positioning Afrobeats not just as music, but as storytelling with global appeal.

This approach mirrors how major international artists use cinematic universes to market albums, but it’s rare to see it executed at this scale in Nigeria. If Protect Sarz At All Costs delivers musically, it could set a new benchmark for how Afrobeats albums are launched in the digital era.

With Protect Sarz At All Costs, Sarz is not only giving fans new music but also reshaping how an album can be experienced.

As the album drops tomorrow, the real test will be whether the music matches the hype. But one thing is certain: Sarz has proven that creativity in promotion can be just as powerful as creativity in sound.

Nigerian Afrobeats sensation Asake has taken a major step in his career, signing a new management deal with Double Eleven, the management and creative agency led by music executive Alexa Perkins.

The announcement, first highlighted in Billboard’s weekly signings roundup, signals a new era for the hitmaker following his split from long-time manager Stephen Nana, popularly known as Stevenator.

A Strategic Move for Global Growth

With more than 5.6 billion streams worldwide, Asake has become one of the most successful Afrobeats artists of his generation. His third studio album, Lungu Boy (2024), ranks among the top 20 most-streamed Nigerian albums of all time, while his latest project, MONEY, was released this summer under his independent imprint Giran Republic.

Under his new management, Asake is expected to expand his international footprint. Alexa Perkins, who heads Double Eleven, brings deep industry experience from her years working with major labels and distributors including Def Jam, Capitol Records, TuneCore, and EMPIRE. Her track record in artist development and global marketing is seen as a key asset in Asake’s transition from regional superstar to global brand.

https://twitter.com/streamdorm/status/1959985054723244296?s=46

Earlier this year, former manager Stephen Nana revealed that he stepped away from managing Asake because the singer’s rapid rise became overwhelming. Nana cited the constant travel demands and the toll on his family life as reasons for the split.

“Asake’s growth was so explosive that it became too much for me to balance with personal commitments,” he admitted in an interview with The Nation.

Building Independence

Despite his exit from Olamide’s YBNL Nation earlier this year, Asake has successfully built a foundation of independence. He owns his masters, runs his Giran Republic imprint, and continues to distribute his music through Empire, a partnership first established in 2022.

The new management deal complements this independence by adding professional oversight and global strategy. Already, Asake has begun making international moves, featuring recently on Gunna’s “Satisfaction” from the rapper’s The Last Wun album.