Music review: Hottest albums in January, February 2026

We’re just a few months into the first quarter of the year, and 2026 is already off to a great musical start. 

As a Nigerian, if you’ve stepped into any lounge, scrolled through TikTok, or stepped into a club recently, you can tell that some songs/albums have people on a chokehold. 

You already know the vibe. In this part of the world, we love the groove of amapiano, afrobeats, and that street vibe that makes our souls and bodies come alive. 

While there are tons of songs out there, we have put together the projects that have stood out in the first two months of the year, based on streaming data from Spotify Nigeria, Apple Music, and TurnTable.

The following are the best albums for January and February 2026. 

Real, Vol. 1 by Wizkid and Asake (EP)

When Wizkid and Asake, also known as Big Wiz and Mr Money, announced a joint project, the internet broke with people’s reactions and expectations. 

The project has been at #1 on Apple Music since its release in January. It reached about 20 million streams on Spotify Nigeria in just 10 days. 

It’s a unique blend of Wizkid’s classy, soulful energy and Asake’s high-energy Fuji-Amapiano fusion, featuring hit tracks like Jogodo, Turbulence, and Alaye. 

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Catharsis by Fola

Is there anyone in Nigeria who hasn’t heard of Fola? Catharsis by Fola surprisingly broke out this year. He indeed started gaining attention in late 2025; however, the album exploded in 2026, which is a clear indication that Nigerians love R&B and “Softer” Afrobeats.

As of February 2026, the project is trending as one of the top albums in Nigeria.

Black Sheepizen (The 13th Disciple) by Tuff King

As of late February, this album is listed as a high-performing project, especially on the Apple Music Charts.

Fuji Moto by Seyi Vibez 

This album was recently released, early in February, and in a heartbeat, it ranked on Audiomack and Spotify Charts within Lagos and beyond. 

The album is a projection of traditional Fuji music but with a blend of foreign class. In the album, you’ll find a bridge between the UK and Nigeria. 

No Sign of Weakness by Burna Boy

This was released at the end of 2025, and it climbed up to #1 on Apple Music Nigeria and surpassed 300 million streams on Spotify by the end of the month. It’s also earned a nomination for the 2026 Grammy Awards

The Fall-Off by J Cole

This western rap album, maintaining a top 5 position in Nigeria for consecutive weeks, is rare. The artist’s lyricism has found a home among Nigerian listeners. 

Hybrid by Shoday

This is a 14-track debut project and a versatile blend of Afrobeats, street-pop, and Afro-fusion. It became the #1 most-streamed Nigerian project on Spotify within days of release with 54 million streams.