Once again, making history is Asake. The Nigerian singer made history on Friday, Sept. 8, when she headlined and sold out a performance at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.
Asake’s debut arena performance in North America occurred during the “Work Of Art Tour” stop, which Duke Concept organized. His entry into the 19,000-person auditorium was stunning as he emerged from a gigantic silver ball wearing motorcycle gear and sang “Organise.” He also sang additional songs, like “Joha,” “Sungba,” “Bandana,” “Lonely At The Top,” “Mogbe,” “Basquiat,” and “Amapiano,” to mention a few, throughout the evening.
Among the famous people who supported the Afrobeats singer were Central Cee, Fireboy DML, and Broda Shaggi. Among the numerous opening performances were the rappers Black Sherif from Ghana, Odumodublvck from Nigeria, BILS, and DJ Prince. Work Of Art, Asake’s second studio album, was released on June 16; this momentous occasion promoted it. Olamide only makes one guest appearance on the 14-track record.
Asake performed at London’s famed O2 Arena last month for the first time as the headlining act since the tragedy at the Brixton Academy. He began by reciting a poem about the two concertgoers who died in a stampede in 2022. The poet began his poem with the words, “Fifteenth of December, 2022/Observe, respect where respect is due,” adding, “I don’t know what you’ve been through/But, let’s hold space for something true/A Brixton night took place we cannot forget/I know some feel loss and some regret/Some came out that night and ain’t returned/We need to hold this moment.”
As previously reported by REVOLT, Mr. Money With The Vibe, Asake’s first studio album, debuted at No. 66 on the Billboard 200 in September 2022 and went on to become the highest-charting debut Nigerian project of all time. After Burna Boy’s Love, Damini, which debuted at No. 18; Wizkid’s Made In Lagos, which debuted at No. 28; and Burna Boy’s Grammy-winning Twice As Tall, which debuted at No. 54, it became the fourth-highest charting Nigerian album as a result of its arrival.
