3 Afrobeats songs that have already altered my brain chemistry in 2024.
I know, I know. It’s only January and we’re only halfway through the month but hear me out…
You know that breath of fresh air that comes with the new year. That wow-I-think-I-can-actually-do-this-life-thing feeling. Yeah, that’s where I’m at right now, and I think it may have something to do with the Afrobeats bangers that I’ve been blasting on non-stop repeat in the past week.
So, here are three Afrobeat songs you need to add to your playlists immediately:
1. Only Me by Asake
Now this one is for the ballers. The real ballers and the ballers in spirit like me. Asake decided to give us a present on his birthday (January 13th), with his latest upbeat butterfly leg work-worthy hit–Only Me. The song, which starts with the repetitive chant “We get money-money, we get money, (we get money, we get money)”, is the much-needed affirmation for the boys and girlies who are trying to get their coins together this year.
It’s a gentle reminder that to whom much is given much is required though, as Asake briefly touches on an issue that we often hear Black celebrities talk about, which is your family and friends seeing you as Ecobank or American Express once you’ve finally made it and have money to your name. ‘The ones you love always want to take advantage’. Let’s be honest we all have that one friend who we believe could ‘get us out of the hood’ with their talents. Well, with Only Me Asake says he’s not the one lol.
He vows to stay in his lane and ‘not lose sleep over anybody’ which is definitely a vibe we should all embody in this new year. Asake also claims he’s paid his dues, which if we’re looking at his past year and how Work Of Art had the Afrobeats scene in a chokehold then he is absolutely right.
Talk yo’ shit, Asake.
2. Happiness — by Sarz, Asake, Gunna
I mean this one is in the title. It’s definitely a feel-good banger that I can imagine blasting in the car with friends on a cold but sunny day. The accompanying visuals capture the vibe of the song well, too. It’s like that daydream that we’ve all had, the one where you’re running wild and free through a field of daisies with your friends. Just me? Oh, okay.
I lowkey kind of wish this one came out in the summer, to be honest. But then again, it also feels like it couldn’t have come at a more perfect time because Lord knows the world could do with a bit of happiness right now.
It’s got a this-could-be-played-on-the-radio-100-times-a-day kind of beat to it, which Gunna surprisingly flows so smoothly on may I add. As for 2023’s King of Afrobeats, a.k.a Mr Money with the vibes right now, a.k.a ‘Ololade mi Asake’ — he starts the song off strong with full Yoruba that I won’t pretend to understand and gives us a juicy hook which I’ll be using as a daily affirmation going forward. He really ate when he said “My life no stress, fine boy, no ex”. I feel like that’s a MOOD for 2024 and beyond.
3. Holy Ghost — Omah Lay
You know that first dance you have when you put on an upbeat song after you’ve just finished crying? Yeah, this is the song for that moment.
Lekaa Beats really put his foot in it when he was cooking up this beat. The beat, coupled with Omah Lay’s vocals, takes over your body before your brain even has a moment to process what’s going on. The only way to describe it is as a spiritual experience, which makes sense given the title.
When Omah Lay says ‘Oya, I go get up and dance, get up and dance, get up and dance, get up and dance, dance’ you have no choice but to join him. I bet you 1,000,000 naira that you can sit still during this refrain. Honestly, it’s another one that is absolutely butterfly leg work-worthy.
Not to mention the chorus which starts with a prayer that I think will be on the lips of many as we enter this new year — ‘Holy Ghost fire, supernatural, boost my confidence’. I mean, I’m Muslim but even I could still relate to the moment of asking God to help you boost your confidence whether that’s in the pursuit of a girl/guy or just in pursuit of your personal goals.
