From Streams to Streets: The Tracks Soundtracking Lagos Right Now
The songs you'll hear at the barbershop, in the Bolt and at your cousin's owambe this month — and the stories behind how they took over.
Some songs you discover. In Lagos, the biggest ones discover you — until you finally give in and add them to the playlist. This month, a handful of records are simply unavoidable.
How a Lagos hit is born
It rarely starts on radio. Cuts like 'Turbulence' explode past 20 million streams within weeks and get named video of the week, while chart mainstays from artists like Fola sit on hundreds of millions of plays. A snippet leaks to a group chat, a dancer turns it into a challenge, a DJ runs it back three times in one set — and within a fortnight it's everywhere.
The fastest way to know what's hot? Watch the dance floor. If a song clears the bar and fills the floor, it's already a hit.
Never miss the next one
Get Radar's weekly drop of the best events, nightlife and culture.