The Needle / Nigeria

A curious machine for collecting the scattered outbursts of Nigeria's love.

“The Needle / Nigeria” is a wide-ranging dive into the vibrant soundscape of contemporary Nigeria and beyond, threading everything from gospel-infused anthems like Pastor Emmanuel Iren and Nathaniel Bassey's “Agalliao” to gritty street-hop bangers like Small Doctor’s “Angel”. The playlist moves easily between spiritual ambiance, Afrobeat swagger, and global collaborations, mixing energetic tracks like “Fa Lala” by SuperWozzy and Damo K with the laid-back yet rhythmic grooves of “ME + YOU” by DEBAYO and K0NYE.

There’s a healthy dose of genre-blending too, with street-inspired melodies, dancehall cuts, drill riffs, and heartfelt gospel blending into one cohesive rotation. Tracks like “Sober (Soo Bad)” by Fameye and Patoranking reflect raw emotion, while lighter moments surface on songs like “Pedro” or the SpongeBob Afrobeat remixes. Whether exploring Nigeria’s eclectic music scene or catching vibes across the wider African diasporic sound, this playlist balances faith, hustle, and rhythm without missing a beat.