Have you ever sat with a trending Afrobeats song and wondered how it even made the Top 100? You sit there for a while to make sense of the lyrics, but all you hear is strings of rhyming lines with no semantic depth and just the catchy percussion at the background, catchy enough for you to move your head. Then, you are not alone.

Over the years, we have collectively watched the pen games of artists plummet, leaving us with lyrics that bear similarities with nursery rhymes (no offense) — just beats, vibes and legwork.

But not everyone has abandoned the pen for percussion. In the midst of this chaotic decline, there are still artists who understand that a song can make you move and make you think. These are 5 of the best lyricists of the 2020s, in no particular order.

Ayra Starr (Sabi Girl)

Ayra Starr is the girl when it comes to pen game (sabi pen). Ayra is that artist that serves you groove with a whole sheet of lyrics that hit the core whether it is love, heartbreak, boss girl energy or just pure vibes.

Take "Who's Dat Girl" featuring Rema. From the first beat, she is not just claiming confidence, she is building it through call-and-response, rhetorical questions, and the kind of self-assured declarations that feel earned. She code-mixes English, Yoruba, Nigerian pidgin, Jamaican Patois not for fun, but as a way to layer meaning.

The subtle flirtation is strategic, positioned between assertions of independence and desire in ways that complicate the 'boss girl' archetype rather than flatten it.This is what separates her from the pack: she gives you the vibe and the substance.

Ladipoe

It is no news that rappers have good pen games and Ladipoe is no exception. But what sets him apart in the Afrobeats space is his ability to marry technical rap skill with the melodic sensibilities Afrobeats demands.

Take his first verse on "Feeling" with BNXN. His allusion to Moses and the Red Sea is a powerful metaphor that positions him as someone who commands space. But what is particularly sharp is how he blends luxury imagery with humour: "big bag, back pain" and "takin' the piss, the only time I can't aim." He is wealthy enough to joke about wealth, which makes the flex more convincing than straightforward bragging.

His wordplay operates on different levels. "Suicide doors" has a double meaning sugguesting his arrival's impact. "Rent free" flips from internet-speak to an actual lifestyle boast.

This is precision wrapped in effortless delivery. No wasted words or fillers, just sharp, layered lyricism that rewards close listening.

Blaqbonez

Blaqbonez might spend half his time trolling on X, but don't let the online antics fool you, his pen game is a bomb. He is one of the few artists who can make you laugh and rewind at the same time, catching bars you missed the first time.

Take "Back in Uni" with JAE5. On first listen, the track comes off as playful and humourous, full of punchlines and clever rhymes but look closer, and you will see layered social observation. He reflects on youth, ambition, and the hustle, all while poking fun at himself and the world around him.

What sets him apart is his ability to balance humour with substance. Lines that make you laugh immediately often carry deeper meaning about life, identity, or the music industry when you pay attention. In “Back in Uni”, his flow, internal rhymes, and punchlines are a demonstration of how Afrobeats rap can entertain and make you think at the same time.

Tems

Tems doesn't just write songs; she writes prayers and emotional reckonings all at once. Her pen game operates on a different level.

Take "Love Me JeJe." The title itself immediately sets the tone for what she is asking for. But Tems does not just ask to be loved gently; she builds an entire case for why she deserves it, using imagery that is both vulnerable and commanding.

She is painting intimacy without oversharing, expressing desire without desperation. This is the kind of writing that makes you rewind, not because you didn't catch the wordplay, but because you felt something and need to sit with it again.

Fireboy DML

Fireboy DML writes like someone who actually reads poetry. His lyricism has a literary quality that is rare in Afrobeats. It is thoughtful, metaphor-rich, and unapologetically romantic without being cringe.

Take "Playboy." The entire song is a contradiction wrapped in self-awareness. He is not just admitting to being a playboy, he is dissecting what that means. He acknowledges the lifestyle while questioning it.

What is particularly sharp is how he uses the playboy persona as a medium to explore vulnerability. The way he shifts between confidence and confession shows a writer who understands that complexity is interesting.

Honourable Mentions

Simi

Simi is one of Afrobeats' most underrated lyricists and a terrific vocalist. Her pen game is quietly devastating. She will slip in a line that reframes an entire song, and you won't realize you have been moved until the third listen.

Whether writing about love, motherhood, or resilience, she balances sweetness with strength. Her lyrics feel more like conversations than performances.

BNXN

BNXN is one of those artists whose pen doesn’t announce itself loudly. At first, it feels like vibes. Then you listen again and realise he is actually talking.

“Pidgin & English” is a perfect example. The song sounds simple, almost casual, but that is the trick. And that is BNXN’s strength. He knows how to say a lot without saying too much.

His writing feels like someone thinking out loud. In a space where lyrics are often just fillers between hooks, BNXN’s pen quietly holds its own.

The pen game in Afrobeats is not dead, it is just selective about who wields it. These artists are proof that great lyricism and great vibes are not separate entities; they just happened to be rare enough to be worth celebrating.