BARCELONA — Nigerian Afrobeats star Skales, born Raoul John Njeng-Njeng, electrified Barcelona’s Copa del Rey victory party, performing his 2015 hit “Shake Body” after the club’s triumph over Real Madrid on April 26, 2025. The track, revitalized by a viral moment when Spanish footballers Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, and Samu Omorodion danced to it during their Euro 2024 win over the Netherlands, brought Skales to the global stage. Invited to perform at the post-match celebration, he mingled with Barcelona’s rising stars, including Yamal and Alejandro Balde, later sharing a video on social media captioned: “FORÇA BARÇA!!! Felicidades Barcelona!! It was an honor.”
The performance has reignited worldwide love for “Shake Body,” cementing Skales’ lasting influence in Afrobeats. On the same day, the genre continued its global ascent. Zinoleesky’s debut album Gen Z shattered Spotify Nigeria’s record with 2,458,077 opening-day streams, while Ayra Starr and Wizkid dropped their scorching single “Gimme Dat.” Wizkid, Rema, Tems, and Asake also earned nominations for Favorite Afrobeats Artist at the 51st American Music Awards, set for May 26 in Las Vegas.
Beyond Afrobeats, Megan Thee Stallion kicked off 2025 with her fiery single “Whenever,” and Migos’ Quavo pushed his Hollywood ambitions in High Rollers alongside John Travolta, aiming to eclipse hip-hop icons like 2Pac. Los Angeles–based artist Monsieur Belange also joined the wave, releasing “Jack in the Box” via DistroKid, a ’90s-infused hip-hop anthem inspired by a 2022 California moment, available on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube.
Stream Gen Z, “Gimme Dat,” and “Whenever” now, follow @skales, @zinoleesky, @ayrastarr, @wizkidayo, @theestallion, and @quavohuncho on Instagram, or visit Monbelange.com for Belange’s journey. Catch the AMAs on CBS and Paramount+ to see Afrobeats’ global takeover unfold.
Source: African Publicity