By Yinka Akanbi
Only three Nigerian albums made it to a new list of the 500 greatest albums of all time released by American Music media publication Rolling Stone.
Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time was originally published in 2003, with a slight update in 2012. There has been no definitive list ever since.
“So we decided to remake our greatest albums list from scratch. To do so, we received and tabulated Top 50 Albums lists from more than 300 artists, producers, critics, and music-industry figures (from radio programmers to label heads). The electorate includes Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, and Billie Eilish; rising artists like H.E.R., Tierra Whack, and Lindsey Jordan of Snail Mail; as well as veteran musicians, such as Adam Clayton and the Edge of U2, Raekwon of the Wu-Tang Clan, Gene Simmons, and Stevie Nicks,” the American monthly magazine wrote in a post on its website.
In the latest list, three Nigerian artistes – the late Afrobeat icon, Fela Anikulapo Kuti; legendary Juju music maestro, King Sunny Ade, and Grammy award-winning Afrofusion singer, Burna Boy – whose talents have been undeniable and have won them accolades from critics home and abroad – got a mention.
Burna Boy’s 2019 Grammy-nominated album ‘Twice As Tall’ was placed at number 330 and described as a project that showcases his compelling versatility through his exploration of Afro-fusion.
Afrobeat creator, the legendary Fela Kuti’s critically acclaimed and commercially successful 1975 album ‘Expensive Shit’ was placed at No. 402. The album had the smash hit ‘Water No Get Enemy’ in a project that conveys Fela’s fearless social commentary.
Seminal Juju maestro, King Sunny Ade, is the third Nigerian on the list with his 2003 album ‘The Best of the Classic Years’ ranked at No. 465. The album is a cherry-picking of some of his classic works between 1967 to 1974.
