Afrobeat Beats for Singers: How to Pick Yours

In short: a good afrobeat beat to sing on sits roughly between 90 and 110 BPM, leaves room for your voice and is in a key that feels comfortable for your range. Sing over it before you buy it, and pick the license based on where you’ll release the song. See my afrobeat beats →

What is an afrobeat beat?

It’s an instrumental with the rhythm of today’s African pop, the sound of artists like Burna Boy, Wizkid or Rema: percussion with a lot of swing, a melodic bass and a mid tempo that makes you want to dance without rushing. That’s why it works so well for love songs, party songs, or blended with R&B and pop.

What tempo should you look for?

• 90 to 100 BPM: more relaxed and romantic, comfortable to sing calmly.
• 100 to 110 BPM: more upbeat, made for dancing.

The afrobeat beats in my catalog go from 90 to 108 BPM, so you can pick based on the energy of your song.

Key and your vocal range

Sing the chorus over the beat before you buy it. If you have to strain on the high notes or lose your voice on the low ones, that key isn’t for you, even if you love the beat. Every beat in the store shows its key so you can compare.

Leave room for your voice

A beat with a busy melody all the time competes with your voice. Look for one with a short intro, emptier parts in the verses and a chorus that lifts. That way your voice stays in front.

Which license do you need?

• Basic: MP3, up to 150,000 streams. To start and test the song.
• Premium: WAV, up to 350,000 streams. For a serious release.
• Unlimited: no limits, with the separated tracks so you can mix better.
• Exclusive: the beat is only yours and comes off the store.

All of them let you upload the song to Spotify, YouTube and every other platform. Compare the licenses →

Afrobeat beats to start with

• Coco: Burna Boy x Rema type beat, 100 BPM.
• Aura: Fireboy DML x Burna Boy type beat, 102 BPM.
• Zumba: Burna Boy x Wizkid type beat, 108 BPM.
• Fuego: 105 BPM, happy and danceable.
• Caribe: 90 BPM, the most relaxed one.

See all afrobeat beats →

Frequently asked questions

How much does an afrobeat beat cost?

Usually between $20 and $150, depending on the license. In my store they start at $24.95, and some are on sale.

Can I upload my song to Spotify with a beat I bought?

Yes. Every license allows it, within the stream limit of each one.

Are afrobeat and afrobeats the same thing?

Not exactly. Afrobeat is the genre Fela Kuti made famous in the 70s, and afrobeats is today’s African pop. Beat stores use both words almost the same way for the current sound.