Afrobeats Power Ranking: Davido reigns supreme as Black Sherif rockets up in April 2025
The April 2025 edition of the Afrobeats Power Ranking, compiled by NotJustOk, captures another eventful month for the genre, full of major returns, viral collaborations, and heavyweight album drops.
This ranking weighs a blend of streams from digital streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Boomplay; social media engagement; new April releases; streams of the entire catalogue in April and overall cultural impact. And this month, the sheer volume of fresh drops—like Davido’s 5ive and Black Sherif’s Iron Boy—significantly shook up the order.
Let’s explore the top 10, spotlight major climbers, and break down what made April one of the busiest Afrobeats months in recent memory.
Top 10 – The heavy hitters
1. Davido – Davido holds his spot at #1 off the strength of his highly anticipated 5ive album. Tracks like Sister Nko, Flex My Soul, and On My Neck exploded across platforms and dominated April’s charts.
2. Black Sherif – This month’s biggest jump. Rising from #26 to #2, thanks to the release of Iron Boy, a deeply emotional and raw album. Songs like Kilos Milos and Sad Stars connected powerfully across Ghana, Nigeria, and the diaspora.
3. ODUMODUBLVCK – Massive leap to top 3. The drop of The Machine Is Coming pushed Odumodublvck into elite territory. Tracks like Hop Out (with 17 & Ramz) and Anti-World Government fueled streaming spikes and critical acclaim.
4. Omah Lay – Quietly jumped from #10 to #4. With no new release in April, his existing catalog continued to chart high, aided by fan engagement and strong global performance.
5. Rema – Down from #2 to #5, but still going strong. His April drop Bout U and lingering power from HEIS and Benin Boys continue to keep him in heavy rotation.
6. Tayc – Rising one spot from last month, Tayc continues to bridge Afrobeats with the Francophone world, staying consistent on both streaming and tour circuits.
7. T.I Blaze – Drops from #3 to #7, but remains influential with his Shakur Deluxe release and a popular feature on Egbami alongside Rexxie and Rybeena.
8. Burna Boy – Down slightly from #7. Though he had no solo release in April, his remix of Laho with Shallipopi added just enough buzz to hold his ground.
9. Tyla – Despite no new music, Tyla held on to her top 10 status thanks to continued global traction from Tyla+ and her feature on Bombshell with Skyla Tylaa and Diamond Platnumz.
10. Wizkid – Drops from #4 to #10. His April feature on Gimme Dat with Ayra Starr and steady streaming from Morayo helped him stay in the conversation.
Biggest Climbers – Who’s rising fast?
Black Sherif (#26 → #2)
- Why: The release of Iron Boy captivated fans across West Africa and the UK.
- Key Tracks: Zero, Kilos Milos, January 4
ODUMODUBLVCK (#17 → #3)
- Why: The Machine Is Coming created a cultural moment, with themes resonating across street and online listeners.
- Standouts: Hop Out, Anti-World Government, Adamma
Omah Lay (#10 → #4)
- Why: No new April drop, but his back catalog and TikTok virality gave him sustained momentum.
Johnny Drille (#18)
- Why: He rode the wave of Angelina with Fireboy DML and Police alongside Kizz Daniel and Angelique Kidjo.
FOLA (#22)
- Why: Lost (with Kizz Daniel) and Dangbana Riddim (with Bella Shmurda) proved to be April favorites.
Notable entries & returns
Rybeena
- Gained exposure from Egbami with Rexxie, putting him back on the radar.
Lil Kesh (#33)
- Made a comeback with Forever Getting It, showcasing more maturity and aggressive flows.
Olivetheboy (#34)
- Out of the Blue EP helped him crack the list with Ghanaian and Nigerian support.
Mayorkun (#47)
- Reason 2 Japa turned into a viral moment, reigniting interest in the Mayor of Lagos.
Phyno (#43)
- God Design with Jux marked his only major drop of the year and sparked fan nostalgia.
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