The Afropean.com team wishes all our readers a Happy 2025.

We’re continuing our newfound tradition (est. 2023) of reflecting on the songs and artists that have made our musical year and sharing these gems with our cherished readership. A different 2024 playlist from a member of the team has been posted every few days during the Christmas season, up to and including the New Year. This latest selection is courtesy of Afropean.com co-founder, Nat Illumine.

Ghetts – On Purpose With Purpose LP

Ghetts has proved why he’s king of the UK grime scene with his 2024 album, On Purpose With Purpose. Never one to shy away from controversy, his hard-hitting single, Double Standards feat. Sampha is a case in point, with numerous quotables across his two verses. It’s hard to pick just one and it’s tempting to include the entire lyrics. However, this will have to suffice:

Look around the world, all I see is double standards
Even Mark Zuckerburg covers up his cameras
Steve Jobs never let his kids use an iPad
And my kids think that I’m bad. Mad…

As with any British artist repping the UK, the production encapsulates the sound of the Black Atlantic; from Hip-Hop to Garage to Amapiano, with a touch of Dancehall and features from Kano, Wretch 32, Unknown T, Lancey Foux, Moonchild Sanelly, Skraps, Shakka, Jay Angelo, Harry Aye, Muzi, Tiggs Da Author, Pip Millett and the indomitable Dexta Daps. Weaving Grime and Gospel is a skill of Ghetts and he does so on Hallelujah with aplomb. Expect awards aplenty for this beautiful collection of songs from one of the UK’s hardest hitting MCs.

Fridayy – Fridayy LP

Strictly speaking this came out in late 2023, however I’m including this here as it was my most listened to album of 2024 by a long shot. Having never heard of Philadelphia-raised Fridayy prior to this album, this has cemented this artist in my favourite contemporary soul singers list. Plaintive, heart-rendering praise to the Most High is the main theme. Despite a number of high profile guests (Fireboy DML, Adekunle Gold, Byron Messia, Chris Brown), it is nevertheless Fridayy’s deep baritone that carries this album from start to finish. Highlights include When It Comes To You, Church on Sunday, Done For Me (ft. Adekunle Gold) and the haunting Stand By Me. This is a true testament to prayer and faith and never giving up on one’s goals, and is an album that will feed your soul.

Marsha Ambrosius – Casablanco LP

This album is nothing but a joyous surprise from one half of former girl group Floetry, Marsha, and her producer Dr Dre. Forget formulaic RnB – this is a celebration of Marsha’s artistry in which Dre gave her full reign to be as creative as she wanted, resulting in an album that somehow sounds fresh for ’24 whilst inspired very much by the past. Encapsulating Jazz, Soul and Hip-Hop, Marsha sings and scats through this album like a pro, over Nas beats, Mary Jane Girls samples, and Duke Ellington riffs, sounding like one of America’s Jazz greats but born in the here and now. An album that will reward repeated listens. 

TOBi – Butterfly/Never FoldEgo Slide single

Nigerian born, Canadian resident TOBi first came to my attention in 2019 with his biting single, City Blues and I’ve become a bit of a super fan ever since (I’m in his top 100 listeners worldwide according to my Apple music review), and for good reason. This boy can sing and this boy can rap, but, much more importantly, this boy can write. TOBi’s career has really flourished over these last five years with three albums, a bunch of EPs and a great roster of singles, including the above-mentioned. On Butterfly, TOBi Joins forces with Afrobeats singer YKB and song-writer/production duo Mojam for a sweet soul pouring; Never Fold sees him paired with Brooklyn producer !llmind who provides the ideal backing for TOBi to show off his flow-flipping style; and on Ego Slide the tempo is upped as TOBi drops bars in his sing-song style, alongside the UK’s alt-rap fave, Kojey Radical.