Asake just made history, again. On Friday (Sept. 8), the Nigerian singer became the first African artist to headline and sell out a show at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
The “Work Of Art Tour” stop, produced by Duke Concept, was Asake’s very first arena show in North America. The concertgoers at the 19,000-capacity venue were treated to a dramatic entrance, as he appeared from a huge silver ball with motorcycle gear on, singing “Organise.” Throughout the night, he performed other hits like “Joha,” “Sungba,” “Bandana,” “Lonely At The Top,” “Mogbe,” “Basquiat,” and “Amapiano,” just to name a few.
Central Cee, Fireboy DML, and Broda Shaggi were amongst the many celebrities who came out to support the Afrobeats star. Ghanaian rapper Black Sherif, Nigerian rapper Odumodublvck, BILS, and DJ Prince were also amongst the many opening acts. This historic event was in support of Asake’s second studio album, Work Of Art, which was released on June 16. The project features 14 tracks with a sole guest appearance from Olamide.
Last month, Asake returned to London to headline his first show at the city’s historic O2 Arena since the Brixton Academy tragedy. He opened up with a poem that honored the two victims who were killed in a crowd crush at the 2022 show. “Fifteenth of December, 2022/Observe, respect where respect is due,” the poet read, “I don’t know what you’ve been through/But, let’s hold space for something true/A Brixton night took place we cannot forget/I know some feel loss and some regret/Some came out that night and ain’t returned/We need to hold this moment.”
As previously reported by REVOLT, in September of 2022, Asake’s first studio album, Mr. Money With The Vibe, became the highest charting debut Nigerian project of all-time entering at No. 66 on the Billboard 200. The entry also made it the fourth highest-charting Nigerian album after Burna Boy‘s Love, Damini, which debuted at No. 18, Wizkid‘s Made In Lagos, which debuted at No. 28, and Burna Boy’s Grammy-winning Twice As Tall, which debuted at No. 54.