Q2 is finally here and some of our biggest Afrobeats superstars are back outside. There were tons of releases and a handful of big moments that we know will end up being some of 2025 biggest highlights later on. Here is our top 5 albums of April in no exact order;
1. 5ive β Davido
Davido’s fifth studio album arrives a bit over two years, after his undeniable classic Timeless and as the follow up to a critically acclaimed album, it had big shoes to fill. But unlike classic Davido fashion, the veteran curates his most cohesive album ever, opting to create a body of work that’s immersive and holisitic, as opposed to his usual proclivity to favor assembling disjointed singles. Where Timeless thrived in finding a balance, 5ive goes all in on the album experience and doubles down.
This decision hampers the album’s quality a bit, as Davido doesn’t seem to have mastered the ability of creating cohesive albums, while also carving out impressive stand out singles with immense hit potential. While most of the album sounds good, the peak of the album doesn’t hit the heights of its predecessor but this is only the opinion of a music head nitpicking. Davido has certainly earned the right to do whatever he likes on a project, especially when it is a good one at that.
2. Reflection Station β Tay Iwar
Tay Iwar has always been in the non-mainstream spectrum of Afro-R&B with a delivery style that’s purely western, with the production being the sole ingredients hinting at his roots. However, his latest effort sees him incorporating more native elements in the music. There is pidgin infused into his delivery on the inspirational, Bad Belle and the lively flutes, alongside the rhythmic guitar riffs on Floating keeps it grounded.
Like the title implies, this EP is filled with a lot of introspection and self reflections. It’s not standard R&B escapades of heartbreak anthems and sensual melodies. Even when a song, Non-Stop breaks the mould and Tay sings about needing his woman’s “candy coated kisses,” it’s still borne out of the overarching sentiment of finding peaceβthat unifies all the songs on the project.
3. Iron Boy β Black Sherif
Black Sherif’s rise to fame was soundtracked by the meteoric success of Kweku The Traveller, Second Sermon Remix and his era-defining debut album that followed. The Villain I Never Was grappled with themes of survivor’s guilt, struggles with inner demons and the cutthroat demands of fame. It resonated because of how raw and real it was, while being enjoyable soulful music. On his sophomore project, Sherif seems to still be in the same headspace.
In itself, Iron Boy is another great exploration into the themes that form the foundation of Sherif’s music. There are very few artists that can anchor their music in pain and grief, without losing their souls and the music in the dreariness of these topics and Sherif is one of them. However, for a sophomore album coming two years afterβthere is little evolution on or reinvention of familiar tropes on Sherif’s part and this project largely sounds like a sequel to its predecessor.
4. THE MACHINE IS COMING β ODUMODUBLVCK
Nigerian Hip-Hop’s frontrunner has joined an elite group of artists that have rolled out an album, with another album. THE MACHINE IS COMING is a prelude to his upcoming INDUSTRY MACHINE album and a sign of great things to come. On the mixtape, Modu further tinkers with his unique blend of Highlife and Hip-Hopβrecreating the magic moments he unleashed on his classic mixtape, EZIOKWU.
There is something on TMIC for everyone. The pop-leaning modu fans would gravitate towarsds LEGOLAS, PITY THIS BOY AND KYLIAN. While his much older, hardcore fans would find their rap fix on GO REPORT and ISAKABA MAN. The mixtape does run a little too long and has some fillers here and there, but as a project meant to create a moment preceding the major release, it’s done just that. Now we await the second coming of ODUMODUBLVCK.
5. Intergalactic Dreams β Niphkeys
On his debut project, Niphkeys shows off his impressive curating and A&Ring skills by assembling a plethora of artistes with various skillsets to buy into and deliver his vision. The album notably straddles familiar production patterns that are synonymous with the street pop sound, the producer himself has contributed greatly to shaping over the past few years by collaborating with its brightest and biggest talents.
So it makes sense that the roster is dominated by street-leaning acts from Zinoleesky to Ayo Maff, with ODUMODUBLVCK making an appearance too. However, this project truly comes alive in the few moments it breaks character on the R&B centric tracks like Lottery featuring Magixx & Morravey and Shooting Stars ft. Not3s.
