Asake’s M$NEY Album Hits No. 1 in Nigeria, No. 4 in the US — and One Track is Already Sparking Controversy

Asake’s fourth studio album M$NEY has surged to the top of Apple Music Nigeria just days after its May 1 release, while simultaneously entering the US Top 5 at No. 4 — cementing the Afrobeats star’s growing hold on both home and international markets.

The 13-track project, released via GIRAN REPUBLIC and EMPIRE, features an eclectic lineup of global collaborators including French DJ Snake, French-Congolese artist Tiakola, and South African DJ and producer Kabza De Small. The album blends Asake’s signature Fuji-rooted street sound with Amapiano influences and international pop sensibilities in what critics are calling his most ambitious project to date.

BellaNaija described the album as a project that “blends Fuji, Amapiano and global sounds” — a characterisation that reflects both its broad sonic ambition and Asake’s increasingly deliberate push toward cross-cultural appeal. Early standout tracks have included collaborations with DJ Snake and Tiakola, which have gained particular traction on streaming platforms outside Nigeria.

However, not everything about M$NEY has been celebrated. The track “Amen” has drawn sharp criticism online, with fans and commentators accusing the song of appropriating or trivialising religious language for commercial ends. The backlash has been vocal enough to trend on Nigerian social media, though it appears to be doing little to slow the album’s streaming momentum — a pattern familiar from previous Asake projects that generated controversy alongside commercial success.

The US Top 5 placement is a meaningful milestone. Nigerian artists have achieved strong chart positions in the UK and across Africa, but consistent penetration into the US Apple Music charts — competing directly with American and Latin artists — remains a marker of genuine global crossover. Asake’s previous albums, Mr. Money with the Vibe and Work of Art, performed strongly regionally but did not sustain this level of US presence.

M$NEY arrives in the same week that Asake’s label peer Burna Boy unveiled a new single with the Sporty Group, and rapper Ice Prince dropped his fifth album Testimony of Grace — making for a busy week in Nigerian music. So far, it is Asake who is dominating the conversation.

Sources: BellaNaija, Tooxclusive, BoNaija