State Champ Radio genre Afrobeats
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Davido floods the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart (dated May 3) with tracks from 5ive, his fifth and newest studio album. In total, 16 of the album’s songs populate this week’s 50-position chart, which ranks songs based a formula blending U.S. streaming and sales totals. Of those, 14 are debuts on the list, including collaborations with Chris Brown, Becky G and Victoria Monét.
5ive, released through DaVido/RCA Records, debuts at No. 2 on the World Albums chart with 7,000 equivalent album units earned in the tracking week of April 18-24, according to Luminate.
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“Offa Me,” featuring Monét, leads Davido’s parade on U.S. Afrobeats Songs with its No. 5 arrival. The collaboration was 5ive’s most-streamed track for the week, with 1.37 million U.S. official streams. Directly behind “Offa Me,” Davido’s “Titanium,” featuring Brown, opens at No. 6, as “With You,” featuring Omah Lay, begins at No. 7. The former registered 900,000 streams for the week, while the latter pulled 1 million. (Although streams contribute the majority share for both tracks, a stronger sales total for “Titanium” pushed it above “With You” for the final rankings.)
“Titanium,” notably, reunites Davido with Chris Brown after the pair’s hit “Sensational,” also with Nigerian singer-songwriter Lojay. “Sensational,” from Brown’s 11:11 album, reached No. 1 on the Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart in March 2024 and was nominated for a Grammy Award for best African music performance.
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In addition to the three new top 10s, three prior 5ive cuts have landed in the upper tier. “Awuke,” with YG Marley, reached No. 9 last November and spent 23 weeks on the list, “Funds,” featuring ODUMODUBLVCK and Chike achieved a No. 5 best last December and rebounds 18-16 on the current chart, while “Be There Still” rallies 22-10 this week, after having reached a No. 7 peak in March.
As Davido expands his collection, here’s a review of his nine songs to reach the top 10 in the three-year history of the U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart:
Song Title, Artist, Peak Position, Peak Date“Stand Strong,” feat. Sunday Service Choir; No. 9, May 28, 2022“Over Dem,” No. 10, April 15, 2023“Unavailable,” feat. Musa Keys; No. 3, Aug. 26, 2023“Awuke,” with YG Marley; No. 9, Nov. 16, 2024“Funds,” feat. Odumodublvck & Chike; No. 5, Dec. 21, 2024“Be There Still,” No. 7, March 29, 2025“Offa Me,” feat. Victoria Monét; No. 5, May 3, 2025“Titanium,” feat. Chris Brown; No. 6, May 3, 2025“With You,” feat. Omah Lay; No. 7, May 3, 2025
Expanding beyond the top 10, Davido’s 16 simultaneous placements falls one short of his personal record, a 17-title week on the chart dated April 15, 2023 upon his Timeless album’s debut. Still, this week’s haul makes the Nigerian-American star only the second act with multiple weeks of 15 or more entries. He joins Burna Boy, who peaked with a record 23 spots on the July 23, 2022, chart and Wizkid, who set his best mark with a 17-song week on the Dec. 7, 2024, ranking.
Here’s a recap of Davido’s full set of placements on this week’s U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart:
No. 5, “Offa Me,” feat. Victoria MonétNo. 6, “Titanium,” feat. Chris BrownNo. 7, “With You,” feat. Omah LayNo. 10, “Be There Still”No. 11, “Anything”No. 13, “R&B,” feat. Shenseea & 450No. 15, “10 Kilo”No. 16, “Funds,” feat. ODUMODUBLVCK & ChikeNo. 17, “Tek,” feat. Becky GNo. 18, “CFMF”No. 19, “Holy Water,” feat. Victony & Musa KeysNo. 20, “Don’t Know”No. 21, “Lover Boy,” feat. Tayc & DadjuNo. 22, “Lately”No. 23, “Nuttin Dey”
Davido won artist of the year and digital artist of the year at The Headies, which recognizes African contemporary music and Afrobeats. The show was held on April 27 at The Landmark Event Centre in Lagos, Nigeria, marking the show’s return to Africa after holding its last two ceremonies in Atlanta. The show was livestreamed on YouTube (U.S.) and Hip TV (Nigeria).
Davido also took the stage to present the Next Rated award — an honor he described as “the most important” of the evening — to Odumodublvck. “I won this award 12 years ago, and I know firsthand the hard work and dedication it takes to get to this point,” Davido said. Odumodublvck also won best rap single.
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Rema as well as Chike and MohBad were also double winners on the night. Rema won album of the year and Afrobeats album of the year, both for Heis. Chike and MohBad won best collaboration and the viewers choice award, both for “Egwu.”
Tems won best recording of the year for “Burning.”
For the first time, the show was hosted by a woman — Nigerian actress and model Nancy Isime. Isime also performed, accompanied by Fire and Desire. Other performers included Blaqbonez, L.A.X., Qing Madi, Ayo Maff, Magnito, Juma Jux, L.A.X., INNOSS’B (DRC), Kcee, Odumodublvck and Shallipopi.
Temitola Adekunle Johnson, senior special assistant to the president (OVP) on job creation, and influencer and philanthropist Michelle Mukoro (King Mitchy) received the humanitarian award for their commitment to uplifting underprivileged communities across Nigeria.
“I want to thank the entire entertainment and creative industry, you have come a long way,” Johnson said in accepting the award. “Back in the days, we used to just be happy to watch the Grammys, but now, during Grammy nominations, people are saying how many Nigerians were nominated — that’s how far we have come.”
The 17th Headies Awards show also paid homage to Babajide Sanwo-Olu, executive governor of Lagos, for his dedication to the creative sector.
For his contributions to the creative industry and innovative leadership in advancing the digital ecosystem across Africa, Alex Okosi (managing director, Google Africa) received the special recognition award. Amaju Pinnick (chairman/GCEO Brownhill Group) also received the special recognition award for his contributions to Nigeria’s creative and cultural industries.
The Headies Awards, originally called the Hip Hop World Awards, was established in 2006 by the Hip Hop World magazine of Nigeria to recognize outstanding achievements in the Nigerian music industry.
Only music materials released and distributed on digital streaming platforms, and physical music media within the eligibility period (April 1, 2023, to July 31, 2024) were considered for nominations.
Here’s the complete list of nominations for the 2025 Headies Awards, with winners marked.
Artist of the year
WINNER: Davido
Ayra Starr
Asake
Rema
Tems
Burna Boy
Song of the year
“Showa” – Kizz Daniel
“Commas” – Ayra Starr
“Egwu” – Chike and Mohbad
WINNER: “Lonely at the Top” – Asake
“Ozeba” – Rema
“Big Baller” – Flavour
Album of the year
Born in the Wild – Tems
WINNER: Heis – Rema
The Year I Turned 21 – Ayra Starr
Stubborn – Victony
Work of Art – Asake
Rookie of the year
WINNER: Zerry DL
Taves
Kaestyle
Llona
Best recording of the year
WINNER: Tems – “Burning”
Seyi Vibez – “Different Pattern”
Burna Boy – “Higher”
Ayra Starr & Giveon – “Last Heartbreak Song”
Sarz featuring Lojay – “Billions”
Best vocal performance (female)
Ayra Starr – “Last Heartbreak Song”
Niniola – “Level”
Simi – “Stranger”
WINNER: Liya – “I’m Done”
Tomorrow – “Yemi Alade”
Best vocal performance (male)
WINNER: Lojay – “Billions”
Omah Lay – “Moving”
Anendlessocean – “Gratitude”
Johnny Drille – “For You”
Timi Dakolo – “Ke Na Ke So”
Best collaboration
“Emotions” – Tiwa Savage Feat. Asa
“Blood on the Dance Floor” Odumodublvck, Bloody Civilian and Wale
“Cast” – Shallipopi feat. Odumodublvck
WINNER: “Egwu” – Chike and Mohbad
“Ole” – Qing Madi and Bnxn
“Twe Twe” Remix – Kizz Daniel and Davido
“IDK” – Wizkid feat. Zlatan
International artist of the year
Wale – “Blood on the Dance Floor” (Odumodublvck)
Skepta – “Tony Montana” (feat. Portable)
Chris Brown – “Hmmm” (feat. Davido)
WINNER: Travis Scott – “Active” (Asake)
Chloe Bailey – “Vision” remix (Qing Madi)
Music video of the year
“Charm” – Rema (Rema X Perliks X Folarin Oludare)
“Metaverse” – Olamide (Jyde Ajala)
“Like Ice Spice” – Blaqbonez (Perliks & Emeka Shine Shine)
“Ojapiano” – Kcee (Mattmax)
WINNER: “Egwu” – Chike & MohBad (Director Pink)
“Showa” – Kizz Daniel (Tg Omori)
“Na Money” – Davido feat. Cavemen, Angelique Kidjo (Dammy Twitch)
Songwriter of the year
Simisola Kosoko – “Stranger” (Simi)
WINNER: Chimamanda Pearl Chukwuma – “Vision” (Qing Madi)
Michael Ajuma Attah – “Can’t Breathe” (Llona)
Emoseh Khamofu – “Family Meeting (Bloody Civilian)
Fuayefika Maxwell – Stages of Life” (Wizard Chan)
Producer of the year
Sarz – “Happiness”
WINNER: London – “Ozeba”
Magicstick – “Basquiat”
Rema/Producer X/Cubeatz/Deatz/Kilmberboy – “Hehehe”
Dibs – “Different Pattern”
Best R&B single
Qing Madi – “Vision”
Johnny Drille – “For You”
Simi – “Stranger”
Tems – “Burning”
WINNER: Ayra Starr – “Last Heartbreak Song” feat. Giveon
Best rap single
WINNER: “Cast” feat. Odumodublvck – Shallipoppi
“Blood on the Dance Floor” feat. Bloody Civilian & Wale – Odumodublvck
“Hallelujah” – Ladipoe, Rozzz & Morrelo
“Canada” – Magnito
“Ije Nwoke” – Jeriq
Best street-hop artist
Seyi Vibez – “Different Patterns”
Ayo Maff – “Dealer” (feat. Fireboy Dl)
Shallipopi – “Cast” (feat. Odumodublvck)
Zhus Jdo – “Johnbull”
WINNER: Mohbad – “Ask About Me”
Afrobeats single of the year
“Big Big Things” – Young Jonn feat. Kizz Daniel and Seyi Vibez
“Twe Twe Remix” – Kizz Daniel
“Egwu” feat. Mohbad – Chike
“Remember” – Asake
“Ogechi” remix – Hyce, Boypee, and Brown Joel feat. Davido
WINNER: “Big Baller” – Flavour
Lyricist on the roll
Mogadishu – A-Q
Chocolate City Cypher – M.I Abaga
Chocolate City Cypher – Blaqbonez
WINNER: Hallelujah – Ladipoe
Efeleme – Alpha Ojini
Best inspirational single
“Gratitude” – Anendlessocean
“Worthy of My Praise” – Dunsin Oyekan feat. Lawrence Oyor
“Good God 2” – Limoblaze feat. Naomi Raine
“Particularly” – Gaise Baba feat. Tope Alabi
WINNER: “You Do This One” – Mercy Chinwo
Headies’ viewers’ choice
“Big Big Things” feat. Kizz Daniel and Seyi Vibez – Young Jonn
“Ogechi” remix feat. Davido – Hyce, Boypee, And Brown Joel
WINNER: “Egwu” – Chike & MohBad
“Showa” – Kizz Daniel
“Different Pattern” – Seyi Vibez
“Ozeba” – Rema
“Love Me Jeje” – Tems
“Cast” feat. Odumodublvck – Shallipopi
“Dealer” feat. Fireboy Dml – Ayo Maff
“Big Baller” – Flavour
Best West African artist of the year
Black Sherif (Ghana) – “January 9th”
King Promise (Ghana) – “Terminator”
WINNER: Himra (Ivory Coast) – “Coulibaly & Diabaté”
Josey (Ivory Coast) – “Venez Bouger”
Toofan (Togo) – “Tone”
Best East African artist of the year
Bien (Kenya) – “Wahala”
Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania) – “Mapoz”
WINNER: Juma Jux (Tanzania) – “Enjoy”
Bruce Melodie (Rwanda) – “When She’s Around”
Azawi (Uganda) – “Masavu”
Best North African artist of the year
Mohamed Ramadan (Egypt) – “Arabi”
Elgrande Toto (Morocco) – “Maghribi”
WINNER: Soolking (Algeria) – “Tiki Taka”
Balti (Tunisia) – “Dima Mechi”
Abu (Eygpt) – “Hollela”
Best Southern African artist of the year
WINNER: Titom (South Africa) –“Tshwala Bam”
Yuppe (South Africa) – “Tshwala Bam”
Tyla (South Africa) – “Water”
Kelly Kay (Malawi) – “Bana Pwanya”
Plutonio (Mozambique) – “Acordar”
Zee Nxumalo (South Africa) – “Thula Mabota”
Best Central African artist of the year
WINNER: Innos’B (DRC) – “Sete”
Gaz Mawete (DRC) – “Dendisa”
Emma’a (Gabon) – “Biso Mibale”
Eboloko (Gabon) – “Satanana”
Singuila. (Central African Republic) – “Sin Saison”
Kocee (Cameroun) – “Credit Alert”
Best rap album
Sideh Kai – Illbliss
Eziokwu – Odumodublvck
Alaye Toh Se Gogo Vol. 1 – Reminisce
WINNER: Family Time – Erigga
Shiny Object Syndrome – Modenine
Soundtrack of the year
Eledumare – Teledalese (Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre)
Lose to Gain – Kaline (Breath of Life)
Kill Boro – Native Filmworks & Wizard Chan (Kill Boro)
Orisa – Beriola (Orisa)
Emotions – Tiwa Savage & Asa (Water and Garri)
WINNER: Tribe Called Judah soundtrack – TCJ & Abbey Wonder (A Tribe Called Judah)
Next rated
Qing Madi
Shallipopi
WINNER: Odumodublvck
Ayo Maff
Nasboi
Afrobeats album of the year
Stubborn – Victony
Work of Art – Asake
The Year I Turn 21 – Ayra Starr
WINNER: Heis – Rema
Jiggy Forever – Young Jonn
Best performer (live)
Rema – Ravage Uprising: Rema Live From The O2, London
Omah Lay – Live at L’olympia Paris
Flavour – Celebrating You 2023
Wizard Chan – Live in Concert Port Harcourt
WINNER: Burna Boy – African Giant Live From London
Femi Kuti & The Positive Force – Nuits De Fourvière (Arte Concert)
Digital artist of the year
Ayra Starr
Rema
Shallipopi
Tems
WINNER: Davido
Kizz Daniel
Asake
Humanitarian award
King Mitchy
Special recognition
Kingsley Chinweike Okonkwo A.K.A Kcee
Ayra Starr and Wizkid linked up again on “Gimme Dat,” which she released on Thursday (April 24). The Sabi Girl teased the collaboration a week earlier in an Instagram video of her vibing out to the tropical-tinged dancefloor filler while watching the sunset before the song cuts to Wizkid singing, “God da–,” which Starr used […]
Vybz Kartel has returned to the U.S. for the first time after 20 years in prison to perform two sold-out shows in Brooklyn, N.Y. We go behind the scenes with the King of Dancehall to see how he feels about being back on tour, his show essentials and more!
Did you see Vybz Kartel live? Let us know in the comments below!
Vybz Kartel:Hi, my name is blank. Wagwan. My name is Vybz Kartel, and I’m here in Brooklyn with Billboard. Where are you?
Interviewer:All right, World Boss, how does it feel to be back in New York?
It feels blessed, you know, because, remember, it’s been 20 years, so for me to be here now, it’s just a feeling of jubilation. It’s a triumphant feeling.
Team Member:This is for you. Congratulations, two sold-out shows, where you need to be love, where the people are.
I’m here with my family, not just my family, family. I’m here with CJ, the promoter, she’s family as well. TJ, Scatter, the whole crew. It feels amazing, and I feel blessed.
What do you remember about the last time you performed in New York?
Sir, I do not remember anything. But in my defense, it’s been 20 years. But if you’re talking about, like, being in the streets mingling with the people from Bronx to Brooklyn to Queens, Flatbush, I’m in White Plains, so it’s giving nostalgia.
What are your dressing room essentials?
My dressing room essentials are beautiful women, expensive clothes and God around us.
What does your preshow routine look like?
Drinking with beautiful women, expensive clothes and God around us.
What song are you most excited to perform?
Oh, “Brooklyn Anthem.” Come on, this is BK.
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Coachella is officially wrapped for 2025, and we’re taking you through the highlights of everything that happened during weekend 2. From Tyla’s outfit inspo speculation to ENHYPEN revealing a new mini-album, keep watching for everything you missed! Stay tuned for our All Access Tour Stop with ENHYPEN dropping later today! What did you think of […]
Amaarae is entering her BLACK STAR era, and the singer shares her excitement about previewing new music, her history-making Coachella performance, the differences between weekend one and two, touring with Sabrina Carpenter and Childish Gambino, her thoughts on women owning their sexuality in the music industry and more!
Are you excited for BLACK STAR? Let us know in the comments below!
Tetris Kelly:From the desert. Miss Fountain Baby, Amaarae. What’s up, girl?
Amaarae:
I’m good, I’m good, I’m good. It’s BLACK STAR now, it’s ‘BLACK STAR now. We’re getting ready for album mode. So, you know.
We know you’re getting ready for album mode because you were out there at the desert just dropping new music. So how did it feel to, like, release new stuff on such a great stage?
Man, it was incredible. I think the crowd responded really well. I’m excited to drop the new music. I’m excited for this new chapter. And it was insane. It was insane. Like the energy was nuts.
And how do you even prepare for something like Coachella?
You don’t prepare for Coachella. Coachella prepares for you. No, I feel like you just have to lock in mentally. Like, I’m not even kidding. There’s so many moving parts for the show. And I think, like, at some point I had to melt down a little bit.
Yeah, because, like do you get nervous? How do you, like, how do you handle your nerves?
I think it just gets to a point where it’s like, you have to end up on that stage, and you have to give the people a show. And I think for a stage this big and just kind of, like, this prominent, you I can’t, like, lose, you know, I can’t afford to lose. So it’s just lock that mind in and we just go. We just go.
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The first weekend of Coachella 2025 featured some of the hottest stars, including JENNIE, LISA and Cardi B. Tyla brought out Becky G for her set, Lady Gaga delivered a monster performance, and Megan Thee Stallion surprised the crowd by bringing out Ciara, and more! Keep watching to catch everything you missed at Coachella! Who […]
Tyla has bars. In her recent Nylon cover story, the South African singer revealed that she’s made “full-on rap songs” and plans to share one with fans someday. When asked if she had a specific pop star she wanted to emulate as a kid, Tyla answered that while she didn’t idolize one specific person, she […]
In an increasingly global music world, stars are popping up from every corner of the planet. But rising Colombian star Venesti may be the first to come from Guapi, a small, remote town near Colombia’s Pacific coast where there is nothing resembling a music industry.
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“This is a place with maybe 25,000 people or less. People who come from a place like Guapi, don’t think they can be successful at this level,” says Venesti, who at 14 years old move to nearby Cali, known as a capital of salsa and a breeding ground for new rhythms.
Venesti, real name Faiber Stiven Caicedo Castro, carved out the artistic name Venesti from a play on words on his middle names, and began to do a mix of tropical and pop informed by the Afrobeats of his hometown. Last year, he won his first Billboard Latin Music Award, for Best Latin pop song for “No Es Normal,” alongside Nacho and Maffio.
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Building on the song’s mix of pop beats with Afro roots and sensibility, Venesti released his sophomore album Origen on March 28 — a 12-track set that incorporates traditional Afro Caribbean rhythms with Afrobeats, reggaetón and ultimately pop for broad appeal.
“I wanted to find my roots, my culture,” says Venesti. “This is an evolution of my sound. I’ve gone through salsa, bachata, and I’ve rescued many sounds from each genre, I’ve encountered a lot of folklore, fused with Afro culture.”
The album features many collaborators, from known names like Guaynaa and Nacho to rising Colombian DJs and artists. Some may not be as known to mainstream Latin audiences but they’re part of Venesti’s journey from small town boy with big dreams to his arrival in Cali, and later, Bogotá, Medellín and Cartagena, all places whose music informs this album.
Below, Venesti gives us his picks of five tracks to begin his journey with.
“Taca Tu Tacu”
This came from a session with Gangsta, who is one of the most incredible producers today. We’d been talking forever and finally met in Miami. We chatted at home and set it up. I told I wanted to create a fusion of ancestral sounds, and he brought up currulao, a genre from the Pacific coast that’s set in five beats, and we put it inside the chorus. There’s like a currulao in the Afrobeat, and it may be my favorite song. [In terms of the lyrics] I began my career writing poetry, but I wanted a chorus here that you could feel rather than sing. The “Taca Tu Tacu” is the beat of my heart. The poem is recited by my heart.
“Tamo Ahí” (with DJ Pope)
This is the song that has that danceable rhythm, but the song is all about courtship, and you’re there, almost there. DJ Pope is Balvin’s longtime DJ and he’s also someone who’s come up to me and congratulated me for getting to where I am coming from a place like Guapi.
“Felina” (with Nacho)
I worked with Nacho in “No es normal” and I had that personal goa lof having him sing Afro. We agreed to do something else after “No es normal” and he had wanted to do another merengue. I said, bro, if you allow me, let me show you this other rhythm. And he fell in love. We did several songs, but in the end, we stayed with “Felina.”
“Me vas a extrañar” (with Jeivy Dance & Andy Alaska)
This is a heartbreak song. It’s sad to remember happy moments that are over, but it’s also about realizing it’s time to let go of the people who’ve hurt you. It’s about putting it all out there. I worked on this one with Jeivy Dance, this huge talent from Cartagena, and Andy Alaska, a DJ who’s going through a great moment. I hadn’t realized that Afro was being done like this in other parts of Colombia and the Pacific. The four DJs that are in this album are here based purely on friendship.
“Number 1”
This is the guy who is winning over the girl every day with little gestures. And when I say “gestures,” I don’t mean gifts; I mean a look, a call, those little things that matter, that are subtle. It’s a very romantic song and I think people will really connect with it.
