In a major recognition for Nigerian music, Rema, Tems, and Ayra Starr have all earned spots in Rolling Stone‘s prestigious “Best 100 Albums of 2024” list. The magazine’s annual roundup, released on Monday, celebrates albums that have made waves globally, and the three artists have been acknowledged for their remarkable contributions to the music world.
Rema’s highly anticipated second studio album, Heis, secured an impressive 11th place on the list. Rolling Stone described the album as a “unique, buzzy and visceral” project, noting its vibrant energy. “Heis sounds more like a rave than almost anything Rema has made prior, raging while everything else simmers. The result is the buzzy, visceral, sweat-it-out music that no one else in the mainstream is making,” the magazine wrote.
Tems’ debut album, Born in the Wild, landed at number 37. Rolling Stone praised it for its “physical and emotional listening experience,” highlighting how it captures the emotional and spiritual journey Tems has undertaken. The review stated, “Her debut album measures the soul work it’s taken to get here. All of it has paid off on an album so rich that the listening experience is a physical one as much as it is emotional.”
Ayra Starr’s sophomore album, The Year I Turned 21, claimed the 53rd spot. Rolling Stone lauded Starr’s “musical maturity and enviable passion,” recognizing her growth as an artist. The magazine wrote, “Ayra Starr asserts a musical maturity that could be considered far beyond her years but perhaps more aptly serves as a reminder of the emotional depth, logical process, and enviable passion young people possess.”
