Afro B

A leading proponent of the Afrobeats sound, UK artist Afro B (born Ross-Emmanuel Bayeto) has become a global sensation while combining hip-hop and dancehall with African rhythms. ∙ Born in London to parents from the Ivory Coast, he got his start as a DJ and gradually moved into production, making waves with 2013’s “Sweet Coco” and 2015’s “Baba God.” ∙ Afrowave, the term Afro B coined to describe his sound, was also the title of his 2017 mixtape, and he’s since followed it up with 2018’s Afrowave 2 and 2019’s Afrowave 3. ∙ His 2018 smash “Drogba (Joanna)” was an international hit and viral dance sensation, prompting the release of additional versions with such artists as WizKid, French Montana, and Ozuna. ∙ Afrowave 3 included collaborations with R&B crooner T-Pain and dancehall stars Vybz Kartel and Busy Signal. ∙ He teamed up with R&B veteran Ashanti on 2019’s “Pretty Little Thing” and joined DJ Snake and Chris Brown as guests on GASHI’s “Safety 2020.”