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Afrobeats. A dicey genre. A land flowing with milk and honey, but still not producing the best tea it can (like the land it originates from, literally).
Some years, like this one, we get tons and tons of collaborations from the top artists. Whether it’s due to artists having a bad year and needing extra star power to make the charts or just sheer love for each other’s craft, this writer does not care, really. Some years are good in terms of collaborations. Some years are terrible droughts.
In these tough times, one thing Afrobeats has given us is a small dose of amazing three-way collaborations. We do not get a lot of them constantly but when we do, it’s undeniably beautiful.
When the collab makes it out of the group chat, into the studio and out of the producer’s laptop, and past all the splits and agreements involved in the business side of creativity, it is a work of art.
We’ve been blessed with a few of these moments, and here are some of them
Shoki Remix – Lil Kesh, Olamide, Davido.
So, word in the music space and I think one of the creatives involved is that this was originally supposed to be a remix featuring only Davido, but Olamide crashed into the studio and decided to take the third verse, and it’s also why he wasn’t name-dropped in the intro of the song.
Once again, this writer does not care. It’s a stunning and remarkable three-way collaboration and will forever be great in the history of African music.
Gwagwalada – Bnxn, Kizz Daniel, Seyi Vibez.
Gwagwalada was undoubtedly one of the biggest hit songs of 2023 and it’s no surprise why.
When you have one of the best hook singers in the game delivering a catchy and stellar hook, a legend known for spawning hit songs and one of the biggest waves and movements in Afrobeats recently following right after, you’re destined for greatness.
Blood On The Dance Floor – OdumoduBlvck, Bloody Civillian, Wale.
This is probably a collaboration most A&Rs would not bet on to produce a hit song. A rapper still trying to break out a sound, a foreign rapper looking for a home hit record, and a buzzing female act looking to permanently establish herself in the mainstream.
But it worked, it worked. This record went on to become a smashing hit and did a lot for all artists involved. Plus? Bloody was quite bloody on the dance floor. Killed it.
Bahd, Baddo, Baddest – Falz, Olamide, Davido.
Olamide and Davido are involved in another superb three-way collaboration, but this time they are enlisted by Falz on his 2016 hit.
The song, named after the alter personalities of the three artists was a huge commercial success in the music space.
Link up – Phyno, Burna Boy, MI.
I know what you’re thinking. Why are rappers at the centre of three-way collaborations? Maybe it’s the genre and the spirit there allows it (I DISAGREE COS RAP IS COMPETITIVE IN NATURE AND HEAVILY RELIANT ON BEEF) or the singers are just egoist and proud and scared of another person ‘bodying’ them on a song (I AGREE, SIGH) but this collab? Whew. That’s all I’d say. Whew. MI? Whew. Burna WHEW!
Local Rappers – Reminisce, Olamide, Phyno.
Seems like the rappers did not need a hook master on this one. These street ambassadors casually delivered one of the biggest songs in the continent at the time, as rappers, rapping. ‘Local rappers’ was a landmark moment in African rap and the movement as a whole.
Who You Epp? (Refix) – Olamide, Wande Coal, Phyno.
I do not know which was bigger, the movement this song created or the song itself. Who You Epp was everywhere. It had all the biggest and trending artists in the country doing covers and uploading to naijaloaded.com
Putting Wande Coal on the original was looking like a dicey decision to some, but it was the right move in the end. One of the biggest songs on the streets and locally in the history of Afrobeats in my opinion, Who You Epp was and is a classic three-way collab.
Issa Goal – Naira Marley, Olamide, Lil Kesh.
Issa goal was a movement for the 2018 World Cup. It was the sound of support from the streets. It was an anthem for motivation. With Olamide’s fifth appearance on this list, rappers once again are at the heart of one of the best things to happen to Afrobeats.
Alte Cruise – Odunsi, Santi, Zamir.
This song almost single-handedly established Alte as a genre in the mainstream. It certainly did contribute to the influence Alte still has on it today. Three amazing creatives came together to fuel a movement pushing the uncommon to the faces of the masses.
Yan Yan Yan – Young Jonn, Seyi Vibez, Kizz Daniel.
One of my favourite three-way collaborations, this one was special. I for one personally loved the synergy and connection they all found with each other, and I give Young Jonn his flowers for recognizing and sticking with a working formula in Seyi Vibez and Kizz Daniel.
Ello Baby – Kizz Daniel, Tiwa Savage, Young Jonn.
Kizz Daniel has hacked the science of Afrobeats, and I will forever preach this gospel. He has the core of our sound in his belly, and I’m personally not sure he knows or realizes this.
Looking for the formula to hit songs, call him. It’s why he appears three times on this list, almost as much as Olamide, while being someone who did not do collaborations till he left G-Worldwide.
Stamina – Tiwa Savage, Young Jonn, Ayra Starr.
A certain level of artists realize the power of three-way collaborations and have at least one. Some have two hits from them, like Tiwa. Some have three, Like Young Jonn. The talented producer turned-singer seems to have learnt a thing or two from former boss Olamide. Combining beautifully with two queens, they deliver a beautiful collab.
Totori – ID Cabasa, Olamide, Wizkid.
Yeah. Wizkid. This proves my theory. A three-way collab is very important in sealing something locally, even though I haven’t identified what it is just yet. Wizkid combines with our king today Olamide and legendary producer ID Cabasa to deliver a street anthem.
My last paragraph is directed to rappers in this generation. The systems are there. The methods are there, hidden in plain sight. Odumodu stumbled upon this one, maybe accidentally or intentionally I do not know, but the OGs that did it consistently did it for a reason. There is immense power in collaboration.
Let’s come together, and share the grace in fellowship.
