We present to you, 5 reasons why we are excited for Nigerian music in 2018.
So the New Year is in. 2018, with all of its blank slate and expectations, has already begun, and everyone is excited about what it holds.
At Pulse, we can’t wait for what this year holds for Nigerian music. We are at a very interesting moment in our music history, after the whirlwind that was 2017. The reset button has been clicked, and we can all expect news from our favourite artists.
We present to you, 5 reasons why we are excited in 2018.
Tekno’s Album
Finally, there’s no excuse for Slim Daddy to not put together a body of work to contain all of that awesomeness. Tekno has spent that past three years growing and dropping some of the biggest records. But for some reason, the album has continuously been pushed back. Whether he doesn’t want to alter a winning run of singles, or he’s working with Drake on something big for the project, no one knows. But 2018 does appear to be the year when things will finally come together for a body of work. Perhaps he’ll throw in something cheeky. Maybe a track named ‘Duck Face’. I would download that.
Mayorkun’s Next Steps
Who would have thought at the start of 2017 that Mayorkun would dominate in the manner that he did last year? The DMW artist was prolific, dropping hit records that moved the country and cemented his position as a star. I witnessed thousands of people scream to the beat of ‘Che che’. That has to mean something bigger.
And yes, the star has announced a new album in 2017. There’s no doubt that he will deliver on that project. And if he could make it as interesting as or better than his records in 2017, then we just might have us a very exciting year. Mayorkun did it last year, let’s have him do it this year again.
A Wizkid-Davido Collaboration
Heaven, please! This might be like a wild prayer, something that stands as a desperate dash of hope. But you know we can’t stop hoping after the romantic gestures between these two stars in December. Wizkid and Davido ended 2017 as brothers, throwing around words like ‘My new best friend’. If all is well between both houses, then it isn’t far-fetched to harbour expectations that they would consummate that love in a recording studio. Realistic hopes are on a single, but they might just have a joint album up their sleeves. If this happens, then 2018 is over!
Davido’s Sophomore Album
It’s shocking to know that Davido has only one album in his bag as Africa’s great artist. He has done a lot, earned much of what is coming to him, but they are scattered all over the place as singles. His sophomore album was almost ready to be released, but Sony Music intervened, and you know how that worked out. After a banner 2017, will this year bring us a new OBO project? Shall we bask in his musical abundance in 2018? Fingers crossed.
The Future Of The Soundcloud Generation
Something good happened last year on Soundcloud. Nigeria birthed a new set of creatives that won in their corner and banded to create a movement. That movement grew to a degree and gave them recognition, although within a niche market. This year, the likes of Odunsi, Lady Donli, and more have the chance to either grow that market or traverse the mainstream. It’s a situation that we are tracking, and that would be exciting to watch.