You Don't Even Know How Hot These Beats Get

The group Loketo, whose music is in the Soukous genre, in the studio, during the recording of their first album "Trouble".
Jean Baron (left), Aurlus Mabélé (middle), Mav Cacharel (right) and Diblo Dibala (standing) Date January 26, 1985. Courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Black music from West Africa is a vibrant and diverse genre that has influenced music around the world. If you are interested in learning more about black music, I encourage you to explore the rich musical traditions of West Africa.

Some of the most popular West African genres include Afrobeats, highlife, soukous, and mbalax. These genres have all been influenced by traditional West African music, as well as by European and American music.

Afrobeats is a genre of music that originated in Nigeria in the 1980s. It is a blend of West African rhythms and melodies with electronic and hip hop influences. Afrobeats has become increasingly popular in recent years, and it is now one of the most popular genres of music in Africa.

Highlife is a genre of music that originated in Ghana in the 1920s. It is a blend of West African rhythms and melodies with jazz and swing influences. Highlife was once the most popular genre of music in Ghana, and it continues to be popular today.

Soukous is a genre of music that originated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the 1960s. It is a blend of West African rhythms and melodies with Cuban and Caribbean influences. Soukous is now popular throughout Africa, and it has also become popular in Europe and the United States.

Mbalax is a genre of music that originated in Senegal in the 1970s. It is a blend of West African rhythms and melodies with American funk and soul influences. Mbalax is now popular throughout Senegal, and it has also become popular in other parts of Africa.

These are just a few of the many popular West African genres. West African music is a rich and diverse tradition, and it is sure to continue to evolve and grow in the years to come.

Wizkid performing at the Iyanya vs. Desire album launch concert in 2013,
TCD PHOTOGRAPHY/The TCD Concept Ltd,
Courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Here are some of the West African Grammy nominees and winners, along with the American top talent they have partnered with:

• Wizkid: Won a Grammy Award for Best Global Music Performance for his song "Essence." He has also collaborated with Drake, Beyoncé, and Chris Brown.
• Davido: Nominated for five Grammy Awards in 2022, including Album of the Year. He has collaborated with American artists like Meek Mill, Nicki Minaj, and Cardi B.
• Burna Boy: Nominated for five Grammy Awards in 2022, including Album of the Year. He has collaborated with American artists like Beyoncé, Rihanna, and J Balvin.
• Tiwa Savage: Nominated for a Grammy Award in 2022 for Best World Music Album. She has collaborated with American artists like Drake and Rick Ross.
• Yemi Alade: Nominated for a Grammy Award in 2022 for Best World Music Album. She has collaborated with American artists like Major Lazer and Rick Ross.

Afrobeats is a genre of music that is sure to continue to grow in popularity in the years to come. With its unique blend of African and Western influences, Afrobeats is sure to appeal to a wide range of listeners.