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We are no longer looking at a landscape monopolised by a singular tempo. The first six months of the year have treated listeners to expansive, multi-genre music in which mainstream hits share equal space with unpopular sounds. As much as it’s a shared sentiment that there have been many duds disguised as music projects, there have been some gems.

As we hit the mid-year mark, I look back at these impressive music projects, from the chart dominators to the underdogs, to pick the best of the best in 2026 so far. Here are 10 albums and EPs, ranked.

10. THE RETURN (Eze Onyịkọ) — Aguero Banks

THE RETURN (Eze Onyịkọ), Aguero Banks’ new album, is a street-grounded project with its teeth deep in grit and self-reflection. Intimately, it explores survival, spirituality and hard-earned victory. With its suspenseful production, the album pairs hard-hitting bars with melodic assists from an elite roster of collaborators such as Chike, Ajebo Hustlers, and Wizard Chan. The East has long represented contemporary Nigerian Hip-Hop, and Aguero Banks is one of its vital voices.

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9. The Game Needs Us — BNXN and Sarz

Singer BNXN and producer Sarz’s collaborative 5-track EP comes with an ambitious title. It almost delivers up to its declaration, but falls short in its diversity. The laid-back sound relies on Sarz’s immaculate, stripped-back R&B and pop production, letting BNXN’s vocal performance take centre stage. Thematically, it’s based on the familiar narrative arc of modern romance, alternating between toxicity and emotional and sensual attachment. The centrepiece of the project is the choir-backed “Back Outside.”

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8. WELCOME 2 THE VILLE — Apex Village

Seven years after the release of their debut, Abuja-based collective Apex Village makes a definitive return with their sophomore album, WELCOME 2 THE VILLE. The ambitious 14-track project expands the group’s core vision, introducing new members such as Laime and Azanti. The tape explores UK drill to trap and Afrobeats sounds and it’s mainly produced by Thrill Max. positions the crew at the vanguard of Nigerian Hip-Hop’s generational shift.

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7. Mafia Busine$$ — Naija House Mafia

Naija House Mafia (Jamie Black, Sigag Lauren and Calix) is a pioneering group in Nigeria’s electronic movement that’s been a favourite in the rave scene for a while now. On their debut five-track project, the group delivers a mix of Afro-house, Gqom and 3-Step and Fulani folk music, while reimagining nostalgic Afropop classics. One sure thing is, the music will sweat you out and make you dance.

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6. Clarity of Mind — OMAH LAY

OMAH LAY’s highly anticipated sophomore album, Clarity of Mind, arrives with a high sense of renewal. It’s framed as a critical turning point for both the artist and the genre, and expected to be the calming force that takes listeners past the dark introspection of his previous work. But instead, the album falls back into the same orbit. Just that the music still bangs. It utilises OMAH LAY’s unique and evocative vocal style to give a soothing collection of songs centred on healing, clarity and solace. Some of the album moments are songs like “ARTIFICIAL HAPPINESS”, “JAH JAH KNOWS” and “MARY JANE.”

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5. ITEM VII — Ema Onigah

If you’re not familiar with Ema Onigah, he’s a young but seasoned singer-songwriter who has co-written for artists such as Tekno. On his new EP, he digs further into his rap cadence with an Afropop style. He shows how expressive he can be in his compositions, such as “Chance” and the most viral track, “With You.” This project is a showcase of an artist who’s constantly experimenting and trailblazing his own lane.

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4. Diamond In the Process — Jiire Smith

Operating outside the Lagos music scene, 22-year-old Abu Dhabi-based Nigerian singer-songwriter Jiire Smith puts out his debut EP, Diamond In A Process. It’s rooted in a soulful, intimate and deliberately unhurried R&B-Soul sound. The EP reflects the multicultural worldview shaped by his upbringing in Abuja and life in the UAE. The themes range from patience and discipline to love and grief. This is the soundtrack for the underdogs and those who are a work in progress.

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3. Agaba Romantic — Joeboy and Wizard Chan

Joeboy’s pop sensibilities and Wizard Chan’s mysticism collide to make Agaba Romantic, a 7-track collaborative inspired by desire, introspection, love and romance. The music blends influences from Afropop, Highlife, Reggae, and South-South gyration. It delivers some of the best songs of the year: “100 Meters” and “Fall Back In Your Arms.”

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2. Love Is a Machinery — Anendlessocean

Expanding on the romantic themes introduced in his 2024 EP Hexagon, Anendlessocean releases his most thorough and complete love album yet. He treats romance as a seed to be planted and nurtured. The songwriting and production of the album weave through mid-tempo soul, acoustic ballads, indie grooves, and Amapiano log drums to give a full, beautiful yet complex spectrum of devotion and love.

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1. M$NEY — Asake

Written from his new transatlantic base in Los Angeles, Asake’s 13-track fourth studio album, M$NEY, serves as a boastful celebration of financial freedom, success and identity that captures the artist fully leaning into his “Mr. Money” persona. Moving away from the loose experimentation of his previous project, LUNGU BOY, the album marks a notable return to his signature Afrofusion sound: a blend of Afropop and Amapiano log drums with House-music production. M$NEY is lyrically light, but packed with infectious, rotation-ready hits that make him Mr. Money With the Vibe.

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