Every genre has songs that never leave the setlist. These are ours: 10 Afrobeats records that came out years, sometimes decades, ago and still get the exact same reaction the moment they drop. In the order they were released.
1. Obianuju by Duncan Mighty
A different kind of opener: less global chart-topper, more a deep cut that entire families still know word for word. Duncan Mighty's soulful, Port Harcourt-rooted sound turned "Obianuju" into a wedding and house-party staple that never really left rotation.
2. Chop My Money (Remix) by P-Square, Akon & May D
P-Square were already legends by the time this remix landed, and adding Akon to the mix turned it into a global moment. Still an instant singalong.
3. Kukere by Iyanya
The dance craze that came with this record was as big as the song itself. It's simple, it's direct, and it still gets a whole room moving the same way.
4. Skelewu by Davido
Davido's breakout dance record, and one of the tracks that took Afrobeats from a regional sound to something the whole continent was dancing to at once.
5. Ojuelegba by Wizkid
The record that introduced a lot of the world to Wizkid before the global features started rolling in. Raw, personal, and still one of his most-loved records today.
6. Johnny by Yemi Alade
One of the biggest Afrobeats records by a female artist, full stop. "Johnny" carried Yemi Alade's name across the continent and still holds up as one of the genre's defining hits.
7. Leg Over by Mr Eazi
Mr Eazi's laid-back, melodic style stood out immediately, and this is the record that made it click for most people. Smooth then, smooth now.
8. Fall by Davido
At one point the most-streamed Nigerian song on Spotify, and it's easy to hear why. "Fall" is built to be sung along to from the first note to the last.
9. Ye by Burna Boy
The record that turned Burna Boy into a household name outside Nigeria. Confident, self-assured, and still one of the most-played Afrobeats tracks in any set.
10. Joro by Wizkid
Closing out the list where Wizkid re-entered his imperial phase. "Joro" is proof that a genuinely great melody doesn't age, no matter how many times it's been played out.
Where the New Stuff Lives
These are the records that built the foundation. If you want to know what's happening right now, check our monthly new release roundup, or come hear the classics played out alongside the newest hits at one of our events.