The Nigerian superstar, Victony, has made a significant impact on the sound of contemporary Afropop. Following the release of his debut album, Stubborn, we highlight some of the best songs in his catalog.
Victony’s music has a distinct feel, uniquely blending Afrobeat and trap. Since breaking onto the scene approximately three years ago, the Nigerian artist has captured attention with his storytelling, inspired by his life experiences, struggles, and triumphs. Many were introduced to Victony through the Mayorkun-featured hit, “Holy Father,” a global hit arguably among the biggest Afrobeats songs of all time. However, there’s much more to the music of Victor Anthony Ebuka.
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With his early project Saturn, Victony demonstrated a keen awareness of the stories around him, infusing them with his unique perspective. Thematic maturity emerged with the Outlaw EP, where he began exploring the dramatic potential of complicated relationships within contemporary Nigerian society. Last year, Victony delved deeper into his internal musical landscape with the release of Stubborn, his first full-length project.
In celebration of this album, we present this list of some of Victony’s best songs.
“Kolomental”
This mid-tempo track sees Victony pay homage to his friend Doyin, who he tragically lost in a car accident that left the singer unable to walk. Produced by Blaise Beatz, the soothing track’s catchy hook contains the musings of a young man overwhelmed by seemingly mundane aspects of life.
“Holy Father” (with Mayorkun)
A purposeful collaborator, Victony was featured by Mayorkun on “Holy Father,” track 7 of his sophomore album Back in Office. Beyond the serene vibrance of the production, composed of bright percussion and groovy undertones, the song boasts a cinematic music video directed by TG Omori.
“Everything”
Sampling Post Malone and Swae Lee’s iconic collaboration “Sunflower,” Victony delivered with “Everything.” The Outlaw King promises to show up for his lady and give her everything she desires, revealing a more romantic side. “Everything” was accompanied by a music video, parts of which were filmed on a farm.
“Soweto”
The Tempoe-produced record is one of Victony’s most popular singles. Accompanied by visuals directed by Jyde Ajala, the song gained traction on TikTok through a viral sped-up version. Victony later released a remix featuring Rema and Don Toliver, achieving charting success in the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Switzerland, and Canada.
“OHEMA”
Featuring an array of exceptional talents—Ayra Starr, Odumodublvck, Rema, Babyboy AV, Bella Shmurda, Blaqbonez, Bloody Civilian, Crayon, Lojay, Magixx, Oxlade, Qing Madi, and YKB—”OHEMA” rekindled the magic of collaboration. This communal experience was created through the efforts of Victony, who assembled 15 artists and three producers (Rexxie, Blaisebeatz, & Semzi) to create this memorable track.
“Stubborn” (featuring Asake)
For his album’s title track, Victony enlisted Asake as a guest artist. Victony explained that the album title reflects his personal story, his childhood, and his drive to achieve his dreams through music, despite challenging circumstances. “You don’t tend to see the nearest future in your surroundings or environment, so I decided to go for it. Thinking about all that is the reason why I named the album Stubborn. If you are creative and chase your dream, you are stubborn,” he remarked.
“Risk”
On “Risk,” Victony sings about superficial desires: money, clothes, and attractive women. While the theme is simple, he brings substance to it. The bouncy, unorthodox beat vibrates with each chant of “Risk, risk, risk.” Victony pushes his creative boundaries with multi-dimensional flows, moving beyond typical Afrobeats conventions.
“Jaga Jaga” (featuring AV)
On this soulful melody of reflection and resilience, Victony and AV combine their exceptional talents to create “Jaga Jaga.” This poignant song showcases their artistry and ability to connect with listeners.
