PH BLOG ➹

Nigerian pop superstar Wizkid is taking the global music charts by storm with the success of his new single “Essence”—now bolstered even further with a remix version featuring multi-platinum artist Justin Bieber and fellow Afro-pop singer Tems . Currently making waves in the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard Global 200, “Essence” has received glowing reviews from various music publications worldwide, with NME praising its Afro-Latin production and Afrobeats percussion for evoking “a sense of homecoming.” According to Fader, Bieber’s contribution to the infectious summer jam “switches things up” and adds a bit of pop sheen to the mix.  Prior to the highly anticipated collaboration with Justin Bieber, Wizkid’s “Essence” has already been blazing on top of the charts, securing a No. 1 for the Nigerian pop star on the US World Digital Song Sales chart and UK Afrobeats chart. The song has made it on Spotify’s Song of the Summer playlist in June 2021, and in Barack Obama’s favorite songs of 2

After gaining tremendous attention online with #MonteroMakeUpChallenge, a collaborative effort between Sony Music Philippines and Drag Playhouse PH in an effort to pay tribute to his song’s inclusive and overt queer iconography, Lil Nas X continues to dominate cultural conversations here and abroad with the equally controversial new song “Industry Baby.” Featuring fellow rapper and hitmaker Jack Harlow, the song is steadily climbing on various streaming charts in the country, and is currently making waves on mainstream radio in Metro Manila and beyond. “Industry Baby” features production by Take a Daytrip and Kanye West and touches on Nas finding his confidence and proving anyone who ever doubted his staying power, wrong. The song is the latest to be released from the highly anticipated upcoming album Montero, due later this year via Columbia Records.  Controversial music video The accompanying visual was based on a story by Lil Nas X and directed by Christian Breslauer.  It follows N