10. Crayon

Crayon carved a vital niche in Mavin’s modern roster during his tenure, delivering consistent commercial output and collaborative synergy that bolstered the label’s depth in the streaming era, with a catalogue that approached and surpassed 375 million streams. His versatility across melodic and street-edged sounds earned critical respect for artistic range, while his sustained presence and role in elevating the collective catalogue underscored strong longevity and label-specific value in keeping Mavin’s sound vibrant and competitive.

9. Ladipoe

Ladipoe has brought lyrical credibility and reliable consistency to Mavin’s lineup since 2017, bridging rap-sung hybrids with commercial and critical appeal. Standout releases like “Feeling” and frequent high-profile features have generated tens of millions in streams while earning respect for thoughtful songcraft, supporting the label’s group projects and expanding its sonic palette. His steady output and multi-year tenure reflect strong longevity on the roster and valuable label-specific contributions in maintaining Mavin’s reputation for quality and versatility amid the streaming era’s demands.

8. Johnny Drille

Johnny Drille exemplifies Mavin’s emphasis on artistic longevity and sonic diversity, his 2017 signing yielding the most consistent catalogue presence among current signees. Through multiple acclaimed albums, the enduring “Johnny’s Room Live” series, and loyal fan engagement that translates to sustained streams and touring, he has maintained relevance across shifting industry tides. While his numbers are more niche than the global stars, his distinctive alternative-R&B fusion earns critical admiration and adds essential label-specific depth, proving Mavin’s ability to nurture enduring talents beyond viral hits.

7. Dr. SID

Dr SID earns his place as a key architect of Mavin’s inaugural era, delivering standout individual hits like the anthemic “Surulere” (with Don Jazzy) and carrying forward melodic Afro-pop excellence from Mo’ Hits into the new label via Solar Plexus and features. His awards (Soundcity, NMVA), production-savvy style, and enduring catalogue resonance (millions of streams on classics like “Over The Moon”) reflect a personal hit-making legacy and cultural impact as one of the first faces of Mavin, even as later acts surpassed him in streaming volume.

6. Korede Bello

Korede Bello delivered some of Mavin’s most iconic early commercial moments, his 2014 signing producing hits like “Godwin”, the Headies Best Pop Single winner, and the RIAA Gold-certified “Do Like That” that became the label’s highest-certified digital single at the time. Those breakthroughs, alongside group anthems and Nigeria Teen Choice recognition, anchored Mavin’s formative wave and drove significant local sales and cultural resonance in the pre-streaming-to-digital transition. Though his later catalogue is smaller, the foundational impact and label-defining hits secure his place as an essential architect of the brand’s early success.

5. Reekado Banks

Reekado Banks defined Mavin’s breakthrough mid-2010s phase with explosive early commercial success and award-winning momentum that helped solidify the label’s reputation before the global streaming boom. His 2016 album Spotlight cracked the top 10 on Billboard’s World Albums chart, while signature hits and the Headies Next Rated crown (plus Rookie of the Year honours) drove massive local and regional dominance during his 2014–early-2020s tenure. That era-spanning impact, paired with his anchoring role in iconic group records like “Dorobucci”, reflects high cultural and label-specific value as one of the acts who put Mavin on Nigeria’s map, even as later artists eclipsed his raw streaming totals.

4. Wande Coal

Wande Coal earns a rightful top-tier spot for his individual vocal mastery and foundational influence on the “Mavin sound”, even with a shorter direct tenure (2012–2014). His Mo’ Hits-to-Mavin transition carried iconic artistry forward—hits like those from Mushin 2 Mo’ Hits remain revered benchmarks for Afrobeats crooning and production—while his overall career (650+ million Spotify streams, enduring monthly listeners in the millions, and legend status affirmed by peers) reflects elite individual achievement. He embodies the label’s early prestige as a hitmaker and vocal benchmark, outweighing longer-but-less-iconic runs in pure artistic legacy.

3. Ayra Starr

Ayra Starr embodies Mavin’s evolution into a global critical and commercial powerhouse; her meteoric rise since her 2021 signing delivers the label’s most potent blend of streams, acclaim, and generational influence. Clocking more than 3.4 billion total Spotify streams in just a handful of years—with her album The Year I Turned 21 alone, surpassing one billion, and “Rush” becoming the most-streamed solo track by any Nigerian female artist—she earned a historic Grammy nomination in the inaugural Best African Music Performance category. Her international chart dominance, Latin Diamond RIAA certification for “Santa”, and role as the youngest African female to crack major global playlists underscore profound cultural impact, while her rapid yet sustained output affirms both longevity on the roster and the label-defining prestige of elevating Mavin’s female artistry to worldwide stages.

2. Tiwa Savage

Tiwa Savage is the irreplaceable foundation stone of Mavin Records, the artist whose longevity and cultural authority from the label’s 2012 inception bridged the pre-streaming and digital eras with unmatched authority. As the first major signee and self-crowned Queen of Afrobeats, she racked up over 800 million career Spotify streams while delivering era-defining albums like R.E.D and anchoring collective anthems such as “Dorobucci”; her trailblazing awards haul—including the first MTV Europe Music Award for Best African Act by a woman—cemented Mavin’s early prestige and Nigerian dominance. Her enduring influence as a role model for African female pop stars and her pivotal role in establishing the label’s brand give her unmatched label-specific value, even as streaming metrics favour later signees.

1. Rema

Rema stands unchallenged at the pinnacle of Mavin Records’ legacy, his dominance forged in the streaming era, where pure commercial metrics reign supreme. With over 5.9 billion total Spotify streams—including lead streams exceeding 5 billion—and “Calm Down” (featuring Selena Gomez) becoming the first African-led track to surpass one billion streams while peaking at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, he delivered the label’s single greatest global breakthrough. That record-shattering run, coupled with his RIAA Gold-certified album Rave & Roses, a sold-out O2 Arena headline, and recent AFRIMA sweeps, including Artiste of the Year, cements his unmatched cultural impact as the artist who propelled Afrobeats into mainstream American consciousness; his label-specific value is incalculable, as Mavin’s UMG majority investment and worldwide expansion were built on the foundation he laid since signing in 2019.

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Muzz – Zaylevelten

Zaylevelten, the Nigerian underground rapper and producer who’s built buzz off experimental mixtapes like ‘then 1t g0t crazy‘, drops “Muzz” as his latest single today. “MUZZ” by Zaylevelten lands like a distilled burst of raw emotion and understated swagger — a short, sharp mood that doesn’t waste a single second of its runtime. The production, self-produced, is straightforward trap-leaning Afro-fusion: heavy bass, crisp hi-hats, and minimal melody beyond some atmospheric layers. Right away, you notice how “MUZZ” thrives on tension—rhythmic phrasing that feels both conversational and punchy, wrapped in production that sits somewhere between street-smart trap bounce and nimble Afrobeat soul. “Muzz” doesn’t venture far into the weird, experimental territory he’s known for in past work. Playful rhythms and catchy hooks are there, as promised in early write-ups, but it’s mostly standard fare.

Lyrically, it’s pure flex: counting money in Lekki, shocking old friends with the glow-up, designer fits, partying, and casual sex references. Lines like “Whole lotta money, yeah / Laugh at the bank ’cause it funny” set the tone early, mixed with pidgin flows that feel natural “As e be so, make I dey on my trips, yeah”, with references to Frank Ocean and Rihanna popping up. The chorus—“Anytime you see me, I dey muzz“—repeats endlessly, where “muzz” seems to mean vibing hard or moving in luxury mode, making it an earworm that just sticks.

They Love Me – Odumodublvck

Odumodublvck kicks off 2026 with his first official single of the year, “They Love Me”. Odumodublck’s “They Love Me” is flirtatious and Valentine-timed, with guest vocals from Valentina Rose. Clocking in at just 2:14, it’s a short, punchy drop produced by UCEE.

The beat is standard Odumodu fare: rumbling bass, sparse drums, and minimal melody—built for his gravelly, commanding delivery rather than hooks. It thumps decently, but nothing is innovative; it feels like a variation on his usual drill-tinged okporoko sound. “THEY LOVE ME” feels like a distilled manifesto — unfiltered, unapologetic and wired with the kind of braggadocio that only Odumodublvck can pull off with both swagger and subtlety. It’s all bravado. Core idea: even enemies secretly love and obsess over him “Enemies love me / Everything wey I do omo fancy am / I dey make dem sick of me”. He flips it to women too “She loves me / But she’s too shy”, with lines about girls playing his tracks during sex despite friends’ warnings. Then it ramps up aggressive: “Fuck dem / Whip dem / Jail term / Enslave men / I’m a bad man / From Bendel.” References to shooting first, hot-headedness, and pulling up like Rick Ross. Pidgin flows heavy, authentic to his Abuja roots, but the repetition—verse-chorus structure loops a lot—makes it feel padded for such a short runtime.

“They Love Me” sees Odumodublvck’s raw energy and confidence hit hard. His voice dominates, bars land with that signature menace, and the “they love me but too shy” chorus sticks quick. However, the romantic angle feels forced amid the hostility; it’s more a hate-admiration flex than a love song.

Dearly – Wande Coal ft. Qing Madi

Wande Coal links up with Qing Madi on “Dearly”, a Valentine’s-timed single and a nuanced love song that meets both heart and ear with graceful balance. The collaboration between Wande Coal and rising songstress Qing Madi spots a moment where veteran finesse and fresh emotion merge into something that sounds destined to become a slow-burn favourite.

Right from the instrumental opening, “DEARLY” opts for warmth over flash – a mid-tempo reel of soft Afrobeats and Afro-R&B elements that leaves room for vocals to breathe. There’s a minimalism to the production; it’s not about overt hooks or heavy drops but about letting two voices merge in a conversation of affection, longing, and tender vulnerability. 

Wande Coal brings that timeless silkiness he’s been crafting since the early 2000s, his falsetto gliding effortlessly through the verses like an old friend you trust with deep thoughts. Qing Madi brings emotional depth and higher-range harmonies; her emotive phrasing laces through the track without ever being overshadowed, matching the older head’s sincerity with authenticity and heart.

Lyrically, “DEARLY” doesn’t shout its intentions; it whispers them in lines wrapped in devotion and warmth. It’s flirtatious without being superficial, sentimental without being saccharine—that rare kind of love song that feels intimate even on speakers loud enough to fill a room. The chemistry here doesn’t feel like a trend-engineered duet, it feels like two artists genuinely meeting at the crossroads of love and melody.

In a sea of releases this week, “DEARLY” stands out for its restraint and emotional layering. It’s the kind of song that slides into late-night drives and slow-dance playlists, the kind you come back to not just because it’s catchy but because it feels.

Fire – Smallgod ft. Sarkodie, Joshua Baraka

Smallgod drops “Fire”, his new single featuring Ghana’s Sarkodie and Uganda’s Joshua Baraka, as a cross-regional Afro collab, with an accompanying video. “FIRE” by Smallgod featuring Sarkodie and Joshua Baraka lands as a deliberate blend of swagger, cross-continental flavour and melodic pulse—a track that feels designed to cross borders without losing the soul of each artist’s identity.

Heavy percussion, booming bass, and layered synths build intensity on the track with a minimalist hint, making it club-ready Afrobeats with rap edges—explosive drops and space for the features to shine. Production feels polished and powerful, aimed at turning up rather than introspection. It rides a warm, rhythmic groove that fuses highlife-leaning instrumentation with subtle, punchy percussion, a sonic foundation that gives each performer space to inject personality.

Thematically, it’s about dominance and heat with a boasting presence, success, divine backing, and that untouchable vibe. Enter Sarkodie, whose veteran presence immediately calibrates the track’s momentum. His verse layers deft lyrical confidence over the beat, a reminder of why he’s one of Africa’s most respected emcees — a seasoned navigator on any track he touches. Using his flow as a bridge between punchy rhyme schemes and charismatic delivery, he holds his weight effortlessly.

Then there’s Joshua Baraka, whose contribution adds an intriguing melodic contour. His style — often described by fans as emotive and smooth — gives the song a broader emotional range, grounding it in a warmth that contrasts beautifully with Sarkodie’s grit. This interplay between sharpened bars and honeyed vocals lifts “FIRE” out of generic territory.

“FIRE” is a fusion of seasoned lyricism and melodic charm — a cross-section of styles that feels immediate, radio-ready and genuinely collaborative.

LAST FOREVER — JOHNNY DRILLE

“LAST FOREVER” by Johnny Drille lands like a familiar breath of sincerity, the kind of love song that feels both timeless and intimately now, adding to the singer-songwriter’s thread of heartfelt storytelling and melodic warmth.

From the opening moments, there’s a softness to the arrangement that turns every note into something personal. The production is clean and atmospheric, letting the acoustic guitars and gentle percussion act as a quiet frame for Johnny Drille’s voice rather than a flashy backdrop. 

Vocally, Johnny Drille delivers with that signature sincerity he’s known for. There’s a vulnerability in his tone, a way of singing that feels like he’s confessing to someone directly rather than performing in a room. It creates an intimacy that few artists can pull off without tipping into cliché.

“LAST FOREVER” leans into devotion and lasting connection — a romantic sentiment that lingers. Listeners who’ve followed Johnny’s catalogue know this isn’t new territory for him, yet here it still feels fresh because it’s delivered without artifice. Love as promise and melody as embrace

In a week where big-energy and high-production tracks dominate the surface, “LAST FOREVER” stands as a quiet reminder of why Johnny Drille’s brand of heartfelt songwriting still resonates — precise, contemplative and warm.

LISTEN TO THE FULL NEW MUSIC FRIDAY PLAYLIST BELOW

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Magixx – “I Dream In Color” (Album)

After a patient buildup, Magixx has unveiled his debut album, ‘I Dream In Color’ The 13-track project, teased with a listening party photo drop on social media, includes four previously released singles and a collaboration with Jeriq. While some fans might question the choice of Jeriq over an artist aligned with Magixx’s R&B style, the album’s release clarifies his vision.

‘I Dream In Color’ opens with “Consistency,” produced by Sparqq, where Magixx reflects on his journey, acknowledging both triumphs and tribulations. “Ori Mi,” the second track, reveals a prayerful Magixx, expressing optimism and linking his ambition to financial success. These introspective beginnings signal a departure from typical romantic themes, offering a raw look into Magixx’s personal experiences.

Despite this focus on personal narratives, Magixx doesn’t entirely abandon matters of the heart. “With You,” “Winter & Summer,” “Alchl,” and “Sexy Lady” explore romantic themes, adding to the album’s emotional landscape. Rooted in familial dynamics, anxieties about betrayal, and a quest for inspiration, ‘I Dream In Color’ presents a multifaceted portrait of Magixx’s artistic vision.

Kel-P & Wande Coal – Best Of Both Worlds

Afrobeats enthusiasts are treated to ‘Best Of Both Worlds,’ a collaborative EP from producer Kel-P and vocalist Wande Coal. This five-track project showcases their collective talent, delivering a blend of melodic Afrobeats. Kel-P revealed in a BBC Radio 1Xtra interview that the EP was a spontaneous creation, born from a prolific recording sessions after his initial 2018 meeting with Wande Coal. Wande Coal, often called the “king of melody,” reaffirms his title throughout the concise EP. Including the 2024 release “Old Soldier,” the project also features the official release of the viral snippet “Ejo,” though disappointingly, Ikechukwu’s verse was omitted. Each track on ‘Best Of Both Worlds’ stands out, highlighting the synergy of brilliant producer and sublime vocalist.

Young Jonn – Only Fans

Young Jonn has launched his 2025 campaign with the single ‘Only Fans,‘ a track that embodies a carefree, playboy persona. Known for his versatility, Young Jonn delivers an infectious blend of smooth melodies and a relaxed vibe. The lyrics of ‘Only Fans‘ articulate Young Jonn’s hedonistic outlook, exemplified by the opening line, “Too many girls in the world for me to be with only one.” Drawing a parallel to King Solomon, Young Jonn positions himself as a modern-day figure of indulgence, prioritizing pleasure and freedom.

Co-produced by Greamar and Smyley, ‘Only Fans’ features a laid-back tempo and catchy groove. Young Jonn’s ability to seamlessly integrate singing, songwriting, and production is evident in the track’s cohesive and enjoyable sound.

Dandizzy & Duncan Mighty – Port Harcourt Boy

Dandizzy and Duncan Mighty have teamed up for ‘Port Harcourt Boy,’ a tribute to their hometown, produced by Freshy. The track merges drill with Afrobeats melodies, creating a contemporary sound rooted in Nigerian music. Inspired by Duncan Mighty’s ‘Port Harcourt Son,’ ‘Port Harcourt Boy‘ celebrates the city’s resilience and spirit. Dandizzy delivers sharp verses, while Duncan Mighty provides a memorable hook. Their collaboration creates a dynamic track that resonates with cultural pride.

Darkovibes – Real Love

Ghanaian Afropop sensation Darkovibes has dropped ‘Real Love,‘ the latest single from his highly anticipated six-track EP, Toxic Traits, slated for release on March 14th. The track, a bold foray into drill production helmed by Nxwrth and King Wizard, showcases Darkovibes’ versatility, blending his signature melodic vocals with sharp, rhythmic rapping. Lyrically, ‘Real Love‘ escapes into a hedonistic world, painting vivid scenes of nightlife and indulgence, all set against a groove primed for the dancefloor. This release follows the previously unveiled singles ‘Snap‘ and “Replica (The Greatest),” building anticipation for the EP’s exploration of modern relationships and personal complexities.

NEW MUSIC FRIDAY: MAGIXX, WANDE COAL, YOUNG JONN & DARKOVIBES FULL PLAYLIST

The post Magixx, Wande Coal, Young Jonn & Darkovibes on New Music Friday appeared first on Afromixx.