Nigerian Afrobeat and Hip-Hop artist, Naira Marley, has released his debut project titled God’s Timing’s the Best on May 30th, 2022. This release coincided with Marlian Day, a day declared by Naira to celebrate liberty and the resilience of Marlians – Naira’s fans – amidst the challenging times being faced globally.
The Marlian Music frontrunner has assembled a roster of exceptional talent including South African poet and songwriter Busiswa, Jamaica’s Jada Kingdom, French rap star MHD, and fellow Marlian Music artists Zinoleesky and Mohbad to craft a 14-track classic set featuring production by Rexxie, AYK, Niphkeys, Diquenza and Leo Beats. The project’s production and sound has been strategically crafted to speak to the Afro-Caribbean global diaspora, taking cues from Yoruba, Angolan, Dutch and French sounds, cultures and dialects.
“God’s Timing’s the Best, has nothing to do with the track list but everything to do with me. I feel like everything in my life has led up to this moment. Relocating back home, my career, my label, my highs and lows. It’s all God’s perfect timing.” – Naira Marley
Naira has captured the hearts of many across the globe, organically developing a cult-like following. He inspires his audience to be unapologetically themselves. He uses his platform to bring a spotlight to the underrepresented, unspoken for and marginalized. Through his music he aims to bring joy to those communities. GTTB reflects Naira’s autonomous attitude, and his outspokenness which is akin to Kendrick Lamar; his vibrance and bold character like Kodak Black; his connection to the streets like Giggs; and his rebellious and subversive style like Slowthai.
God’s Timing’s the Best is out now on all DSPs.
The Tracklist consists of Jo Dada, Happy (Ft Mayorkun), Ayewada, O’dun (Ft Zinoleesky), No Panties (Ft Jada Kingdom), Montego Bay, Melanin (Ft Lil Kesh), Drink Alcohol Like It’s Water (Ft Chivv & Diquenza), Excuse Moi (Ft MHD), Modinat Kai, Owo (Ft Mohbad), First Time In America, Coming (Ft Busiswa), Kojosese.
With over 12 million combined social media followers and 300 million streams across DSPs and YouTube, Lagos-via-Peckham superstar Naira Marley is Nigeria’s most notorious Afrobeats and Hip-Hop artist who has single handedly created one of the largest cult followings in the world – a community affectionately termed the “Marlians.” The pioneer of AfroBashment, Naira’s 2014 debut track “Marry Juana” was the first to fuse the slang and accent of his birth city of Lagos with the floor-filling rhythms of Jamaican Bashment – all delivered with the charismatic road swagger of his adopted hometown of Peckham, South London.
The last two years have proven the President of the Marlian Nation is on the road to stardom. He’s given electrifying performances at WizKid’s StarBoy Fest @ London’s O2 Arena, formed his own immensely successful Marlian Music label, headlined his massive Marlian Fests drawing in upwards of 30,000 fans, skyrocketed from 100k to 6 million Instagram followers, and released a series of local chart-topping hits including “Am I A Yahoo Boy” — the infamous satirical track about fraud that saw Naira jailed by the Nigerian government in 2019.
Inspired by the success of his first US tour in December 2021, “First Time in America” Marlian gives a taste of what to expect from his dynamic debut album and continues his ascent across the globe. On the explosive standout “Coming,” which has surpassed 20 million streams globally, Marley joins forces with South African singer Busiswa. Kicking off 2022, Marley debuted the visual for his festive Detty December jam, “Kojosese,” following a viral TikTok challenge that saw 20 million views. Marley’s sound has eschewed the saccharine commerciality of the Nigerian AfroPop mainstream, proving that hit records can still be unpredictable, wild affairs.
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