Nigerian music star Asake has broken new ground by becoming the first African artist to have his song featured in the popular NBA 2K video game franchise.
His hit track “Wave,” featuring UK rapper Central Cee, has been officially added to the Season 2 soundtrack of NBA 2K25, joining 61 songs from global stars like Killer Mike, Key Glock, Schoolboy Q, Benny The Butcher, Lil Tecca, Doechii, DJ Snake & Peso Pluma, Yeat, and many others.
Gamers will also see Asake courtside in the new edition of the game, a rare crossover that fuses music, sports, and digital culture.
The NBA 2K soundtrack has long been a global stage for music discovery. With “Wave” now part of it, Asake carries Afrobeats into the hands of millions of gamers worldwide. 2K confirmed that new tracks will continue to roll out every season, with updates from labels like Interscope and Capitol Records.
This milestone adds to Asake’s fast-growing list of global achievements. His album Lungu Boy was nominated for Best Global Record at the 2025 Libera Awards in the United States. He has won Break Out Artist of the Year at the All Africa Music Awards and earned nominations at the MOBO Awards, BET Awards, and American Music Awards.
He is also the first Nigerian artist to have all three studio albums debut at number one on the UK Apple Music Album Chart. His albums have earned BRIT Silver plaques for selling over 60,000 units in the UK. His debut album Mr. Money With The Vibe and sophomore album Work of Art both debuted at number 66 on the Billboard 200, a record for Nigerian acts.
Beyond streaming, Asake has sold out major venues such as London’s O2 Arena and is preparing for a world tour that includes Madison Square Garden in New York. He was also named the most-streamed artist in Sub-Saharan Africa on Spotify Wrapped 2024.
