Top 5 Rising Nigerian Music Stars To Watch Out For

The music scene in 2024 has been exciting, with new artists gaining attention and changing the industry. From popular songs to top albums, these new artists have won people over and are doing really well on streaming services. Their creativity, special sounds, and hard work have made them the next important names to pay attention to. In this list, we highlight five artists who made a big impact this year and are on track for even more success in the future.

Qing Madi

Nigerian singer, songwriter, and dancer Chimamanda Pearl Chukwuma, known as Qing Madi, became famous with her popular song "See Finish. " She was born in Benin City, Edo State, and is changing the music scene with her unique mix of Afrobeats, pop, soul, and R&B. 

Qing Madi started her music career at just 7 years old and has almost 10 years of experience, making her a talented young artist in the industry. Taking inspiration from Kendrick Lamar's deep lyrics and artistry, she wants to change the industry with her unique style and creativity. 

In 2023, Qing Madi is making a name for himself in the Afrobeat music scene and looks set to be one of Nigeria's rising stars by 2024. 

Taves

Amid the growing global fascination with Afrobeats, Taves has stayed true to his passion for R&B, resisting the genre’s pervasive influence. Born Aluko Toluwanimi, Taves discovered his gift for songwriting at the age of nine, drawing inspiration from Asa’s soulful melodies. Long road trips between Ibadan and Port Harcourt, where his father lived, were often soundtracked by Asa’s music, which shaped his artistic vision. Taves prides himself on creating music that defies convention, standing apart from the mainstream classification of Nigerian music often lumped under the Afrobeats umbrella.

Starting out as a songwriter, Taves gradually made a name for himself through song covers that resonated with him, including Ckay’s Beggi Beggi and Lojay’s Moto. While these covers earned him some recognition, their impact remained modest. However, 2022 marked a turning point in his career. His cover of BNXN’s For Days became his breakthrough moment. Despite initially delaying the release of accompanying videos for months, the final output exceeded his expectations, drawing widespread praise. The highlight came when BNXN himself reached out, expressing interest in collaborating and eventually signing Taves to To Your Ears Entertainment.

Now signed to Atlantic Records, Taves is building an impressive discography, which includes his latest singles, Folake and Bodija. We caught up with the rising star to discuss his childhood in Ibadan, his creative journey, meeting BNXN—whom he deeply admires—and his vision for the future.

Llona

Michael Ajuma Attah, widely known as Llona, is a talented and rapidly rising recording artist and songwriter from Kogi State, Nigeria. His sound seamlessly blends contemporary Afrobeats, R&B, and Dancehall, showcasing his versatility and creativity.

Llona’s musical journey began early, but his professional career took off in 2019 with the release of his debut single, Nobody. Since then, he has steadily built a dedicated audience drawn to his distinct sound. His rise to stardom gained momentum with the release of his sensational hit, HBP, and its chart-topping remix featuring Bella Shmurda.

Celebrated for his exceptional artistry and captivating style, Llona has earned a global fanbase, cementing his status as a prominent figure in the music industry. Drawing inspiration from iconic musicians like Olamide, Llona skillfully blends elements of Afrobeats, R&B, and Dancehall, creating a vibrant and unique musical signature that sets him apart.

Brown Joel

Coming from a strong family background, Brown Joel uses his life experiences, ideas, surroundings, and the time he lives in to create music that spreads hope and inspiration. Agubosim Favour Brown, also known as Brown Joel, grew up in Lagos, Nigeria. He makes music that comes from his heart, bringing joy, calmness, and a sense of friendship to his listeners—a special place that makes people feel good. His music often talks about these ideas, but it also explores many other related topics and problems. 

Brown Joel is a talented performer who focuses on appealing to Gen-Z, a generation that loves pop culture. He is ready to entertain and impress his audience. He started his music journey by performing freely and doing cover songs on social media. People noticed him quickly, which led to a contract with Musiq Bank Company. 

Since then, Brown Joel has released popular songs like Omo Ologo and Peace, which fans really love and have been played a lot. The song "Peace" became very popular on social media, leading to dance challenges and partnerships with influencers like Khloesgram and Softmadeit. Brown Joel added to his collection of songs by working with Boypee and Hyce on the popular song Ogechi, which included Nigerian superstar Davido.

Yarden

The 23-year-old artist is now with Etins Record Limited. Since he was young, Yarden loved performing in school and church. He has always been interested in expressing feelings through music. He started making music in 2018 and became a professional musician in 2019. 

Yarden has gained a lot of popularity with songs like Wetin and Busy Body, which many people really like. Their welcome has made him one of the exciting new talents in Afrobeats to keep an eye on.