It’s 9 months into 2019 already and before you blink once or twice, the year will be over and we’ll start another round of happy new years. Before the year winds to a close though, we’d like to jump in with a list of top 5 artistes that have been topnotch this year.
Now, we are not saying it will reflect names of your favorite artistes. If you can’t find your favorite artiste’s name on this list, please chop your L and move on. Or, you know, call us out. We love things like that. Jokes aside though, we’ll be fair.
So, where do we start this. Okay. For one, we won’t be stoking any flames around the Wizkid versus Davido comparisons. Lawd knows going near that fire can destroy. Both camps are always ready for fight. As they say on the streets, fight or no fight, they are always guiding.
In fact, there’s the remote chance that some of them are here already, scanning through to see if Davido or Wizkid‘s name is on the list or not before they declare some fatwa on us. Chill!
Davido and Wizkid have both been phenomenal this year. Like C. Ronaldo and Messi in the football world, they push each other to be better. It helps too that their fans are always in battle mode. They both made this list, so, chill.
So, let’s get into the list.
Number 5 – Tiwa Savage
After ending last year as one of the artistes on the Global Citizen EP alongside her bestie, Wizkid, Tiwa Savage kicked off the year with a cover of Flyboy Inc leader, Kizz Daniel‘s “Fvck You” and that song went viral.
She joined the likes of MI, Wyclef Jean, Ladipoe, Vector, Ycee, Magnito, Ckay, and more to make a cover and anyone will admit that hers stood out.
Earlier in July, she had again joined Zlatan Ibile on “Shotan” and that song was a hit too. But it was only a preview into what was to come as we would find out.
Later in July, the biggest picture emerged when Tiwa Savage was announced as one of the artistes on Beyonce‘s “The Gift” album where she linked up with the American star and Banku Music‘s Mr Eazi on “Keys to the Kingdom”.
Her vocals on that song stick. It’s one of the standout parts of the song, and the delivery was one that won her praise from everyone.
She has since collaborated with Wavy The Creator on the remix of “Body Deep” and joined her bestie, Wizkid, on DJ Spinall‘s “Dis Love”, a song that briefly reignited rumors about them dating. In all, she has always been one of the biggest acts on the continent and she has kept that momentum this year.
Number 4 – Zlatan Ibile
Street music to the world!! Zlatan, since he burst onto the scene with his zanku vibes has not looked back. It has been one win after another and this year has seen him establish himself as one of the most in-demand artistes in the country.
His trademark ‘kapaichumarimarichopaco’ is fast becoming a stamp of approval on hit songs these days. Once you hear ‘Ibile’ followed by ‘kapaichumarimarichopaco’, you just know that Zlatan is stepping in.
This year saw him drop his “Zanku” song and introduce his leg work into the music scene. This year, he has collaborated with Masterkraft, CDQ, Olamide, Naira Marley, Peruzzi, DJ Cuppy, MC Galaxy, Iyanya and more.
Songs like “Ekhotiebo”, and his features on some of the top songs around have earned him a slot on this list.
Number 3 – Davido
DMW leader, Davido is not just one of the best in the country, he is one of the best on the continent. He and Wizkid have had the debate around who’s better going around since forever but he has stayed afloat, not just with the singing but also with the managing of artistes in his label.
This year has seen him collaborate with Chris Brown on “Blow My Mind” and we spotted him in a Quality Control music video alongside Lil Yatchy, Gucci Mane and Migos and he looks unstoppable.
The good thing too is that he is not just the artiste that sings, he is the kind that helps others up and as far as big names go, he has stayed one this year and we salute.
Number 2 – Wizkid
Wizkid‘s place on this list is secure. He has been part of viral songs and delivered some real good vibes this year too both at home and on the international scene.
In July, he linked up with Olamide and ID Cabasa to drop “Totori”, a song that has since gone viral. But the highlight of his year has got to be his collab with Beyonce on “Brown Skin Girl”. That song is without doubt the biggest one on the album.
It did not just win him praises, it also got covers and started conversations. Beyond that, we were recently impressed with the fact that he linked up with TY Dolla $ign on “Ride It” and we can’t wait for his album to drop.
Number 1 – Burna Boy
This year, very few artistes around can claim to have had more influence that Burna Boy. After starting off the year with a rant on the font that Coachella used to write his name, he recovered well to serve us some real hits.
His famous “African Giant” album came through this year too and he has since been celebrated and been on shows. He even recently made a trap symphony of three of his top songs: “Ye”, “Anybody”, and “On The Low”.
His BET International Artiste of the year win should not be forgotten either and we definitely believe that this year, there’s no Nigerian artiste that has come even remotely close to him.
Agree with our list? Disagree? Let’s hear it in the comment section.
