Nigeria: Audiomack names Asake Artist of the Year

The accolade crowns a remarkable run that has seen the musician widely labelled as Nigeria’s biggest breakout star of 2022.

The recognition follows the success of his LP Mr Money With The Vibe, which became the highest-charting debut album by a Nigerian artist ever on Audiomack. The album currently boasts over 330 million streams on the platform.

Signed to YBNL Nation/ Empire, Asake’s other 2022 milestones include an Artist of the Year trophy at the 2022 African Muzik Magazine Awards and a YouTube Black Voices Fund Music Class of 2023 induction.

Months ago, Asake, who secured a brand ambassador deal for sports entertainment company Parimatch, joined Boomplay’s Golden Club after surpassing 100m streams on the music streaming portal. Rival DSP Spotify has also adjudged him as one of the most streamed artists in sub-Saharan Africa in 2022.

Asake’s music listens as an inventive blend of Afrobeats and amapiano. The experimentation has resulted in multiple hits that have maintained a presence on the charts, notable among them being ‘Omo Ope’, ‘Sungba’, ‘Peace Be Unto You (PBUY)’, ‘Organise’ and ‘Joha’.

He has also secured collaborations with Afrobeats heavyweights like Burna Boy, Fireboy DML and Tiwa Savage.

“This year, Asake redefined what it means to be a breakout artist,” Audiomack said. “Amidst an explosion of amapiano, and West African music’s continued global rise, Asake has conquered cross-cultural fusion like no one else. Hearing his music at the clubs and kickbacks, and seeing him in major magazines, it’s easy to think Asake’s lightning ascent is at least partly staged. More truthfully, the artist seized a Promethean fire, arriving right as the world was ready to open itself up to dance.”