The complexity and variety of genres in Nigerian music are part of what makes it so beautiful. Our music is influenced by the vast history and culture of our nation, changing only in dynamics as they are passed down to us from generation to generation. Over the years, we have demonstrated that we have a lot to offer—from our traditional sound to our contemporary sound, from bringing in fresh trends into culture to making use of obvious musical aspects.
Crowd vocals are a significant component of music that has been around for a while. It is a style of music that involves individuals singing in unison as a form of accompaniment to a musician leading a song. Crowd vocals were first employed by artists in songs during the independence era in 1960, using the microphones to magnify their voices and singing over each other’s performances. Although it may not be as prevalent as it once was, crowd vocals are still used in the majority of well-known songs on streaming services.
After halfway through the year, Asake has established himself as a pioneer in the use of crowd vocals in his music. From the release of Omo Ope, on which rapper/singer Olamide was included, through to Fireboy DML’s inclusion of him on Bandana, the pop singer has had a significant impact on afrobeats with the usage of this element in his music. Even though using crowd vocals seems like a simple approach, Asake is all about how varied crowd vocal usage methods have his music sound better than others.
Due to the ambiguity of contemporary Afropop lyrics, crowd vocals provide a superior level of clarity and message delivery, helping to define what an artist is trying to say through his music. The listening audience is able to comprehend not only Asake’s point of view but also that of Fireboy employed using this element in Bandana. He employs the use of crowd vocals in “Them never see me coming ..”
Although Asake may not have started the trend for this aspect of music, the popularity of his single, Omo Ope, has increased its use in 2022. It is safe to conclude that he indeed has a significant impact on Afrobeats in 2022 in addition to being talented as artists now hover around the music element in their songs. Call it the Asake effect, but in all of his recent songs and features, he has done the finest job possible using crowd vocals.
Asake arguably employs crowd vocals better than anybody else; despite the obvious presence of the musical element, his choral arrangements and crowd vocals vary with each new song release, so you would be mistaken to assume that he sounds the same. By applying it, the artist improves your listening experience, provides you with a memorable hook, and keeps his songs sweet and melodious, like in Peace Be Unto You, for example. The majority of Asake’s hooks and choruses are so perfectly timed that it’s impossible to sing them without screaming at the top of your lungs.
You feel immersed in the song just as much as the artist(s) involved because of the utilization of crowd vocals, which gives you a participatory feeling. Like any passed-down culture, Asake has been able to maintain the practice of using crowd vocals by redefining it with his own distinctive components, and his efforts have given Nigerian artists a fresh start. This pop artist deserves and demands to be treated with the utmost respect for effortlessly carrying the year 2022 on his back.
The persistent usage of crowd vocals in Asake’s and other artists’ songs this year alone, and fun fact: the year isn’t through yet, may be a cry for help. Although some music fans have appreciated Asake and his songs, they recognize him as the individual who initiated this trend and feel that he should be left alone to handle crowd vocals since they believe he does it best.
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