2018 in afrobeats culture was significant for several reasons. First, it marked the iconic second wave of Port Harcourt’s first son, Duncan Mighty. Second, it celebrated the street dominance that came with the Shaku Shaku dance frenzy; led by Olamide, Slimcase, Mr Real, and others, soon followed by the Zanku outbreak orchestrated by Zlatan Ibile. Thirdly, the album that launched Burna Boy into global prominence, “Outside,” was released that same year. What an outstanding year for the culture.
But behind the outstanding music are the outstanding producers who through their artfulness created (and have been creating) the base for all musical compositions to thrive on. As artists took center stage, these producers worked behind the scenes, shaping the sound that defined 2018. Let’s take a closer look at the masterminds who powered some of afrobeats culture’s biggest hits that year.
Phantom
Remember when we said Outside was the album that plunged Burna Boy to global prominence? Well for better eulogy, Outside was arguably the greatest album of 2018 and Phantom produced the greatest track on the album “Ye”. Certain reports state that “Ye” was created in less than two hours. Practically speaking, it took Phantom two hours to build the production of what would go ahead to become one of the greatest afrobeats records ever released. What a finesse!
Northboi
Northboi was one of the breakout producers of the year and he produced what was cited as the most encompassing sound of Nigerian pop in 2018, “Soco” a record by Wizkid ft Terri, Spotless & Ceeza Milli.
Northboi had been working behind the scenes, but Soco brought him to public attention. Soco’s production had that palmwine music inspired bounce flowing through its elements. The piano carefully hummed below the perfectly arranged drums, a groove that could easily create a blueprint for many Nigerian pop records.
He also went ahead to co-produce Wizkid and Slimcase’s Gucci Snake with Killertunes and solo produce Mayorkun’s “Posh”, all in his breakout year.
Young Jonn
Of course Young Jonn made the list too. As the chemistry between human and water cannot be altered, the same analogy applies to Young Jonn and Olamide.
The two records by Olamide that championed the Shaku Shaku wave – “Wo” (2017) and “Science Students” (2018) were produced and coproduced by Young Jonn– Science Students was coproduced by Young Jonn and BBanks. There’s no denying that both these records held down every nook and cranny of the streets.
Kilertunes
Killertunes was the go-to hitmaker of 2018. “Shabalistica” was the tag you’d want on your song as an artist. He produced the major jams of the year– from Motigbana by Olamide and DJ Spinall and Wizkid’s “Nowo” and “Fake Love” by Wizkid featuring Duncan Mighty– the record that introduced Duncan Mighty to a new generation of fans. All the records produced by Killertunes in the year held high peak positions on the countdown charts.
Fresh VDM
DMW was on a rave in 2018 and Fresh VDM was the chef cooking a handful of the beats. After producing Davido’s 2017 hit “Fia”, the following months witnessed a crescendo in the impact of Fresh VDM in the DMW empire.
All the major DMW hits of 2018 you could think of has a Fresh VDM tag– from DMW’s “Mind” to “Aje” to “Aza” featuring Duncan Mighty and not to leave out DJ Ecool’s “Ada”. He left no mountain unturned during his presence in the label.
KDDO
KDDO (formerly Kiddominant) is one of the veterans of afrobeats composition today. KDDO became the first Nigerian producer in history to be certified by the RIAA after “Fall”, a record produced by him and performed by “Davido” broke the charts to become the longest charting afrobeats song in Billboard history.
Fall was released in 2017 but its reign endured till 2019, where it was named one of the top 100 most Shazamed singles in America. In 2018, KDDO co-produced and featured on one of the late AKA’s most prominent records “Fela in Versace” and also Mayorkun’s 2018 hit “Mama”.
Kel-P
“It’s Kel-P vibes”, the sound of that has probably rung up a hundred songs in your head, and the first one is most likely ‘On the Low’ by Burna Boy. It’s a few months before 2019 and the world is bracing itself for the release of African Giant, one of the greatest afrobeats albums of all time.
Before On the Low came “Gbona”, equally produced by Kel-P. Kel-p understands the rhythm and pacing of a complete afro melody, whether it be pop or R&B and that is why some of the greatest albums of the genre bear his creative markings – from African Giant to Made In Lagos, Timeless and even the record breaking Rave and Roses.
