‘I Told Them’, ‘Timeless’, ‘Work of Art’ — 10 best albums of 2023

The year 2023 has been a phenomenal one for Nigerian music, brimming with genre-bending creativity, international recognition, and chart-topping albums. It also witnessed an excellent and sonically experimental body of works from both established and rising singers that met some of the expectations built up for them.

From Burna Boy and Davido to Asake, Nigerian artistes have continued to captivate audiences worldwide with their musical ingenuity.

Here is a spotlight on the 10 best Nigerian albums of 2023.

Asake – ‘Work of Art’ (Released on June 16, 2023, 14 songs).

‘Work of Art’ is Asake’s sophomore album and a masterpiece of his artistic exploration.

The album includes lush synths, pulsating basslines, and crisp percussion that create a soundscape that envelops the listener.

Standout tracks like ‘Lonely at the Top’, ‘Peace Be Unto You’, and ‘Amapiano’ showcase Asake’s amazing talent.

In June, Spotify described the ‘Work of Art’ album as a compendium of auditory splendour.

The album also debuted on the Billboard Afrobeats chart with 12 songs in July.

Davido – ‘Timeless’ (Released on March 31, 2023, 17 songs).

‘Timeless’ was a much-anticipated return for Davido, following the tragic loss of his son in 2022.

The project, which is the singer’s fourth studio album, has received several acclaim locally and even on the international scene.

Four months after its release, ‘Timeless’ surpassed one billion streams across major platforms.

The body of work recently made Billboard’s ‘Top 50 Best Albums of 2023’.

It also earned Davido his first-ever Grammy nominations for Best Global Album’, ‘Best African Performance’, and ‘Best Global Music Performance’.

Burna Boy – ‘I Told Them’ (Released August 25, 2023, 15 songs).

‘I Told Them’ is Burna Boy’s seventh studio album. The project boasts stellar collaborations including J. Cole, US rapper, Seyi Vibez, street-pop artiste, Dave, the British rapper, and RZA, the US rapper.

‘I Told Them’ debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart, selling 14,164 album-equivalent units in the first week.

The album is the first album to ever be on the chart by an African artiste.

Odumodublvck – ‘Eziokwu (Uncut)’ (Released on October 6, 2023, 21 songs).

Since his breakout, Odumodublvck’s talent has been undeniable. His fifth mixtape album, ‘Eziokwu’ (meaning “truth” in Igbo), lives up to its name.

Odumodublvck effortlessly delivers high-octane hip-hop bangers and showcases his versatility throughout the 21 tracks. In October, ‘Eziokwu’ debuted at No. 1 on TurnTable’s official Top 50 Albums Chart in Nigeria

According to the chart, the album tallied 12.2 million on-demand streams during the week of October 6 to October 12.

Teni – ‘Tears Of The Sun’ (Released November 17, 2023, 16 songs).

‘Tears Of The Sun’ is Teni’s second studio album. Although recently released, the album has gained momentum as well.

In an interview with Billboard News, Teni shared that the album was inspired by the “changes she and the people around her were going through”.

She added that she wanted to create music that was both introspective, reflecting on her own experiences, and relatable, tapping into the emotions of her listeners.

The album recently secured a spot among Apple’s top albums of 2023.

Adekunle Gold – ‘Tequila Ever After’ (Released July 28, 2023, 18 songs).

‘Tequila Ever After’ is a musical tapestry, showcasing Adekunle’s signature blend of Afrobeats with highlife, pop, and soul influences.

The singer effortlessly navigates various tempos and moods, from upbeat party anthems like ‘Party No Dey Stop’ to an introspective sound like ‘To My Own’.

‘Tequila Ever After’ is Adekunle Gold’s 5th studio album and has been featured among Apple Music’s top albums of 2023 and Spotify’s top 50 on December 12.

Shallipopi – ‘Presido La Pluto’ (Released November 11, 2023, 13 songs).

Shallipopi is a singer whose career skyrocketed after his first single ‘Elon Musk’.

‘Presido La Pluto’ is the debut project of the singer and has become a staple at events.

The album spent two weeks at the No.1 spot on the TurnTable chart immediately after its release and debuted at the No.1 spot on the Spotify Nigeria Weekly Albums chart on November 17.

‘Presido La Pluto’ is also performing well on the Apple Music album list for the year.

BNXN – ‘Sincerely, Benson’ (Released October 6, 2023, 15 songs).

‘Sincerely, Benson’ is BNXN’s first album and is a testament to his talent and songwriting prowess.

In ‘Sincerely, Benson’, the singer showcased his versatility with tracks like ‘Gwagwalada’ featuring Kizz Daniel and Seyi Vibez, and ‘Finesse’.

The album has also received several recognitions.

In October, the album debuted at number 11 on the Billboard World Albums chart.

Seyi Vibez – ‘Thy Kingdom Come’ (Released June 24, 2023, 10 songs).

Seyi Vibez’s fourth studio album, ‘Thy Kingdom Come,’ is a blend of Afropop and highlife.

The project features collaborations with Phyno, the Nigerian indigenous rapper, and Ami Faku, a South African artiste.

‘Thy Kingdom Come’ reached the eighth spot on the Top 10 US Apple Music Album chart in June.

Blaqbonez – ‘Emeka Must Shine’ (Released on October 27, 2023, 14 songs).

‘Emeka Must Shine’ is the third studio album by Blaqbonez. The album benefits from a diverse palette of beats, courtesy of talented producers like Ramoni, Blaise Beatz, and MasterKraft. Blaqbonez’s collaboration with Ludacris, the US rapper, on ‘Cinderella Girl’, adds to the uniqueness of the project. ‘Emeka Must Shine’ is currently on Apple’s top music albums of 2023.