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Rolling Stone Names Davido, Tems, Burna Boy, and Rema Among the 250 Greatest Songs of the 21st Century
American pop culture giant Rolling Stone has unveiled its much-anticipated list of the 250 Greatest Songs of the 21st Century, sparking widespread discussion across the global music community.
The carefully curated list celebrates some of the most influential, genre-defining, and timeless tracks from the past two decades and African artists, particularly Nigerians, made an impressive showing.
Among the featured stars, Davido clinched a spot with his 2023 global smash Unavailable featuring South African hitmaker Musa Keys, ranking at No. 243. Rema’s vibrant Afrobeats anthem Woman followed closely at No. 228, while Grammy-winning singer Tems appeared twice, first with her breakout solo hit Free Mind at No. 232, and again alongside Wizkid for their world-dominating collaboration Essence, which landed high at No. 22.
Burna Boy also earned a well-deserved nod, with his heartbreak anthem Last Last securing the 95th position, while South African superstar Tyla’s viral hit Water made the list at No. 135, marking a proud moment for the global rise of Amapiano-inspired pop.
On the international front, the list featured an array of global icons, from Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s Crazy in Love at No. 3 to Taylor Swift’s All Too Well at No. 5 and Robyn’s Dancing on My Own at No. 6. Other standout entries included works by Frank Ocean, Kendrick Lamar, and Adele, among others, underscoring the evolution of music in the 21st century.
For many fans, the inclusion of African artists alongside these global heavyweights reaffirms Afrobeats’ unstoppable influence and its rightful place in the modern musical canon.
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