The Nigerian music industry has never been this busy. Over a dozen albums were released this year ranging from extended plays, albums, and mixtapes. We have carefully considered the pen games, melodies, message, and impact of these albums to select our top ten albums released in 2020.

Afrobeat, afro-fusion, afro-house, and the recent amapiano sound has made the year a bit interesting regardless of how dramatic COVID-19 was. The global pandemic deprived many artists if not all an opportunity to cash in from shows and live concerts forcing most of them to release projects probably to raise some money through streams. Though money from streaming platforms cannot be compared to the bulk flow of cash from live performances and endorsement deals, these artists have been able to adapt to the economy the virus has created.

Stars like Wizkid took the opportunity to dish out their albums even when it was supposedly due for release two years ago. Davido without any pressure for a body of work, came through with his third studio album while the African giant, Burna Boy bounced back in an attempt to claim the Grammys.

With close attention to the melodies, lyrics, production, delivery, and A/R, here are our top 10 Nigerian albums released in 2020.

Top 10 Nigerian Albums 2020

10. Chike - Boo Of The Booless

Nigerian singer, songwriter, and performing artist, Chike released his debut album Boo of the booless" on February 14, 2020. The 14-tracks album featured MI Abaga and Ric Hassani, Zoro. Chike gained prominence after his performance in MTN Project Fame 2015 before participating at the Voice Nigeria Season 1 shows that he finished as a runner-up. His debut album is a solid project with so many amazing songs and unimaginable melodies. His vocals were as good as his pen game.

9. Tiwa Savage - Celia

Tiwatope Savage professionally known as Tiwa Savage returns with a brand new album tagged "Celia" to immortalize her mother. "Celia" is her fourth studio album and it features Naira Marley, Stefflon Don, Dice Ailes, Davido, Sam Smith, and Hamzaa. Tiwa Savage via her Twitter handle revealed the album is dedicated to the strongest woman she had known which is her mother. According to the Universal Music Group act, the album is also dedicated to African women as she wishes to encourage them to gun for their dreams.

8. Adekunle Gold - Afropop Vol. 1

Taking a step away from his traditional alternative sounds, Adekunle Gold explores the Afropop genre with deeply rich instrumentals and mind-blowing vocal melodies. He linked up with a couple of his friends like Patoranking, Tekno, Olayinka Ehi, and others to render a classic performance in Afropop Vol. 1 album.

7. Fireboy DML - Apollo

Nigerian singer, songwriter, and recording artist, Adedamola Adefolahan popularly known as Fireboy DML who discovered by Olamide in 2018 has successfully made his style of music a reputable brand in the Nigerian music space. His debut album released in 2019 'Laughter, Tears and Goosebumps' stood out last year. The solo-performed album bagged so many numbers on digital platforms and also earned him so many awards last year including a Soundcity MVP award for Listeners Choice and was equally nominated for song of the year with his track 'Jealous' of the said album.

In 2020, Fireboy DML without any pressure returned with a sophomore album tagged Apollo. The album stood out possessing so many new vibes and exposing Fireboy's rare talent.

6. Olamide - Carpe Diem

Legendary Nigerian rapper, Olamide employs Fireboy DML, Omah Lay, Peruzzi, Phyno, and BadBoyTimz in "Carpe Diem" album. Olamide Adedeji popularly known as Olamide or Badoo finally dishes out his eleventh studio project. The singer, songwriter, and indigenous rapper present a sultry album tagged "Carpe Dem".

5. Davido - A Better Time

Nigerian singer, record producer, and songwriter, David Adeleke popularly known as Davido finally drops his highly anticipated third studio album titled "A Better Time". On November 13, 2020, Davido's DMW and Sony Music premiered the 17-track album from the Nigerian afrobeat star. The album featured six Americans (Nicki Minaj, Lil Baby, Nas, HitBoy, Chris Brown and Young Thug), one Ghanaian (Mugeez), one South African (Sho Madjozi), one Kenyan Afropop band (Sauti Sol), and four Nigerians (Mayorkun, Tiwa Savage, Bella Shmurda and Ckay). Production credits went to Kiddominant, Napji, Fresh VDM, Speroach, Blaise Beatz, Lord Sky, and other talented music producers.

4. Omah Lay - Get Layd

On the 22nd of May, Omah Lay dropped his debut project titled “Get Layd”. The five tracks body of work was assisted by to previously released singles ‘You’ and ‘Bad Influence’. The solo-performed body of work gave Omah Lay the necessary audience he needed to launch his brand in Nigeria’s competitive music space. 

3. Wizkid - Made in Lagos

With a solid performance on core afrobeat tracks with soothing melodies from Jamaica, Canada, London, Nigeria, and America, Wizkid shows off the amazing attributes he has as a Lagos bred singer. “Made in Lagos” album according to Wizkid is a project meant to tell the beautiful story of what growing up in Lagos (Africa’s most populous city) feels like.

2. Brymo - Yellow

Yellow is the seventh studio album by Nigerian singer Brymo. The album was released on April 1, 2020, and described by Brymo as an album about "love and survival".

1. Burna Boy - Twice As Tall

Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu also known as Burna Boy is a Nigerian-born singer and songwriter who took up Fela's afrobeat in the early 2000s. The afro-fusion founder delivers messages sampling thought-provoking speeches in his materials. His fourth studio album "African Giant' took the world by surprise, bagging a spot at the Grammy world album list of nominees and springing up a revolution.

Burna in his journey to represent his people as a warrior through his music dishes out another LP album tagged "Twice as Tall' to narrate yet another story. The 15-track album recorded amazing performances from Sauti Sol, Youssou N'Dour, Naughty by Nature, Chris Martin, and Stormzy.

Other worthy mentions include Gratitude by Timaya, Three by Patoranking.