Nigeria: Asake shares Work of Art album

Published on YBNL Nation/Empire, the new release follows Asake’s impressive success in 2022 with the release of his well-received debut LP Mr Money With The Vibe.

Work of Art comprises 14 tracks, including previously released singles ‘Yoga’, ‘2:30’ and ‘Amapiano’. Label boss Olamide, who appears on ‘Amapiano’, is the project’s only featured guest.

Thematically, the album discusses everything from faith and spirituality to love and celebrity.

Production was chiefly handled by regular collaborator Magicsticks, who co-conspired the album’s predecessor. The collection boasts an assortment of pulses, starting with the fuji-amapiano style Asake popularised. There are also West African folk samples and hip hop drums. Blaise Beatz, P. Priime and Anoop D'Souza provide additional production.

Following the arrival of the new project, Asake will be on the road, starting with a gig at The O2 Arena in London, UK, on 20 August.

Born Ahmed Ololade, Asake gained recognition in 2022 after establishing himself as one of Nigeria’s most promising breakout stars. He is a YouTube Black Voices Fund recipient and has been acknowledged by leading streaming platforms Boomplay and Spotify as one of the most listened to artists in sub-Saharan Africa. Audiomack named him their Artist of the Year for 2022, praising his ability to fuse cross-cultural elements and his remarkable rise in the music industry.

On 8 June, Asake was named among the African nominees for the BET Awards 2023 ahead of the gala ceremony at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on 25 June. He is up for the Viewer’s Choice Best International Act honour.