Skales Urges Artists to Stay Consistent as ‘Shake Body’ Enjoys Surprise Resurgence
Nigerian music star Skales has taken to his X page to share words of encouragement with up-and-coming artists, urging them not to give up on their dreams too early. Drawing from his own experience, Skales highlighted the importance of consistency in a journey that can often feel uncertain.
“Your music will take you places all over the globe. You just need to be consistent enough to see it happen. Most artists quit before the blessings show up. Keep going,” he posted.
Skales’ message comes at a time when he’s enjoying what is arguably the biggest commercial moment of his career, more than a decade since he first rose to prominence. His 2014 hit single Shake Body has found a new life online, trending heavily on TikTok after 18-year-old Barcelona football star Lamine Yamal used the song in a viral dance challenge.
The unexpected revival of Shake Body has brought Skales a fresh wave of attention, pushing him to over one million monthly listeners on Spotify for the first time. Embracing the moment, Skales paid tribute to Yamal by recording a new track titled Dance Like Lamine Yamal, celebrating the young footballer’s influence on the renewed popularity of the song.
Building on the momentum, Skales recently announced the upcoming release of his new album Martina’s Son, set to drop on August 6, 2025. In a teaser clip shared on X, he’s seen in the studio with veteran Nigerian gospel and Tungba music icon Yinka Ayefele, as they vibe to a new song that samples one of Ayefele’s classic tracks.
The revival of Shake Body is the latest in a growing trend of older Nigerian songs going viral years after release, thanks to TikTok. Just last year, Mike Ejeagha’s decades-old highlife song Gwo Gwo Gwo Ngwo went viral after skitmaker Brain Jotter included it in a dance video. Similarly, CKay’s Love Nwantiti rose to global prominence after years of being largely unnoticed.
Skales’ recent success highlights the unpredictable nature of music virality in the digital age. His message to fellow artists is timely and heartfelt—sometimes, all it takes is one moment, one post, or one trend to change everything. For many artists striving for recognition, Skales is now a living example that consistency, patience, and self-belief can lead to a long-awaited breakthrough.
