When Asake and French artist Tiakola linked up for “Badman Gangsta” in July 2025 and almost a year later, it took home the European/International Feature of the Year award at the 2026 Les Flammes ceremony, one of the most meaningful wins either artist could claim on the continental stage. For Tiakola, it was a remarkable night in full, as he collected two prizes at the ceremony — the concert of the year for his headline run at the Accor Arena, and now the international feature alongside Asake.
Les Flammes was founded in 2023 by French media outlets Yard and Booska-P to correct a long-standing wrong: rap, R&B, and Afrobeats had dominated French charts for years, yet remained systematically shut out of the country’s mainstream award spaces. The ceremony was built to fix that, and in the years since its founding it has grown into the definitive annual gathering for urban music in France. The 2026 edition, held on April 23, confirmed its standing as the grand celebration of popular music in France.
Released in July 2025, “Badman Gangsta” was described as a swaggering yet soulful celebration of self-made success, blending sounds, languages, and cultures into a smooth, sun-drenched anthem. Asake was direct about what the song meant to him at the time of release. “It is about owning your space, your struggles, your blessings, all at once,” he said, adding that Tiakola “brought a whole new flavour to the track.” Tiakola, for his part, recognised the natural chemistry immediately. “Above our different languages and cultures, the message in our music is universal, and our chemistry natural.”
That instinct proved prophetic. Since its release, the track resonated with audiences across different regions, proving the power of collaborations that bridge continents and cultures. A win at Les Flammes is a marker of genuine cross-cultural resonance, and for Asake, it extends a run of global recognition that few Nigerian artists of his generation can rival.
The record stands as exactly what great music at its best does: it closes distances and makes the world feel smaller, one bar at a time.