Since emerging in the late 2000s, Sarz has become one of Nigeria’s most influential sonic architects. In addition to shaping sounds that travel effortlessly from dancefloors to international charts, he has served as an inspiration for his peers and the generation of producers that have come after him.
To celebrate his 19th year in the industry, here is a ranking of the 19 most essential Sarz tracks.
19. Joor Oh – Jahbless ft. Ice Prince, Reminisce, Ruggedman, Durella & eLDee
Sarz’s breakout moment at The Headies 2011 (won Best Street Hop). A cypher-style posse cut that announced his arrival.
18. Kondo – Dagrin
The late Dagrin’s street anthem showcased Sarz’s early ability to elevate indigenous rap with heavy bass and echoing synths. A foundational track that helped mainstream street hop, though it predates Sarz’s full sonic maturity.
17. Kako Bi Chicken – Reminisce
Another Headies nominee that cemented Sarz as the go-to producer for street rap. The percussion-heavy beat gave Reminisce room to showcase his vernacular flow, establishing a template Sarz would refine for years.
16. Diet – DJ Enimoney ft. Tiwa Savage, Reminisce & Slimcase
A street-meets-mainstream banger with infectious energy. Solid production that balances multiple heavyweight features, though it doesn’t push boundaries like Sarz’s best work.
15. One Dance – Drake, Wizkid, Kyla
The global smash that quietly placed Sarz within one of the biggest crossover records of the decade. While shaped by multiple producers, the rhythmic bounce tied to Wizkid’s Afrobeats sensibility helped redefine pop’s global direction.
14. Good Morning Riddim – Sarz
A pure instrumental flex that demonstrates Sarz’s musicality beyond just beat-making. The bouncy, feel-good riddim works as both a foundation for freestyles and a standalone mood-setter, but lacks the vocal chemistry of his collaborative peaks.
13. MAD – Sarz & Wurld
Another Wurld collaboration that blends Afrobeats with R&B sensibilities. The production is immaculate and shows Sarz’s range, creating space for emotional delivery while maintaining dance floor appeal.
12. Beat of Life (Samba) – Sarz ft. Wizkid
Sarz’s 2012 debut single as a lead artist. An uptempo club anthem with driving percussion and Wizkid’s infectious hook work, it marked Sarz’s transition from behind-the-scenes hitmaker to recording artist; proof that his producer-album ambitions had serious potential.
11 Gone Girl – Obongjayar, Sarz
A moody, alternative detour that highlights Sarz’s willingness to step outside traditional Afrobeats structures. Built on atmospheric textures and restrained percussion, the production gives Obongjayar’s raw vocal tone space to explore vulnerability and tension, reinforcing Sarz’s range beyond club-ready records.
10. Active – Asake, Travis Scott
Ranked #14 on Rolling Stone’s Best Afropop Songs of 2024. A transcontinental fusion bringing together Afrobeats’ hottest star (Asake) with Atlanta’s Gunna. Sarz balances both worlds brilliantly, creating a genuinely global sound without sacrificing identity.
9. Bad Energy (Stay Far Away) – Skepta & Wizkid
The UK-Nigeria axis delivered through Sarz’s laid-back, hypnotic production. Skepta’s cold bars meet Wizkid’s melodic hooks over a slow-burning beat that proved Afrobeats could accommodate grime’s energy without dilution.
8. Pidgin & English – BNXN
A smooth fusion of melody and rhythm that leans into Sarz’s softer, more emotive production style. The beat’s gentle bounce allows BNXN’s conversational delivery to shine, bridging introspection with mainstream appeal and showing Sarz’s ability to craft hits that feel both personal and accessible.
7. Ashimapeyin – Wande Coal
One of Sarz’s earliest genre-shifting moments, pairing Wande Coal’s playful vocal runs with a rhythm that blended pop sensibilities and Afro-fusion experimentation. The track helped position Sarz as a forward-thinking producer willing to blur stylistic lines long before such hybridity became the industry norm.
6. Billions – Sarz ft. Lojay
The follow-up to “Monalisa” proved that lightning could strike twice. Lojay’s refined delivery over Sarz’s lush production shows both artists growing together, creating a sound that’s simultaneously aspirational and intimate.
5. Jaiye Jaiye – Wizkid ft. Femi Kuti
From Wizkid’s “Ayo” album (2014), this intergenerational meeting of Afrobeat royalty features Femi Kuti’s sax work over Sarz’s celebratory production. A cultural bridge that helped define Wizkid’s sound during his ascent to global stardom.
4. Gwagwalada – BNXN, Kizz Daniel & Seyi Vibez
A 2023 street anthem that dominated Nigerian charts, hitting #1 and showcasing three of Afrobeats’ brightest stars. Sarz’s Amapiano-influenced production created the perfect canvas for this trinity of talent to showcase their unique styles in harmony.
3. Maradona – Niniola
The 2017 Afro-house masterpiece that cemented Sarz as more than just a rap producer. Niniola’s powerful vocals soar over infectious percussion and melodic flourishes, creating a dancehall-ready anthem that pushed Afrobeats’ boundaries and remains a genre-defining moment.
2. Come Closer – Wizkid ft. Drake
The 2017 global crossover that peaked at #58 on UK charts, the best-performing African record that year. Sarz’s breezy Afrobeats production provided the perfect backdrop for Wizkid and Drake’s second collaboration post-“One Dance,” proving the sound’s international viability.
1. Monalisa – Lojay & Sarz (and the remix, ft. Chris Brown)
The sleeper hit that became a cultural phenomenon. Originally overlooked on the “LV N ATTN” EP, it exploded organically, topped South African charts, earned Sarz Producer of the Year at The Headies 2022, and achieved RIAA Gold certification in the US. The Afrobeats-Amapiano fusion created a blueprint that countless artists would follow, making it not just Sarz’s biggest hit, but a generational moment.
