- Afrobeats landscape offers a platform for seamless transitioning
- Numerous Afrobeats producers have seamlessly transitioned to become successful singers
- TheRadar spotlights 7 Afrobeats producers who became successful transitioned into artistes
The Afrobeats landscape has indeed revolutionised so much that, beyond working behind the scenes, music producers are now exploring their flair for singing at the forefront of the industry.
Many Afrobeats music producers have emerged to become hitmakers as artistes in their own right, shaping and influencing the movement of authentic and pure art in Afrobeats.
The journey behind their stories is inspiring, and it should challenge aspiring artistes to explore creativity without fear but with innovation, evolution, and unwavering passion.
Spotlighting some music artistes that fans often forget were once producers, TheRadar compiled this list of Afrobeats producers who have left a lasting impact in the music scene.
7 Afrobeats producers who became singers
1. Young Jonn
Young Jonn known as John Udomboso is a typical example of an exceptional Afrobeats producer who also seamlessly transitioned into stardom as an artiste. He is credited with numerous hit songs such as ‘Xtra Cool, Dada, Aquafina and many others in his catalog. He has done the same for artistes in the industry with his catchy beats. Overtime, he transitioned into singing, particularly combining Afrobeats and Amapiano influences in his music.
2. Omah Lay
Omah Lay, real name Stanley Didia, is regarded as one of the finest musicians of his generation, but not many know that he started out as a music producer. He once revealed that he halted his music career to produce songs for other artistes. However, he made his comeback with his hit song ‘Bad Influence’ in 2019 which captivated fans. He has gone on to pursue his music to become a popular superstar winning awards.
3. Pheelz
Nigerian singer and producer, Philip Moses, popularly known as Pheelz is a hitmaker whose portfolio includes Finesse and Electricity to name a few. He made his mark in the Afrobeats industry as a producer under YBNL, having been the brain behind many of Olamide’s hit songs. Not contented, Pheelz took a rather bold step to transition from producing to recording his own songs. It was a move that would make music lovers be aware of his supreme singing skill. With a number of projects to his name, Pheelz’ versatility and creative genius are now there for all to see.
4. Sarz
‘Sarz on the beat’ is a popular line that any loyal Afrobeats fan would know. Once you hear it, know that the beat maker is Osabuohien Osaretin, also known as Sarz. He is renowned for a unique style of music production that fuses a lot of African elements with electrifying dance music. His production credits feature many A-list artistes in the industry. Away from the back scene, Sarz has also taken the spotlight as artiste, showcasing his experimental approach to music.
5. MasterCraft
Born Sunday Nweke, Mastercraft, as his name implies, is indeed a master of his craft as far as music production is concerned. Like others, he has worked with numerous A-list artistes to experiment with his skills and creativity. However, despite his recognition as a producer, he has also stepped into the shoes of an artist with his songs.
6. Tekno
Afrobeats singer and producer Augustine Kelechi, professionally known as Tekno, is yet another outstanding talent who has worn both hats. He successfully transitioned from a behind-the-scenes producer to a renowned Afrobeats artiste. His captivating voice and infectious beats are also advantages Tekno offers in the industry. Some of his songs include Diana, Pana, and Yawa, amongst others.
7. Runtown
Runtown, officially known as Douglas Agu, ran the Afrobeats town in 2018 with hit songs such as Mad Over You and For Life. The producer-turned-singer has successfully made his mark in the industry. He first got into the limelight with the hit single Gallardo and proved his versatile musical style after captivating fans as a producer. Runtown blends Afrobeats with hip hop and RnB.
Top 6 nostalgic Afrobeats samples of 2024
Meanwhile, TheRadar previously reported that song sampling, which involves reusing portions of existing recordings in new compositions, had become a permanent fixture.
Popular Afrobeats stars regularly infused their songs with nostalgic sounds that have historical or cultural resonance. Some songs which were released in 2024 that sampled old Nigerian songs include Olamide’s Morowore, Tems’ Love Me JeJe, and Adekunle Gold’s Rodo.
