The rising Naija star releases his debut album.
omah lay
Omah Lay Showcases Nigerian Luxury In His New ‘Woman’ Video
Nigerian superstar Omah Lay just dropped a new heater in time for summer. On “Woman,” the latest cut from his upcoming album, Boy Alone, he celebrates the lovely lady in his life.
“Anything I do is for my woman,” Lay says on the fiery Afrobeats track. In the song’s accompanying visual, filmed in Nigeria, Lay is surrounded by models, but keeps his eye on one woman in particular. They ride in a car, dance near a harbor, and hang out in an apartment, where they feast upon gold-crusted burgers.
In a recent interview with Billboard, Lay spoke about the recent wave in popularity of Afrobeats in North America and what he enjoys about performing in the US.
“It feels more present when we come out here,” Lay said. “They could just listen to it and that’s it. But actually seeing the Afrobeats artists right here in America, it’s like, ‘OK, that’s close to home,’ Afrobeats makes you dance. And I think this is the time when the world is in that headspace. The world wants to dance.”
Check out “Woman” above.
Boy Alone is out 6/24 via KeyQaad / Sire Records. Pre-save it here.
Omah Leh is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Omah Lay Is Primed To Be A Big Contributor Towards Another Successful Year For Afrobeats
If you had to pull up a starting point for the rise of Nigerian singer Omah Lay, born Stanley Omah Didia, you’d have to go back to 2020. That year, he began work on his debut EP Get Layd and one of the initial songs he recorded from that project was “Bad Influence.” On the surface, the gloomy record, which features haunting piano keys and a dance-friendly bass, is Omah Lay’s account of a relationship he had with a woman he labels as a bad influence. However, in an interview with OkayAfrica, Lay described the song as much more than that. “It was inspired by a whole lot of things,” he said. “It was me coming to Lagos, being exposed to a new type of life, a lot of things around me, and putting all that experience together.”
Omah Lay, who is only 24 years old, is native to Ikwerre, a city in Nigeria’s Rivers State. He was born into a musical family as his grandfather, who died in 1977, played instruments for the singer Celestine Ukwu. Lay’s father also played the drums. When the afrobeats scene was beginning its worldwide rise in the mid-2010s, Lay began pursuing a true career in music. However, his initial goals weren’t to be an artist. “I wanted to be a rapper,” he says in a 2020 interview with NotJustOk. “I was part of a rap group, my name was Lil King. I really liked Drake and his flows so I wanted to be like that.” That dream didn’t last too long as Lay would eventually pivot into afrobeats and begin songwriting and producing for a number of artists in Nigeria before releasing Get Layd.
By the end of 2020, “Bad Influence” became more than a breakout hit for Omah Lay. It was one of the biggest afrobeats songs in Nigeria. The song was the most-streamed Nigerian song on Apple Music that year, and it gave Lay the launching pad to increase his popularity and prove that he was far from a one-hit-wonder, and that same year, he released his second EP What Have We Done. Lay exhibited great growth and artistic improvement on that project, and it was one that arrived just six months after Get Layd. What Have We Done is propelled by the very catchy “Confession” and the equally addictive “Damn” which was later remixed by 6lack.
Propelled by the success of What Have We Done and the records on it, Lay’s popularity would only increase in 2021. He entered his name into the afrobeats song of the summer conversation by releasing “Understand” that summer. At this point, Lay had established himself as one of the members of afrobeats’ newest class. While names like Wizkid, Davido, and Burna Boy helped to elevate afrobeats to a point where artists all over the world sought to work with them and even put their own spin on the genre, new and younger acts arrived to show how wide the sonics of afrobeats could be stretch. Now, Lay finds himself besides names like Tems, Buju, Rema, CKay, Fireboy DML, Joeboy, Ayra Starr, and more in a class that’s full of life, color, diversity, and above all, potential.
Lay’s 2021 was fairly quiet. Outside of “Understand,” he stayed low in a year that was truly remarkable for afrobeats. Wizkid’s “Essence” became the highest-charting Nigerian song while CKay’s “Love Nwantiti” trailed not too far behind. It’s not to say that Lay missed his opportunity to have a part in the monstrous 2021 year. In fact, Lay might be checking back into the game right on time where much of the confetti has cleared, giving himself a chance to once again shine and relish in his own spotlight. Additionally, there’s no doubt that an equally-successful year is in store for the genre in 2022, just take a look at Rema’s excellent debut album Rave & Roses album as confirmation.
It’s probable that Omah Lay will grace the world with a new project this year, and he’s off to a good start so far. Last month, he teamed up with Justin Bieber for “Attention,” his first record since 2021’s “Understand.” The song arrived after Lay contributed to a remix of Bieber’s Grammy-nominated song “Peaches.” While connecting with Bieber for a song is a moment that few artists would experience, Lay didn’t allow the moment to change his approach to the record and he made sure to stay true to himself on it. “It’s basically about sometime in everybody’s life, you’re lonely,” he said about the song to Billboard. “You can’t just always have somebody all the time. Especially as an adult. That was actually the headspace that I was in when I made this song, a little lonely.” He added, “I want the people that are going through the same thing to feel like I was talking to them. I’m human. I’m just like them. I feel exactly the same way they feel.” So far, the song is making a splash in the US as it currently sits at No. 5 on Billboard’s newly-launched U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart.
We’ll have to wait and see what Omah Lay’s next move is, but if one thing is guaranteed, it’s that it will surely leave us satisfied and appreciative of his artistry. He’s given us music to dance to and that to connect with emotionally, both of which he’ll continue to do through the countless records he releases in the near and far future.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Up Next: The Artists Who Are Shaping Music’s Future
A big part of being a music fan is keeping up with the music of the moment; There’s a reason popular artists have gotten to where they are, after all. Another equally important aspect of being an informed consumer of music, though, is maintaining an awareness of the up-and-coming artists who are primed to shape the industry in their own ways.
That’s what Uproxx’s new Next Up series is all about.
Over the course of ten feature profiles, you’ll learn about artists currently laying the foundation for some major things to come, things that will both establish themselves as forces and influence those who come after them. Before those features start rolling in, keep reading for a rundown of who we decided needs to be a part of this conversation.
Dove Cameron
The pipeline from Disney Channel star to music icon has been fruitful over the years, as folks like Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, and Ariana Grande have started on the network and gone on to tremendous musical success (also Olivia Rodrigo if you count her High School Musical series on Disney+). Now it’s looking like Dove Cameron, whose lengthy acting resume includes the lead role in the Disney Channel series Liv And Maddie, could very well be next. Her debut EP, Bloodshot / Waste, arrived in 2019 and she just recently had her biggest hit yet in February with the dramatic single “Boyfriend,” which was her first, and likely not last, song to grace the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Saya Gray
With her recent signing to Dirty Hit, Canadian-Japanese singer-songwriter Saya Gray finds herself in great company: The label’s esteemed artists include The 1975, Beabadoobee, Wolf Alice, and Rina Sawayama. Her first album for the label, 19 Masters, is on the way in June and based on songs like the recent single “If There’s No Seat In The Sky (Will You Forgive Me???),” it’s easy to see why Dirty Hit brought the innovative young artist on board, who’s adept at switching genres not just between songs, but sometimes right in the middle of them.
PinkPantheress
TikTok has become a real proving ground for up-and-coming artists as the young generation gets exposed to a lot of new music on the platform. PinkPantheress managed to stand out above all the noise and earn herself a record deal with Parlophone. Her music definitely embraces the fast-paced nature of TikTok: Most of the songs on her 2021 debut mixtape To Hell With It are shorter than two minutes. That didn’t stop the multi-genre project from performing particularly well, as it landed in the top 20 of the charts in PinkPantheress’ native UK.
Kali
Speaking of TikTok, Atlanta rapper Kali also found success on the platform and now she’s breaking new ground beyond it. As Uproxx’s Aaron Williams notes, she’s moving into a space traditionally dominated by male rappers, one that is “marked by passive aggression, avoidant attachment, and audio gaslighting, with rappers and singers delighting in keeping their significant others guessing in the narratives of their songs.” Kali parlayed her breakout single “Mmm Mmm” into a debut EP, Toxic Chocolate. The Yung Bleu-featuring “UonU” is a highlight, on which she turns the tables and asserts dominance, rapping, “It’s a two-way street, we in the same lane / Play you ‘fore you play me, that’s just my mind-frame / But you still mine, babe.”
Tobi Lou
Odds are you’ve already heard Tobi Lou working with one of your favorites, as the Chicago-via-Nigeria rapper has collaborated with some of his biggest hometown peers, like Chance The Rapper, Dreezy, and Saba. He was on the ballot for the 2020 XXL Freshmen list and while he didn’t make the cut, he’s on to bigger and better things, like his recently released new album Non-Perishable, which mostly features Lou shining on his own but also alongside guests like T-Pain and Chika. All the name-drops are to illustrate that Lou has support from folks in high places, co-signs that show Lou is worth consideration.
Omah Lay
A lot of things have been going right for the 24-year-old Nigerian afrobeats star lately. Since landing a record deal a couple years ago, Omah Lay’s ascent has been quick, as he had a social media hit with “Bad Influence,” dropped some EPs that landed on Apple Music’s charts in Nigeria, and caught the attention of Justin Bieber, with whom he recently released the collaborative single “Attention.” Furthermore, Lay’s status as an afrobeats favorite was cemented with the launch of Billboard’s new US Afrobeats Songs chart in March. On the inaugural ranks, he had two songs in the top 30, including “Attention,” which graced the top five. Basically, Lay’s on an upward trend, so if you haven’t been paying attention so far, now’s a good time to start.
Bakar
Like many artists before him, Bakar got his start uploading songs on SoundCloud. That’s really one of the few ways the experimental UK indie rocker is like other artists, though. He gradually worked on his craft, forged a distinct aesthetic identity, and had himself a bit of a hit in 2019 with “Hell N Back,” which popped up on multiple rock and alternative Billboard charts, including a No. 1 placement on Adult Alternative Airplay. Things have only gotten better since then, as he had a feature on one of 2020’s most esteemed indie/pop albums in Benee’s Hey U X and released his debut album, Nobody’s Home, in February. He got some hometown love for that one, as it was a top-40 album in the UK. Now it feels like just a matter of time before the rest of the world catches up.
Horsegirl
Chicago trio Horsegirl formed in 2019, when its members were all teens. While many teenage endeavors are best left forgotten, Horsegirl has built on their start in a major way. They’ve since signed to Matador Records and so far released two singles for the label: 2021’s “Billy” and this year’s “Anti-Glory.” As for the sound, the group falls somewhere between post-punk and shoegaze, a zone that has clearly worked for them given the aforementioned examples of their success. It’s the kind of music that begs to be heard live, so there’s good news there, as one of the year’s buzziest bands has a slew of tour dates set for this summer.
Caracara
The 2019 EP Better was big for Caracara, as the rocking effort landed them on many people’s radars. That includes renowned producer Will Yip, who has worked with everybody from Lauryn Hill to Keane to The Wonder Years. He also linked up with Caracara on their recently released album New Preoccupations (As The Gods Descend), which is highlighted by the single “Colorglut,” which features Circa Survive’s Anthony Green. The company a band keeps can say a lot about them, and so far, a lot of top-tier folks have found their way to Caracara’s corner. Now that the new album is out and music fans have something fresh to sink their teeth into, the Caracara corner is about to get even more crowded.
Zack Fox
As social media has become a primary method of fan interaction for celebrities, a lot of musicians have emerged as legitimately hilarious social media personalities. Then there’s Zack Fox, who’s approaching things from the opposite direction: He was a comedian first, but in recent years, he’s found some solid footing in hip-hop: His debut album, Shut The F*ck Up Talking To Me, came out last year and he’s touring with Freddie Gibbs this year. On top of all that, he’s still acting and has a recurring role in one of the most acclaimed comedies of the moment, Abbott Elementary. He’s even an accomplished visual artist, as he illustrated the album sleeve of Thundercat’s Drunk. Basically, Fox has done something you’d probably enjoy in just about every artistic medium, which is something very few people can say.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
The Inaugural ‘Billboard’ Afrobeats Chart Is Dominated By Justin Bieber And Ed Sheeran
Last week, Billboard announced they were partnering with Afro Nation on the new US Afrobeats Songs chart, which “ranks the 50 most popular Afrobeats songs in the country based on a weighted formula incorporating official streams on both subscription and ad-supported tiers of leading audio and video music services, plus download sales from top music retailers.” The inaugural edition of the chart launched today and dominating the top spots are some big names not traditionally/primarily associated with Afrobeats music.
Three of the top five spots on the April 2-dated chart are occupied by songs featuring Ed Sheeran or Justin Bieber: CKay’s “Love Nwantiti (Ah Ah Ah)” is No. 1, Fireboy DML and Sheeran’s “Peru” is No. 2, Wizkid’s Bieber- and Tems-featuring “Peru” is No. 3, Omah Lay’s Bieber-featuring “Attention” is No. 4, and Tems’ “Free Mind” is No. 5.
This week’s top 5 on the inaugural U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart:
1. @ckay_yo Love Nwantiti (Ah Ah Ah)
2. @fireboydml & @edsheeran Peru
3. @wizkidayo ft. @justinbieber & @temsbaby Essence
4. @Omah_Lay & @justinbieber Attention
5. @temsbaby Free Mind— billboard charts (@billboardcharts) March 29, 2022
Nos. 6-10 on the inaugural U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart:
6. @Pheelzonthebeat & @BNXN Finesse
7. @goyamenor & @nektunez Ameno Amapiano (You Wanna Bamba)
8. @temsbaby ft. @brentfaiyaz Found
9. @heisrema Calm Down
10. @ckay_yo Emiliana— billboard charts (@billboardcharts) March 29, 2022
Looking at the full top 50, Tems is the clear leader overall with eight entries, followed by Wizkid’s six, Burna Boy’s five, Rema’s four, and Davido’s three.
When the chart was announced last week, Afro Nation founder, co-head of UTA London, and Event Horizon founder Obi Asika said, “The last decade has seen Afrobeats explode into a worldwide phenomenon, influencing culture and fashion across the globe and I am humbled to have made a contribution to growing the genre alongside many talented, passionate people. There is still so much more potential within the scene and the community that has grown around it and I believe it is vital that with Billboard we now have a US chart that reflects this growth and provides a platform for emerging artists from every continent to showcase their talent to new audiences.”
Silvio Pietroluongo, Billboard‘s SVP of Charts and Development, added, “Billboard is excited to collaborate with Afro Nation on the launch of the Billboard US Afrobeats Songs chart. As with much of the world, Afrobeats has grown tremendously as a genre in America and we are proud to showcase the top songs and artists with this new weekly ranking.”
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Omah Lay And Justin Bieber Dance Around A Fire In The Video For Their Rhythmic Collab ‘Attention’
Justin Bieber has found himself working more with afrobeats artists in recent years, like when he jumped on WizKid’s “Essence” remix and recruited Alpha P and Omah Lay for “Peaches (Masterkraft Remix),” both in 2021. Now, Bieber and Lay have reunited, as Bieber features on a new tune from the Nigerian artist, “Attention,” which also arrives alongside a video.
Lay told Billboard of the song:
“‘Attention’ is one of those songs where I’m just saying the truth, where I’m telling my story. It’s basically about sometime in everybody’s life, you’re lonely. You can’t just always have somebody all the time. Especially as an adult. That was actually the headspace that I was in when I made this song, a little lonely. I want the people that are going through the same thing to feel like I was talking to them. I’m human. I’m just like them. I feel exactly the same way they feel.”
Lay also explained how the track came together, saying of the fateful Los Angeles recording session, “I was in the studio one day with Harv [a frequent Bieber collaborator]. As soon as I heard the beat, the lyrics were already in my head. We didn’t even spend 30 minutes making the song. Harv called him and I FaceTimed Justin Bieber for the first time in my life. Later on, Harv got to play the song for him, and […] before I knew it, he sent in his verse and the song was good just like that.”
Lay also noted, “One thing I loved about working with Justin Bieber was how easy it was. I didn’t even expect it to be that simple.”
Watch the “Attention” video above.
Omah Lay is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
6LACK and Omah Lay Interview: Afrobeats Music, Collaborating
6LACK connects with Omah Lay to discuss the success of the Afro-music scene, working together and the popularity of Spotify’s African Heat playlist. Continue reading…