By Goodness Damilola Shittu
Afrobeats in 2024 has been on a meteoric ascent, with artistes releasing projects spontaneously and uniquely while propelling the music beyond the continent. As artistes continue to cement their names on the global history with experimental projects infused with Western sounds, we’ve also witnessed recurring events of them borrowing music from the past. This time, tapping into the local sounds, and incorporating nostalgia while paying homage to progenitors of the sounds. A concept popularly referred to as sampling or Interpolation.
Sampling, in its literal meaning, implies taking the original element of an existing song, whether melody, notes, or recording, and putting it into a new song, without altering any part of the removed element. Interpolation, on the other hand, takes a different turn, where the artiste takes the melody or portions of a pre-existing audio and rerecords it in a new song. These concepts are often mixed up, yet both terms differ in context.
This popular culture dates back to music itself and is more prevalent in the 21st century. While some artistes like Burnaboy and Wizkid have been found to incessantly ‘sample’ music from old classics, this year has witnessed a surprising turn out of artistes sampling and interpolating songs.
In this list, we curate the top 10 samples and interpolations in Afrobeats in 2024
Active by Asake
On the lead single off Asake’s third studio album, Lungu Boy featuring American hip-hop rapper, Travis Scott, ingeniously interpolates the Jazzman’s 2004 Fuji Hip-Hop classic, Raise Da Roof infusing vocals from Fuji star, Adewale Ayuba. Produced by Sarz and Mike Dean, Active – which is one of the hard-hitting tracks on the album – opens up with a sonic reverberation infused with Hip-hop classics, and ignites a nostalgic listening on what is probably the most popular of the top samples in Afrobeats in 2024
Left Right by Keys the Prince
Left Right by UK-based Nigerian artiste and producer, Keys the Prince delivered one of the top samples in Afrobeats in 2024. The self-produced single blew up at the beginning of the year samples and interpolates the 2005 Yinka Ayefele gospel tungba-medley, Beru Ba Monuro. The popular phrase “Te Ota Mo Ile” was sonically extracted into the Afrobeats and Hip-hop blended track, bringing a refreshing sound.
Love Me JeJe by Tems
One of the hit songs from Temilade Openiyi (professionally known as Tems) that surfaced this year is Love Me Jeje. The song which also extracts its title from Seyi Sodimu’s classic hit, Love Me Jeje released in 1997, interpolates the said song. On the Guiltybeatz and Spax production, Tems infuses Seyi Sodimu’s verse “Love me jeje, love me tender. You are my sugar, my honey, my tender lover”. Unarguably, one of the best recreations of the year.
Rodo by Adekunle Gold
As Gen Z would say, Adekunle Gold was in his bag when he made this hit song Rodo. Not only does the song serve as a nod to cultural preservation, but brilliantly brings a unique and refreshing feeling to listeners. On Rodo, Adekunle Gold interpolates Opon Apala Ti Sun, a popular classic, from the late legendary Apala musician, Musiliu Haruna Ishola. AG delighted fans with the upbeat, groovy, neo-apala-inspired song.
Olufunmi Reimagined by ID Cabasa feat. Fireboy DML, Joeboy, BOJ & Odumodublvck
One surprising but notable collaboration for the year is the ID Cabasa-produced song, Olufunmi Reimagined. The love song, superbly interpolates and samples one of the most popular RnB Nigerian classics, Olufunmi by renowned boy band group, Styl-Plus which was released in 2004. On the song, ID Cabasa enlists vocals from Fireboy, Joeboy, and Boj and “daggering” rap verses from Odumodublvck, while recreating and incorporating melody and chorus from the original song. This is one of the top samples in Afrobeats in 2024 as this re-imagination awakened strong emotions in any Nigerian born at the time the original song surfaced.
Palava by Johnny Drille
Unlike his emotive and heartwarming midtempo and downtempo releases, Johnny leans towards the upbeat track, while tapping into the trend of sampling, to release the single, Palava. On the self-produced track, Johnny Drilled skillfully interpolates Stereoman’s 2005 hit single Sample Ekwe into the second verse of the song. Undoubtedly one of the best interpolations in Afrobeats in a while, this track unlocked memories from the early days of the smash hit of Sample Ekwe.
Jazzy’s Song by Ayra Starr
‘Sabi Girl’ stunned listeners when she reverently interpolated the Wande Coal hit song, You Bad produced by Don Jazzy, to create Jazzy Song, the sixth track of her album, The Year I Turned 21. On the P.Priime-produced track which pays homage to Afrobeats’ biggest influence and music executive, Don Jazzy, Ayra Starr recreates the melody from the original song, tapping into the recurring trend with one of the best interpolations in Afrobeats this year.
Jowo by Simi ft. Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey
Off her latest body of work, Lost and Found, Simi goes back in time with an interpolation of the 1967 classic love song, Olomi Gbo Temi by legendary Juju musician, Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey to release Jowo. Simi who once interpolated a song from Ebenezer Obey, this time, featured the renowned singer, immersing listeners again into a nostalgic experience with one of the best interpolations in Afrobeats.
Majo by Pheelz
Prominent producer and artiste Pheelz is yet another notable artist who tapped into the culture of sampling and interpolation. Majo by Pheelz also interpolates the Adewale Ayuba Fuji classic, Ijo Fuji, delivering a vibrant fusion of Neo-Fuji and Afrobeats, with log drum patterns. Pheelz dexterously takes listeners on an ‘Owanbe’ ride, recreating melodic verses and chorus from the original song. Surely, this ranks on the list of the best interpolations in Afrobeats this year.
No Stylist by PsychoYP and Jeriq
While most artistes lean towards sampling songs from older generations, PsychoYP and Jeriq take the unconventional route in interpolating Wizkid’s Azonto song to deliver No Stylist. The original song, which was a smash hit in 2012, finds its way into the Hip-hop-esque track, off their joint EP, ‘Evil Twin’.
The subtle trend of sampling and interpolation this year is no doubt a creative nod at the preservation of our indigenous sounds, and dynamic approach to music production. While it has been a recurring pattern, it appears that more artistes will continue to hop on this train, perhaps to maintain relevance and showcase versatility, but also to immerse listeners in their ingenious artistry.
