If there’s one thing Asake has mastered over the past few years, it’s staying consistent.
From Mr. Money With The Vibe to Work of Art and then Lungu Boy, he’s managed to do something many artists struggle with: keep dropping projects while keeping people interested.
But M$NEY feels a little different.
The ingredients fans love are still there. The Fuji influences. The street energy. The spiritual themes. The melodies that somehow get stuck in your head after one listen.
But this time, everything feels bigger.
Asake sounds more confident, more intentional, and more comfortable operating on a global stage. You can hear it in the production, the collaborations, and the way he blends his Nigerian roots with sounds from different parts of the world.
At its core, M$NEY is an album about growth. Growth in success. Growth in ambition. Growth in perspective.
And while all 13 tracks have something to offer, a few records rise above the rest.
In this Bold Beautiful Naija ranking, we’re looking at the five songs that best capture what the M$NEY era is all about.
5. Badman Gangsta by Asake (feat. Tiakola)
Starting us off at number five is one of the most interesting collaborations on the entire album.
Figure 1: A clean crossover moment built for international reach.
If M$NEY is Asake announcing that he’s thinking beyond Nigeria, then Badman Gangsta is one of the clearest examples.
On this record, he links up with Tiakola and the chemistry feels natural from the jump. Instead of forcing a crossover moment, both artists stay within their strengths while creating something that feels bigger than either market individually.
What immediately stands out is the production.
The song moves away from the layered, choir-heavy sound many fans associate with Asake and leans into a cleaner, more spacious groove. That extra breathing room allows both artists to glide effortlessly across the beat while keeping the energy smooth from start to finish.
More importantly, the record shows Asake’s growth.
He’s no longer making music solely for the streets of Lagos. He’s creating records that can travel comfortably across continents without losing the identity that got him here in the first place.
And that’s exactly why Badman Gangsta earns its place on this list.
4. Asambe by Asake (feat. Kabza De Small)
Coming in at number four is arguably the biggest club record on the entire project.
Figure 2: Pure Amapiano energy made for the dancefloor.
Asake and Amapiano have gone hand in hand for years, but on Asambe, he takes things a step further by teaming up with one of the genre’s most influential figures, Kabza De Small.
The result is exactly what you’d expect: a record built for speakers, dancefloors, and late-night energy.
Deep log drums, atmospheric production, and Kabza’s signature touch create the perfect foundation, while Asake glides across the beat with effortless melodies and infectious delivery.
What makes Asambe stand out isn’t just the energy but how naturally both worlds come together. This doesn’t feel like a Nigerian artist experimenting with Amapiano but like a genuine fusion done right.
And that’s what makes it one of the strongest songs on the M$NEY by Asake album.
3. Worship (feat. DJ Snake)
Taking the number three spot is Worship, and honestly, this is one of those songs that makes you stop and realize just how far Asake has come.
Figure 3: A stadium-sized sound built for global stages.
We’ve heard him make club records. We’ve heard him make street anthems. But Worship feels different.
Teaming up with DJ Snake, Asake steps into a much bigger sonic world without losing what makes him Asake in the first place.
The production is massive. The orchestral layers, powerful synths, and festival-ready energy make the song feel like it belongs on the biggest stages in the world. Yet beneath all that grandeur, you can still hear the spiritual undertones, chants, and vocal style that have become part of his identity.
And that’s what makes the record work.
It never feels like Asake is chasing a global sound. It feels like he’s bringing his own sound to a global audience.
Worship is ambitious, cinematic, and unapologetically big. And on an album filled with standout moments, that’s enough to earn it the number three spot.
2. Forgiveness by Asake
Coming in at number two is Forgiveness.
Figure 4: The most vulnerable and reflective moment on the album.
Now, if you’ve listened to the album from start to finish, you’ll immediately notice this song feels different.
While much of M$NEY is packed with confidence, ambition, and larger-than-life production, Forgiveness pulls things back and lets Asake simply talk to the listener.
The production is intentionally simple. Soft guitar melodies, subtle drums, and a relaxed tempo give the song room to breathe. And because the beat isn’t fighting for attention, Asake’s vocals sit right at the centre of everything.
What really makes the record special is the emotion.
There’s no need for massive log drums, club energy, or stadium-sized moments here. Instead, Asake leans into melody, reflection, and vulnerability in a way we don’t always get to hear from him.
And honestly, that’s why the song works so well.
Forgiveness gives the album balance. It reminds listeners that beneath the hits, the hype, and the success is still an artist willing to be honest when the music calls for it.
Which brings us to number one.
1. Gratitude by Asake
Taking the number one spot as expected is Gratitude.
Figure 5: The emotional and spiritual centrepiece of the entire project.
And honestly, after listening to the album, it’s difficult to make a case for any other song.
While M$NEY spends much of its runtime exploring new sounds, international collaborations, and bigger stages, Gratitude feels like Asake reconnecting with the very foundation of his success.
Everything about the record feels intentional.
The familiar Magicsticks production is there, but it’s elevated by live orchestral arrangements, grand piano sections, and a powerful choir that gives the song an almost spiritual atmosphere. The result is a record that feels bigger than a typical Afrobeats song without losing its Nigerian identity.
What makes Gratitude so powerful isn’t just the production as well as the message.
Beneath the success, the money, and the global recognition, Asake pauses to acknowledge the journey. The song carries a sense of reflection, appreciation, and triumph that perfectly captures where he is in his career today.
And that’s why it sits at number one.
Gratitude does two things in this album. It turns out to be one of the best songs on M$NEY while also explaining the entire album.
Asake’s Biggest Statement Yet?
By now, it’s clear that M$NEY isn’t just another album in Asake’s already impressive run.
After Mr. Money With The Vibe, Work of Art, and Lungu Boy, many artists would have played things safe. Instead, Asake delivered his most ambitious project yet: a record built around wealth, gratitude, spirituality, global expansion, and sonic experimentation.
The audience responded immediately.
Within its opening weeks, M$NEY shattered major streaming records in Nigeria, pulling over 37 million on-demand streams and becoming one of the biggest debuting projects the country has ever seen.
And when you listen closely, it’s easy to understand why.
From the club energy of Asambe to the emotional honesty of Forgiveness, the global ambition of Worship, and the spiritual triumph of Gratitude, these songs reveal an artist pushing his sound forward without abandoning the identity that made him a star.
If Mr. Money With The Vibe introduced Asake and Work of Art confirmed him, M$NEY feels like the project where he fully embraces his place as a global Afrobeats heavyweight.
Disclaimer
This ranking reflects the editorial opinion of Bold Beautiful Naija based on replay value, production quality, cultural impact, audience reception, and overall contribution to the album. Music remains subjective, and listeners may have different personal favourites across the 13-track project.
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