By Obed David
Rolling Stone, one of the world’s leading music publication platforms, released a list of 100 artistes who recorded the best albums in 2024, recognising three of Nigeria’s biggest musicians: Rema, Tems, and Ayra Starr.
In its introduction, the platform described Tyla to Rema to Arya Starr as “Afropop innovators” whose “albums helped us push on through 2024”.
Rolling Stone describes Rema’s second studio album Heis as a “unique, buzzy and visceral” project.
The album secured the 11th spot.
“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.
“Born In The Wild, Tems’ most recent album, made the 37th spot because of its physical and emotional listening experience.
“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,” the award read.
“‘Wickedest’ is primed for the dance floor, while the single ‘Love Me Jeje’ is a masterpiece, soaked in 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.”
The Year I Turned 21, Ayra Star’s second album, was ranked 53rd, demonstrating the singer’s musical passion, maturity, and prowess.
“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,” the award statement noted.
This isn’t the first time that Nigerian musicians made any of Rolling Stone’s coveted lists. In 2022, Asake’s debut album Mr Money featured on the Rolling Stone list.
Premium Times reported in 2023 that Burna Boy and Fela Kuti were included on the list. For instance, in January 2023, Burna Boy and Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti made Rolling Stone’s ‘Greatest Singers List’, which began in 2008.
