Jonzing World unveils new artist, Bagetti
Jonzing World has proven to be a reliable pipeline for churning out sensational talents. After the impressive success of Rema and Ruger, D Prince's Jonzing World onboarded two new artists Gdzilla and Glorious to continue the label's fine record.
Before the unveiling, Bagetti's music had already created a significant impression around the industry. From meme sounds on IG and TikTok to radios and DJs, with each running a 30-second snippet of the song, everyone who got a peek into her talent was instantly captivated by the refreshing sound and her potential to become one of the stars whose music will shape the future of Nigerian music.
Ayomide Sanyaolu, known by her stage name "Bagetti," is an extraordinary Afrobeat artist from the vibrant cultural hub of Lagos State, Nigeria.
Her musical journey started in 2015, and ever since, she has been weaving soulful melodies and irresistible rhythms into her genre-defying music.
As Bagetti, she possesses a profound mission to be an agent of positive change and unity through her socially conscious lyrics. Her music is more than just a captivating sound; it's a catalyst for fostering understanding and celebrating the rich tapestry of human diversity.
Her vision for the future is clear: to inspire and uplift, to promote harmony and diversity, and to use the universal language of music to make a lasting impact.
Bagetti's journey has just begun, and her inspiring melodies will continue to resonate and inspire change worldwide.
Universal Music Group acquire Majority Stake in Nigerian Label Mavin Global
With musicians like Rema and Ayra Starr calling it home, the organisation is leading the way in Africa's Afrobeats trend, which has been taking the world by storm.
The renowned record label Mavin Global, created by Don Jazzy and is home to Rema, Ayra Starr, Crayon, and Ladipoe, was acquired by the Universal Music Group for a 75% interest. The firms stated that assuming regulatory approval, the merger should be finalised by the third quarter.
The agreement's terms were kept a secret. It was unclear whether publishing was included in the deal when Billboard reported in October that Shot Tower Capital was shopping Mavin at a valuation of more than $125 million, with a potential sale price of $150 million to $200 million. Don Jazzy, the CEO and founder of Mavin, and COO Tega Oghenejobo have entered into an investment agreement.
"Great artists, great entrepreneurs, and great people are our simple criteria for identifying partners," UMG chairman and CEO Lucian Grainge said in a statement announcing the agreement. We've found the perfect partners to expand within Don Jazzy, Tega, the Mavin Global crew, and their artist list. We're excited to have Mavin's talented musicians join the Universal Music Group family as they have helped to make Afrobeats a worldwide sensation.
With Rema's "Calm Down," the biggest Afrobeats song ever and the number three spot on the Hot 100 last year, initially released by Virgin Music and its remix featuring Selena Gomez licenced to Interscope, Mavin had already built a relationship with UMG. Meanwhile, Starr has a contract with Republic. Since its debut, "Calm Down" has received over 1 billion on-demand plays in the United States alone, with a much higher total number of plays worldwide.
According to a press release, the investment is intended to accelerate Mavin's global expansion. It specifically targets the company's Artist Academy, which develops its roster's musical and performance abilities, as well as its executive leadership team, which aims to develop the next wave of African leaders in the music industry.
Oghenejobo stated in a statement, "Given the diversity and potential of our business, we have a strong belief that they are the ideal partner for the next phase of our growth, especially with our proven history of collaborations within the UMG family."
Some of the top musicians and record companies in the world call UMG home, which makes them the ideal fit for our goals. We are committed to creating a dynamic creative atmosphere that elevates African music to new heights on the international scene, and we are doing so by working with UMG.
Winning the Mavin auction propels UMG farther into the Nigerian Afrobeats industry, which is an umbrella term for Afropop, Afro-fusion, high life, and other genres that are still exploding globally. Wizkid, Davido, and Burna Boy are just a few of the artists who have become international superstars in recent years. Meanwhile, fresh African talent is being spearheaded by artists like Rema, Starr, Tems, Tyla, Ckay, Asake, and Fireboy DML. The movement has gathered so much traction that the Recording Academy created a new category for the Grammy Awards called "Best African Music Performance." Tyla's song "Water" won in this category earlier this month.
Young Jonn features Kizz Daniel & Seyi Vibez on ‘Big Big Things’
Young Jonn, a gifted singer-songwriter from Nigeria, recently dropped a brand-new song called "Big Big Things". Young Jonn has released several popular songs this year; this is the most recent addition to his remarkable catalogue. It is a well-crafted song.
Kizz Daniel and Seyi Vibez, two of Nigeria's most gifted and decorated musicians, are featured on the incredible 2024 record. Young Jonn's enticing lyrics and silky vocals are flawlessly complemented by some amazing verses from both performers.
The lively melody and catchy chorus of "Big Big Things" are likely to captivate listeners. Harrysong's remarkable skill as a songwriter and performer is evident in his most innovative work, which is guaranteed to appeal to his fan base.
The incredible record was produced by the gifted music producer Yung Willis. With his deft touch, Yung Willis has produced a beat that flawlessly encapsulates the spirit and vibe of the song, instantly elevating it to classic status.
How Ayra Starr made short dresses her brand
In terms of the prettiest clothing for women, Ayra Starr is at the top of the list.
Even off the social media radar, Ayra Starr embraces all that makes her uniquely a member of Generation Z.
She is one of several rising stars who have turned their backs on the conceit that comes with "selfie culture" in favour of something much more authentic—a relatability and confident independence that come through in her sense of style.
She maintains the kind of pace one would expect from an emerging artist; she travels almost every other day and has a full calendar that includes press appearances, many live performances, and many other obligations.
When she's not on the road, she spends most of her waking hours either writing music or recording in late-night studio sessions.
The clearest example of Ayra Starr's 19 years of career dedication may be found in the fact that her debut studio album, 19 & Dangerous, was released in August 2021, just seven months after her self-titled EP debuted.
The auditory and visual differences between the two bodies of work, as well as the level of growth seen in the latter album, demonstrated to the public and industry insiders how dedicated she is to her work and how deliberate she is with her style, sound, and career.
She worked so hard to get here, and I want to emphasise that. Each step has been divine, wonderful, gratifying, and lovely.
Ayra Starr once stirred much controversy with her song "If I cast then I cast, everything wey wan sup go sup," from her 2021 album 19 & Dangerous.
A similar mentality can be seen in Ayra's fashion choices, which are daring and risk-taking but also occasionally vulnerable to critical feedback from admirers.
Nigerian music that was influenced by Fela Anikulapo Kuti
Some people asked, Did Fela Kuti invent Afrobeat? or Who is the king of Afrobeat after Fela? Let me show you the songs inspired by him.
Music is now judged by numbers and not quality again, as we can see.
In honour of Fela's nomination with other legendary musicians like Tina Turner, Carole King, Dionne Warwick, Rage Against the Machine, Foo Fighters, and others, we offer you a throwback that touches on Fela's history and influence.
Fela, the man and the musical legend, never fails to inspire creativity in Nigerians, regardless of their feelings towards him. His powerful, jazz-inspired sound is indestructible.
Nigerian music that was influenced by Fela Anikulapo Kuti
Burna Boy – Ye
African music legend Burna Boy has never been shy about his admiration and affection for Fela Kuti.
Because of his varied musical background and the fact that Fela's first band manager was his grandfather, Benson Idonije, Burna Boy has always had nothing but love to say about the elder musician. Therefore, it is not shocking to discover allusions to Abami Eda in Burna's song catalogue.
From "Soke" to "Another Story," Burna Boy channels Fela Kuti, capturing his charisma, bravery, and ability to maintain a steady enough beat for the listener's body to move.
Oritse Femi – Double Wahala
Prior to 2013, Oritse Femi had a string of hit songs, such as "Flog Politician" and "Mercies of the Lord," but he would admit that it was "Double Wahala," his rendition of (and ode to) Fela Anikulapo Kuti's "Confusion Break Bone," that helped pull him out of the underground.
Oritse Femi's song "Double Wahala" beautifully captures both everyday life in Nigeria and the desire of every Nigerian woman to live a prosperous old age.
Wizkid – Jaiye Jaiye feat. Femi Kuti
Wizkid needed "Jaiye Jaiye," as it was called in Nigerian, to "ginger" his fans, who had been waiting impatiently for a project since his 2011 breakthrough Superstar.
Alongside his second studio album, Ayo (2014), it was released as the lead single.
Grammy Award winner Femi Kuti, the late singer's eldest son, made an appearance on the lively "Jaiye Jaiye" sample from "Lady."
Skales – Temper (Remix) feat. Burna Boy
Skales' "Temper" song was ok in its original version; it had a catchy groove that the singer overlaid with the catchy phrase "Baby let's have a good timeline."
Ultimately, a secure but successful strategy.
A hearty thanks to Skales for getting Burna Boy involved in the remix. Not only did Burna Boy improve the song, but he also took the wheel and changed its course.
Rema’s Calm Down is the biggest afrobeat record of all time
Rema's famous song "Calm Down" has achieved a remarkable milestone by becoming the most certified African music in the US, with 6,000,000 units sold.
One of the lead singles from Rema's 2022 debut album "Raves & Roses," "Calm Down," has consistently had tremendous commercial success.
"Calm Down," which features Selena Gomez, has achieved the remarkable milestone of 6,000,000 units sold, solidifying its position as the most commercially successful African song in the United States. This achievement has earned the song an RIAA 6-time platinum plaque.
The US saw tremendous success with the "Calm Down" remix, which stayed on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for more than 52 weeks.
It also earned the highest spot for a Nigerian song and the second highest position for an African song, reaching its peak at No. 3 on the list, placing it only below Hugh Masekela's 1968 classic "Grazing in the Grass," which peaked at No. 1.
In addition, Rema's song "Calm Down" has broken several records. It is currently the most streamed Afrobeats song on Spotify, having had over one billion plays. Additionally, it is the Nigerian music video with the highest number of views on YouTube.