Wizkid and Tem’s award winning song Essence has been adjudged as one of the ten best songs of 2021 by the Associated Press, the world’s largest news agency.

“Essence” by afrobeat superstar WizKid, featuring Tems, was another of the year’s undeniable songs”, Gary Gerard Hamilton writes for AP.

“Reaching No. 1 on Billboard´s R&B/hip-hop airplay and the adult R&B airplay chart, the sultry, melodic duet record was crowned by many as the song of the summer.

“Essence,” which beckoned listeners to find their significant other – or perspective crush- to get up and dance, would explode and become so gigantic that the Nigerian native welcomed a remix from another R&B star: Justin Bieber.

Other songs picked by the agency are “LAY IT ON ME,” by MICKEY GUYTON, “KISS ME MORE,” by DOJA CAT featuring SZA, “WE WIN,” by LIL BABY AND KIRK FRANKLIN, “TO BE LOVED,”by ADELE.

“HURRICANE,” by the trio of KANYE WEST, THE WEEKND AND LIL BABY, “SEROTONIN,” by GIRL IN RED, “INDUSTRY BABY,”by LIL NAS X AND JACK HARLOW also made the cut as 10 of the best songs of the year, as selected by Associated Press entertainment journalists.

The other songs are “PEACHES,” by JUSTIN BIEBER, featuring DANIEL CAESAR AND GIVEON and “DRIVERS LICENSE,”by OLIVIA RODRIGO.

AP’s Gary Gerard Hamilton writes on Justin Bieber’s Peaches.

Hamilton says Bieber was not happy with the Recording Academy last year when his “Changes” album was categorized as pop rather than R&B.

‘But “Peaches,” featuring Daniel Caesar and Giveon from this year´s “Justice” album, not only doubled down on the R&B sound, but became one of music´s most dominant songs, debuting at No. 1 on Billboard´s Hot 100 and topping the global charts.

“It’s a feel good, two-stepping record that was needed as the coronavirus pandemic still forced much of the world to stay home.

“Some critics say Bieber can´t decide between being a pop star or an R&B heartthrob. However, what seems clear is that many times – even still in 2021 – the only difference between a pop song and an R&B record is the skin color of the artist singing it.