Artists ApreeL, Drizilik on Rolling Stone Afropop List

Artists ApreeL, Drizilik on Rolling Stone Afropop List

Sierra Leone's music industry has achieved significant international recognition with two local artists, ApreeL and Drizilik, being featured on Rolling Stone Magazine’s highly respected annual list, "The 45 Best Afropop Songs of 2025," a celebration of outstanding African music.

ApreeL's Krio fusion love song, "Control," secured the number 33 spot. Rolling Stone writer Mankaprr lauded the track as "innovative and striking," suggesting its potential for transcending international borders while showcasing Sierra Leonean heritage. Despite being a relative newcomer, ApreeL was highlighted for his advanced songwriting, vocal delivery, and production quality, positioning him as one of the nation’s most promising emerging talents.

The list concluded with Drizilik's "Lemonade," featuring The Therapist, at number 45. Released in January as part of Drizilik's Wait & See EP, the amapiano-infused collaboration quickly achieved commercial success. The highly anticipated feature reinforced Drizilik's mastery in integrating contemporary African sounds with insightful lyrical composition.

Rolling Stone’s Best Afropop Songs list curates music across diverse genres, including Afrobeats, amapiano, rap, 3-step, and various other emerging African styles, and is a key reference for global music executives, curators, and industry tastemakers. Inclusion on this list represents a major career milestone for artists across the continent.

Both artists have effectively leveraged this momentum. Drizilik recently released "Sabi Road," which has garnered notable attention, including recognition from established Nigerian artist Mr. Eazi. ApreeL similarly concluded the year with a new single, "Sweet Miliki," released last week, which has also attracted international interest.

The recognition of ApreeL and Drizilik on a global platform like Rolling Stone firmly establishes Sierra Leone’s position on the global Afropop map and underscores the increasing reach and commercial potential of the country’s music industry heading into 2026.