Look! Hear me out! I know it is quite early compiling a list as the one to follow, I mean it’s just the ninth month, why not wait till November-ending or better still December before making a round-up list for the year? Well my short answer is—dfkm (no offense). That aside, every year a list such as this always pop out, wherein writers are tasked with picking the top songs for the calender year under consideration using different criteria to set the rules for their picks so as to avoid any form of bias but I am quite sure you have read the title by now and noticed the words “personal pick” inside the parenthesis. Needless to say, expect some form of bias or favoritism (to say the least).
The calendar year for my select Top 10 songs is September 2020 ‐ August 2021. (2021 is not over yet, what were you expecting? For me to write “Jan. 2021 – Dec. 2021? I am no future seer durrh). Enjoy! Oh! Lest I forget, I also used how well the song(s) popped and reigned both on the streets (in real life) and (virtually) chart wise. Leggo!
10. Monalisa – Sarz, Lojay
“Hmm, baby follow my commandi like zombie” starts this very addictive song. The command? “Go down on me oh, with your Coca body“. Lojay really killed the song, riding the Sarz produced instrumental like a Cowboy at the rodeo. No one will hear this song—Monalisa—and deny the inevitable fact? It is a hit! Coming off as the last song off Lojay’s debut EP “LV N ATTN”, it did leave an everlasting impression on the minds and ears of listeners.
9. Peru – Fireboy DML
Whover the girl Fireboy was dedicating the cociane-laced Peru jam to, mehn she is one lucky fellow. Just imagine yourself being the cute lil’ peng ting after Damola’s heart, waking up to the beautiful tunes of “Peru para Peru Peru para” every morning? Well stop daydreaming, you aren’t the one; bro, Peru is so well written and amazingly voiced, we all thought the “Music Messiah” himself, Wande Coal was responsible for that mind-boggling second verse. Wow! And if true to his warning: “My third album is loading“, he keeps his words and release it sonner than expected, then we are not ready for the disaster it will cause. Before I move on, I have to say—I’m in San Francisco Germany (if you know you know).
8. Rock – Olamide
Certified chart-topper legendary artiste, Olamide, brought out his lover boy side on this soothing and calmly sung track—Rock. Olamide went with the resurgent midtempo vibes and he did not miss, providing a chart topping environmental friendly song in Rock, the first single off of “UY Scuti” album. On the song, Olamide tables his feelings for the girl, assuring her he has the money to cater for her wants if she is willing to rock with him but asks her to be gentle with it, singing on the chorus: “Girl I just want make we chill like ice water / Mi o mo bon shey gbe body oh” (translated “I don’t know how to dance” from Yoruba to English). Oh! Ladies “Ma lo fe broke ni–a, fight for your life” (you know I got y’all).
• Bonus: Kilofeshe – Zinoleesky
“Amapiano“.
7. Bounce – Ruger
Bashment meets Afrobeat on the Kukbeatz made Ruger’s sensual Bounce. A song for the ladies who have got the big behind or know how to work what their mama gave them. Ruger comes through with positive vibes only on this song, warning girls who willingly choose not to gyrate to his riddim—it is either they bounce or get bounced—no time for dulling when Ruger comes to play.
6. Bounce – Rema
Immediately the teddy bear affiliated 21-year-old says: “Na who do the beat? Jazzy” we knew to expect “Another banger” from the serial hit maker singer and if you do not know him well enough yet, he tells us what he likes most on the party themed Bounce: “Girl, I’m in love with your booty bounce“, repeatedly at that; personally I haven’t heard an artiste describe the magnificence of the female booty on a song this good since Ajebutter22 on “Ghana Bounce” in 2017.
You see, let me just tell you something, if you want me to like like your song (and you are not a rapper), just sing about big bunda“. Read that in Pete Edochie’s “something must a kill a man” voice. So, Bounce by Rema can do no wrong by me. And evergreen hit!
• Bonus: Cocaine – Dai Verse
“Your body’s up to something / You give me overload / Are you cocaine or something? / You put me on a low-low“
5. Big Thug Boys – AV
What is more thug-like than “If you get a woman, hold am tight o”? Normally ladies expect guys picking them up for the first time to acknowledge them and respect their probable relationship but AV outrightly throws that out of the window, continuing he sings: “Me and my guys we dey for bike oo”. Damn! I’m screaming “Thug life”, who is 2Pac please?
Big Thug Boys could not have panned out better than AV envisioned—peaking between No. 5 and 6 on numerous charts. From the song’s catchy hook, bouncy lyrics, bubbly ambiance to its nicely shot video, amassing over 2 million views in just 2 months, AV did something special with Big Thug Boys.
• Bonus: Love Nwantinti (Remix) – CKay feat. Joeboy & Kuami Eugene
Bruh! No. 1 most shazamed song worldwide. That says it all.
4. Bling – Blaqbonez feat. Buju & Amaarae
Blaqbonez is gradually establishing his superstar status and we love to see it. On Bling, Blaq shines so radiantly, he confined one of 2021’s hottest artistes and hook killer Buju to just his verse and Ghanian soft-spoken musical maestro Amaarae to a verse which spanned less than 45 seconds and boldly chose to carry the chorus, doing so majestically. By the way, I still haven’t got over that click thing the producer, Type A, did after Amaarae said: “But no dey do me shekpe shekpe sheke prrr skrr“.
3. Kilometre – Burna Boy
On the self appraising boastful song, Burna Boy did not shy away from telling everybody how far he’s come. The distance if you are interested—”I don waka many kilometres” he confirms. Burna Boy switched flows so effortlessly on this song, one would think it was Lewis Hamilton behind the wheels. A smash-hit definitely, Hulk would be envious.
2. Essence – Wizkid feat. Tems
“You don’t need no other body” to explain the magical projection of Essence. When Wizkid tweeted “Tems and I created magic” last year February 23rd (1:44 PM WAT), he meant every word in that sentence. Since Essence got released via the “Made In Lagos” album on Friday, October 30, 2020, it has not got out people’s mouth, especially those of Wizkid FC, championing the track as if their existence depended on how high it charts including its streams revenue. If nothing convinces you, then the 28M+ views on YouTube is enough certification to proof “time is of the essence“.
• Bonus: Bloody Samaritan – Ayra Starr
“Everythin’ I desire, I go receive“—facts only.
1. Feeling – LadiPoe, Buju
LadiPoe is finally getting the recognition he deserves alongside Buju—the poster child of Nigeria’s music industry for 2021 (if I do say so myself). One thing is clear, LadiPoe and Buju must “like the way [they’re] feeling now“.
That is the list consisting of my Top 10 songs of 2021. I know you had a good read. Thanks for reading. (PS: it is only customary you say “Thank you” in return.)