Featuring Taves, Major AJ, Skinny Skater & More

In the present age of Afrobeats, the race for relevance is hotter than ever. With mass creative exhaustion, fast-evolving trends, and shortened attention spans, the competition has never been this fierce. Amidst this, several music acts have emerged who, through talent, creativity, charisma, and resilience, have carved a path for themselves in this fast-paced industry.

Taves

Taves has an immense abundance of talent across multiple dimensions, including flow, cadence, lyrics, and voice—checking many essential boxes. He’s had a notably eventful year, with an international label signing, the release of an EP, and a handful of singles. Despite not releasing a lead single in September, his presence in the music scene remained strong. He delivered standout performances on two features: one with L.A.X and Ayo Maff, and the other with Ladipoe. On both tracks, Taves provided hooks that could easily be considered among the best of the month, showcasing his versatility and ability to leave a lasting impression even without his own headline track.

Major AJ

Major AJ had his big break in 2021, signing with Chocolate City shortly after dropping his sophomore single. Since then, he has consistently released hits, including features and even an EP. In September, he had a spectacular highlight, dropping his sophomore EP with seven stellar tracks, going solo except for a single feature from Crayon. The project is doing respectable numbers and solidifying his position in his discography.

Skinny Skater

Of all the artists, Skinny Skater is the newest on the scene, just debuting last month. He is the flagship signing for the newly established record label, Louiversal Records, masterminded by Izu ‘Louiversal’ Okwuobasi and Harry ‘HVRRY’ Ewumi. With a distinct ‘cowboy’ persona, unique talent, and an undeniable sound, he is taking the industry by storm. He dropped his debut EP in September, and it is already a highlight of the month, garnering impressive numbers.

Reeha

Another young prodigy and a female artist, reminiscent of Qing Madi, Reeha has a unique sound, creating beautiful tunes using her local dialect and blending her cultural influences into her music. She has been around since 2021, but in September, she dropped her EP Ajala. The six-track effort showcases her distinctive talent and her ability to create diverse sounds across a wide range of topics, a raw display of creativity.

Alpha P

Alpha P rounds off the list, having dropped a project in September after taking a nearly two-year hiatus. His latest EP *Welcome To The Pack* features a killer tracklist and a carefully curated feature list that elevates the four-track project. Collaborating with artists like London, Olamide, and Kemuel, Alpha P made a strong return to the music scene.

Nasboi

Several comedians have made the transition to music, often as comedic bits or lighthearted ventures. However, Nasboi’s foray into music is a more serious undertaking. Having initially gained fame as a comedian, particularly for his parodies of Davido, Nasboi made a name for himself as a skitmaker. Now, he’s bringing that same energy to the music scene. In September, after a successful year with several standout singles, Nasboi released his debut EP, IN NASBOI I TRUST. The project showcases his growth as an artist and features a lineup of notable collaborators, including Falz, Joeboy, Pheelz, and Wande Coal—some of the biggest powerhouses in the Nigerian music industry.

These artists, through their September releases and beyond, continue to shape the rapidly evolving Afrobeats landscape