The 100 Biggest Songs in 2023
In a harmonious celebration of Nigeria's vibrant music scene, TurnTable, the nation's premier charting system, has meticulously curated the definitive list of the "100 Biggest Songs in 2023." As the year unfolded, TurnTable diligently combed through data from various platforms, offering an unparalleled glimpse into the heartbeat of Nigeria's music landscape.
This comprehensive musical journey captures the essence of Afrobeats, showcasing a kaleidoscope of genres, styles, and artistes who have left an indelible mark on the sonic tapestry of the nation. From the rhythmic beats of traditional sounds to the cutting-edge innovations of contemporary Afrobeats, this chart reflects the dynamic and ever-evolving nature of Nigerian music.
This is an immersive and comprehensive list of songs that transcend boundaries, featuring a diverse array of artistes who have made an impact with their groundbreaking contributions. Join us as we explore the melodies and rhythms that have defined the soundscapes of Nigeria throughout the year, celebrating the artistes who have etched their names into the musical history of 2023.
100. MOHBAD – PARIWO FT. BELLA SHMURDA
Life is unpredictable. This fact about our existence impacts the quality of art that has been created over the years, carrying into their foundation an element of that suddenness. In another time, in another place, September 12 won’t have happened.
When the late MohBad and Bella Shmurda joined forces on ‘pariwo’. Bella conveyed vunerability as he utters ‘I gat let you know’. Late MohBad delivered with his crunchy voice and lyrics.
99. BURNA BOY – SITTING ON TOP OF THE WORLD FT. 21 SAVAGE
“Sittin’ On Top Of The World” flips Brandy & Mase’s popular hit “Top of the World.”
The beauty of a sample is how you get to redefine a direction, The original track was about Brandy being a star and refusing to change while Burna Boy flips the track to make your significant other feel like they’re sitting on top of the world.
On the remix, Burna Boy enlists 21 Savage who comes through with the most braggadocious rap ‘I can help you shit on anybody you ever hated (21)/ Put you in baguettes, got you feelin' like you made it (21)’.
98. ZLATAN – OGANIGWE FT. ODUMODUBLVCK & JERIQ
Zlatan understands the power of collaboration, he got his big break via collaboration, since then he has paid it forward. ‘Oganigwe’ features the new school leaders ODUMODUBLVCK & Jeriq.
Zlatan weaves together high life, rap, and street hop in order to attain a hard-hitting record.
97. JOEBOY – NORMALLY FT. BNXN & ODUMODUBLVCK
Joeboy released his sophomore album titled ‘Body & Soul’ this year, the album was met with positive reviews.
However, it is the album’s opener ‘Normally’ that provides an insight to his come-up and a brotherhood feeling that you are not alone.
Joeboy’s hook provides an alley hoop for Bnxn and ODUMODUBLVCK to slam it home, the production by BeatsbyKO & Big Fish is the icing on the cake that cements the message that they will be here for a long time.
96. BNXN – TRABOSKI
There is something about BNXN’s voice that warms your ears, Bnxn is really quite talented. At this point, he’s like a Starbucks coffee, a consistent product with a reliable buzz.
95. OLAMIDE – TRUMPET FT.CKAY
When you think about how Olamide started and his progression in the music industry, the least you'd appreciate about this guy is how his craft comes to so much maturity with him. He's that classic example of a fine wine that just gets better with age. Ckay’s melodies stand out and makes the record captivating.
94. MILEY CYRUS – FLOWERS
Flowers is a pop anthem about self-love and empowerment, with lyrics that imply she doesn’t need her ex-husband Liam Hemsworth to be happy.
93. BURNA BOY – IT’S PLENTY
Despite being released in 2022, ‘It’s plenty’ conveys the desire for a soft life “I don’t want to waste my days, I want to spend them on enjoyment”
“It’s Plenty” urges the listener to celebrate life despite the struggles, choose joy.
92. ODUMODUBLVCK – PICANTO FT. ZLATAN
Before ODUMODUBLVCK had a massive 2023. He was one of the most sought-after talents.
The Def Jam/Native Records artiste released ‘picanto ft. Zlatan & Echo Miles’ in 2022. This was his introduction to mainstream, detailing the real-life struggles of a modern-day young Nigerian hustler.
91. MOHBAD – BEAST & PEACE
MohBad welcomed the listener to Blessed EP with the opening track ‘Beast & Peace’.
The track starts off with Army band-type drums. MohBad’s vocals swell with an appreciation of his journey thus far, armed with bars in Yoruba and English. Every line holds weight but hearing “You don’t have to hurt me before you win” melts your heart.
90. WIZKID – BAD TO ME
When it comes to setting the trend, no one does it better like Wizkid. He had everyone chanting “casamigos for my amigos,” a lyric that carries heavy cultural value for anyone who is tuned into the nightlife scene around the world.
The P2J and Sammy Soso production is a blend of Amapiano and Afropop
89. TIWA SAVAGE - PICK UP
The production on 'pick up' is perfect for Tiwa Savage as she drops subtle innuendos about an unrequited love.
Produced by Blaise Beatz, the Amapiano production is a call to the dancefloor.
88. DAVE & CENTRAL CEE - SPRINTER
Dave & Central Cee’s collaboration “Sprinter” is full of clever lyrics and positive energy. spitting bars “We ain't got generational wealth/ It's only a year that I've had these millions,” he raps. “I went from the Toyota Yaris to Urus, they had their chance but blew it.”
87. LOJAY - MOTO
Lojay expresses the pain of losing a meaningful relationship. The lyrics suggest that he still loves his ex, even though she doesn’t need him anymore.
Co-produced by Elementz and AOD. Lojay wears his heart on his sleeve.
86. BURNA BOY - ALONE
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, lived up to its promise and more. The sequel exceeded fan expectations. One of the standout tracks on the album was "Alone" by Burna Boy.
Burna Boy mirrored the film’s tone. He acts as a hero who is tormented by his past and only eased by his virtue. He reveals the hardships of coping alone with that and how it damages him.
85. SHALLIPOPI - EX CONVICT
Emerging as one of the breakout stars in 2023, Shallipopi introduced himself to the music scene with "Elon Musk" but encountered legal issues with EFCC. Following his release, he repeated the success formula in "Ex Convict," where quotes like "Men mount o, men mount" and "Bend her like Benz" gained notable attention, transforming listeners' perception.
84. DAVIDO - NA MONEY FT. THE CAVEMEN & ANGELIQUE KIDJO
One of the best albums released this year was “Timeless” by Davido. A buffet filled project that had something for everyone. ‘Na Money’ is what you get when masters of their craft come together to make a feel good song.
Singing “Shawty say, she go whine am for me, if I dash am money” The Cavemen presents it in a manner that doesn't belittle women but affirms and recognizes their wishes.
83. OLIVETHEBOY - GOODSIN
In "GoodSin," Olivetheboy showcases the charm of Afrobeats by eloquently expressing love. The opening line on 'GoodSin' is 'Loving you girl no get holiday' is one of the slickest openers of 2023. The song talks about desire, presenting it as a sweet and innocent form of a 'Good Sin.''
82. YOUNG JONN & OLAMIDE - CURRENCY
As Olamide rose to the top of the street hop genre and became one of the most sought after artists in Nigeria. He enlisted producers to help keep in everyone’s lips and hearts. One of the producers was Young Jonn, Olamide is at the pinnacle of his career, playing his role as a boss and sending the elevator for his talents to rise to the top. While Young Jonn has found success as a recording artist with multiple No 1s as he keeps the dance floor going.
Currency sees the duo return but with young Jonn as the lead artist while Olamide compliments his artistry.
Young Jonn makes it clear, he desires the currency, he sings, ‘If you get problem, call God o/If you get business, holla me.’
81. QING MADI - OLE FT BNXN
At just 17, Qing Madi has made a significant impact nationwide. Partnering with Bnxn in “Ole”.
The song is a confession of longing for someone who is already taken, and the frustration and guilt that comes with it. Qing Madi sings, ‘I’m just craving for somebody’s babe (somebody’s babe oh-no, no) / I can’t get that love, love for myself’
80. JOHNNY DRILLE - HOW ARE YOU (MY FRIEND)
In "How Are You (My Friend)," Johnny pens a sincere message to an old friend he longs to reconnect with. “Padi no vex for me/Say I never call you since/But I hope that you are well?” he sings.
Johnny Drille captures the universal experience of managing friendships and the challenges of staying connected.
79. JOEBOY - DUFFEL BAG
Joeboy's "Duffel Bag" takes a lighthearted approach to the sweet intersection of love and money. The track follows the familiar path of pledging affectionate gestures to a romantic interest.
78. ASAKE - ORGANISE
In 2022, Asake was the unanimous artist of the year, every track he touched turned into gold.
'Organise' amplified his confidence as he demonstrated street-smartness 'Some of us are wise, every other person over wise'.
The production, call and response and the music video complimented his superstar status.
77. PHEELZ - ELECTRICITY FT. DAVIDO
Pheelz kicked off 2022 with 'Finesse' steering the audience to acknowledge his artistry side.
His high voltage power packed single "Electricity" featured Davido.
Acknowledging the inner light within him 'And I see darkness all around me but I know I'm the light'.
Co-production from P.Priime and TMXO ensures Pheelz shine bright on the record.
76. BURNA BOY - FOR MY HAND FT. ED SHEERAN
Burna Boy’s “Love Damini” was one of the most anticipated albums of 2022.
The lead single 'Last Last' was a global heartbreak hit record. In contrast, ‘For My Hand’ is a romantic song where Burna Boy courts a girl, with Ed Sheeran backing him up. The duo compliment each other.
75. OLAMIDE - JINJA
Olamide has been a formidable force since his introduction to the music industry.
He announced his Unruly album back in February 2022. He tweeted 'Taking my time to make it the best ever... probably my last album.. dough I’ll drop singles once in a blue moon when I feel like it.. it’s been a mad ass run !! giving albums back to back'.
Jinja is brimming with the energy of someone that still has something to say. This cannot be his last album.
74. BURNA BOY - LAST LAST
‘Last Last’ was the hit single that made Burna Boy the star of 2022. He bared his soul of the anguish and hurt he faced in recent times and reminisced about Port Harcourt in the aftermath.
Chopstix masterfully mixed a powerful bass and Toni Braxton’s guitar riff from “He Wasn’t Man Enough For Me” to create a stunning track.
73. BURNA BOY - COMMON PERSON
In "Common Person," Burna Boy, despite his elevated status, emphasizes his reliability, he sings ‘I be common person, but my happiness, oh, still be my own/ Everybody get role, no mean say your own role passin' my own.’
72. BELLA SHMURDA - PHILO FT. OMAH LAY
Fans have longed for a joint tape from Bella Shmurda and Omah Lay. The desire grew more with the release of "Philo". Bella Shmurda showcases his rhyme skills ‘Nothing wey I no go do for my Philo, rest on me like pillow’. Omah Lay balances it with his sensual and calm voice. Krizbeatz is behind the production.
71. OLAMIDE & ASAKE - NEW RELIGION
Olamide delivers the record with a laidback demeanour, he is in his hip hop bag and he is killing it..
'Every word weh de come out of my mouth, I de monetize am'.
Asake runs wild with the hook as he pays homage to the football greats Pele & Maradona.
70. ODUMODUBLVCK - BLOOD ON THE DANCE FLOOR FT. BLOODY CIVILIAN & WALE
ODUMODUBLVCK sounds smoother on "Blood On The Dancefloor," connecting his core community with a wider audience. Bloody Civilian and Wale take shots at their opps.
69. ZINOLEESKY - A1 (FEELING DISORDER)
Zinoleesky made headlines for non-musical reasons, but "A1" proves his brilliance when he hits the records—a reminder that he's still got it.
68. WANDE COAL & OLAMIDE - KPE PASO
The Kel-P produced "Kpe Paso" is a lively, fast-paced hit. Wande Coal and Olamide are at their best as they boast about their industry status and flirt with female fans. The lyrics include cheeky lines like, 'That booty look like a place they told me not to go.'
67. OXLADE - KU LO SA
Oxlade's "Ku Lo Sa" made its debut on A COLORS SHOW in June 2021, achieving over 60 million YouTube views. His impressive falsetto and expressive rendition sparked fan creativity, allowing the song to take on a life of its own.
66. LIL DURK - ALL MY LIFE FT. J.COLE
Lil Durk and J.Cole paired up to deliver an inspirational record.
The children's Choir helps drive the message home as they sing, ‘All my life, they’ve been trying to keep me down/ All this time, never thought I would make it out.’
65. WIZKID - 2 SUGAR FT. AYRA STARR
The duo of Wizkid and Ayra Starr is amazing, with their verses harmonizing with each other. Wizkid’s voice is smooth and confident, and he handles his range with ease.
64. DAVIDO - OVER DEM
Since his debut album, Davido has always been a master of a braggadocious intro. "Over Dem'' sees him retain the authority intro as he sings ‘If dem wan turn Goliath, I be David for life.’
63. KIZZ DANIEL - MY G
Kizz Daniel has been keeping tabs on the social media comments, he takes time out to address the 99 advisors with quotes such as 'I get manager/So don’t worry about me, worry about your hairline'.
62. ASAKE - SUNSHINE
Asake samples Lighthouse Family's ‘Ocean Drive’.
On Sunshine, Asake doesn't want you to give up. If you can dream it, then you can achieve it.
He wants you to keep applying yourself, there is light at the end of the tunnel, if you keep at it.
61. BOY SPYCE - FOLAKE
In April 2022, Mavin introduced Boy Spyce, known for his viral "Wizkid & Tems - Essence" freestyle in the previous year. Despite having two projects, Boy Spyce ventures beyond his comfort zone, presenting the catchy love tale, "Folake."
60. DAVIDO - AWAY
When I first heard 'Shekpe!' I leapt for joy, this was going to be my jam.
From the intro to the Magicsticks production to the delivery of each line, Davido was in his element, oozing with confidence 'Gbedu dey body, I've been doing this, e don tey'.
59. ASAKE - JOHA
YBNL struck Gold with Asake in 2022. He released his EP ‘Ololade Asake’ and his debut album ‘MMWTV’. One particular track that stood out for students from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) was “Joha”. Within moments, the popular ‘Joha’ dance steps from his time at the university flooded socials.
This highlighted the 10,000 hours put in by Asake.
58. ADEKUNLE GOLD - OGARANYA
When it comes to consistent album rollouts and fan inclusion in Nigeria, Adekunle Gold (AKA AG Baby) takes the crown. Fans had fun getting creative as they created their ‘Ogaranya’ contents.
The Blaise Beatz production sparked joy for listeners as it indicated A Good Time. You know what to say when you hear AG baby sing ‘Butterflies in my tummy, when the money enter.’
57. ODUMODUBLVCK - DOG EAT DOG Il FT. CRUEL SANTINO & BELLA SHMURDA
From the production to the delivery to the music video, it mirrors old nollywood and music videos in the early 2000s.
The trio compliment each other.
56. ASAKE - TERMINATOR
When Asake previewed ‘Terminator’ via social media. We all knew he was going to be more than a breakout star. He was the Man of the year.
55. MOHBAD - PEACE
One of the cool things about music is the ability to travel wide and outlive us. We will never see the Baritone Preacher, but his music will live on, as we recall his messages.
The Rexxie production assists the Late MohBad to drive home the message of ‘Peace of mind’.
54. SEYI VIBEZ - HAT-TRICK
‘Since 2020, I've been famous’
Seyi Vibez heard y’all questioning his authenticity and decided to remind everyone who he is while taking subtle jabs.
Produced by Dibs, Seyi Vibez rises above the naysayers.
53. SEYI VIBEZ - CHANCE (NA HAM)
It is true Seyi Vibez has been famous since 2020, but it is also true that ‘Chance’ gave him the mainstream limelight.
Saratu best describes Seyi Vibez and influences ‘His blend of influences speaks to the blend of influences of a group of young people who developed an appreciation of the fuji their parents jammed to while listening to music from elsewhere and watching Nigeria’s own afrobeats scene evolve.’ she writes.
52. TIWA SAVAGE & ASAKE - LOADED
Tiwa Savage has stayed relevant for a long time by being versatile and elegant in a dynamic industry. She shows her street pop style in “Loaded,” and reaches out to a new crowd with Asake. Tiwa Savage blends different worlds.
51. BLAQBONEZ - LIKE ICE SPICE
Blaqbonez is every music marketing team's delight. His content aligns with the direction he creates for each project. He tests the water with every release and that’s one of the things that makes him exciting to watch.
50. YOUNG JONN - SHARPALLY
Young Jonn has been making waves ever since he switched from being a producer to taking on the role of a singer.
He serenades his lover on ‘Sharpally’, a song with groovy log drums and a charming flute tune that makes people want to dance and sing along.
49. CKAY & BLAQBONEZ - HALLELUJAH
CKay & Blaqbonez started from the bottom and now they are here. They put in 10,000 hours and have grown beyond their imagination. They are filled with gratitude.
48. BURNA BOY - BIG 7
For months, Burna Boy teased ‘Big 7’. Burna Boy surpassed expectations with ‘Big 7’. From the braggadocious delivery to paying homage to the late Virgil Abloh and Sidhu. ‘No dey talk to me in public’ flex hits harder when you have cameos from Rza, Busta Rhymes, Junior Mafia and more.
47. KIZZ DANIEL - SHU-PERU
Since his debut album, Kizz Daniel has worn the ‘No Bad Song’ hat. From ‘Buga’ to ‘Cough’ to ‘RTID’ and now ‘Shu-Peru’.
You can’t help but groove to Kizz Daniel music, regardless of the tweets criticizing his songs. The dance floor, the party goers, and the charts confirm it.
46. AYRA STARR - RUSH
At only 21 years old, Ayra Starr is commanding attention and breaking boundaries. She recently earned a diamond certification in France for ‘Rush’. With Ayra Starr, the stars are not even the limit.
45. JOHNNY DRILLE - BELIEVE ME
Johnny Drille’s voice and writing are best described as a love letter to his beloved, full of sincerity and emotion. He sighs and asks a friend to deliver the letter to her.
44. REMA & SELENA GOMEZ - CALM DOWN
‘Everybody say yellow!’
They said ‘Luck is when your opportunity meets your preparation’. Rema’s track record of bangers been undeniable, to the kids, he is the Rave lord, to the millennials , his lamba commands your waist. Rema leaves his mark on everything he touches.
When the remix of calm down with Selena Gomez came out in 2022, it was met with mixed reactions. By 2023, everyone saw it surpass expectations as it clinched at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
43. ODUMODUBLVCK - DECLAN RICE
Drawing inspiration from Humans of Bombay, OUMODUBLVCK embraces the mantra: "Because I believed in myself so stubbornly, the world had no other option but to believe in me too.”
On ‘Declan Rice’ ODUMODUBLVCK comes out Guns blazing as he delivers with so much zeal that is contagious.
42. SHALLIPOPI - OBAPLUTO
In an interview with Zero Terms and Conditions podcast, Shallipopi revealed that he wanted to make a record that pays homage to Benin.
‘You know artistes that come from Benin city dey always run. It's either dey use other tribes to sing their music or they never come back to Benin again. I know wan be that artiste wey be like say I kon forget where I for come.’
The decision led him to sample Pa Monday-Edo, the outcome was a lesson and a blessing.
41. BNXN - PRAY
When tweets emerged of a much younger BNXN in Babcock University, it provided more context to “Pray” ‘I was out here writing songs and I was working double’.
10 years later, BNXN is signed to 9Mobile for a 100 Million. If there is anything to take away from BNXN is to go after your dreams and don’t forget to ‘pray’.
40. KHAID - JOLIE
It is exciting to watch Khaid develop his artistry using his music as a time stamp.
He switches from trap (With You), and street record (Amala) to Afropop in ‘Jolie’, a song where he confesses his love to someone.
The Top 100 Biggest Songs of 2024 will be unveiled daily until the release of vol 005 of TurnTable Magazine in January 2024. This article will be updated with the other songs on the list until the No. 1 of the 2023 is revealed.