2Baba, Fido, Tekno, Khaid and More on New Music Friday
New Music Friday pulls up this week with the kind of cross-continental energy that reminds you why Afropop stays undefeated. It’s a lineup where legends return to steady their thrones, the new guard sharpen their edges, and sonic borders blur into one long December-ready groove. From 2Baba’s elder-statesman flex to Fido’s spiritual street-pop glow-up, Khaid’s Gen-Z defiance, Tekno’s ageless seduction, and TxC’s amapiano summit with Davido, Zlatan, Shoday and co., this is one of those Fridays where every drop feels like a headline. A proper buffet of mood, movement, and momentum—tailor-made for the playlists that will soundtrack the final sprint of 2025.
2Baba — Balling
2Baba returns with “Balling“, a smooth status update from a legend who no longer needs to prove anything. At this point in his career, every release is measured against decades of influence, and this one lands as a quiet, confident flex: wealth without waste, joy without noise, and a reminder that relevance isn’t always about chasing new trends.
BlaiseBeatz anchors the track with a warm, mid-tempo groove that leans into live-feel percussion, supple basslines, and those honeyed guitar licks that instantly signal 2Baba’s soulful centre. It’s deliberate in its calm: no frantic street-pop tempo, no pressure to keep up. Just a veteran settling into his own breeze.
“Balling” is gratitude wrapped in gentle swagger. “Balling”, for 2Baba, isn’t yacht-life excess; it’s comfort, stability, choosing peace, and enjoying life at your own pace. He salutes his circle, shields his energy, and toes that familiar line between humility and soft bragging that has always been his signature. The message is clear: real success is simple, and no shaking.
It’s not trying to go viral; it doesn’t have to. “Balling” is legacy work, a reminder that 2Baba’s voice still cuts through with the same seasoned warmth, and that even in 2025, he can deliver a track that feels both timeless and necessary.
Fido — Chickendo
Fido slides into Detty December with “Chickendo”, a groovy, uplifting track that cements his growing reputation as Afropop’s newest beacon of hope and melody. Off the massive success of “Awolowo” and the chart-dominating ‘Joy Is Coming‘, he builds on his style, the sweet spot between spiritual gratitude and streetwise flex. The production blends familiar log drums and amapiano-leaning percussion with a warm, melodic softness that lets his voice glide. Fido isn’t interested in chaotic bounce; he prefers groove. The hooks land easily, the rhythm flows, and the whole track feels engineered for both club rotation and personal playlists.
“Chickendo” is classic Fido: cultural nuggets, coded slang, mindset bars, and gratitude stitched into every line. He speaks on elevation, dodging “bad belle”, and securing blessings, all delivered with the emotional sincerity that has made him a fan favourite. It’s end-of-year triumph music: Igbo pride, Lagos confidence, and soft-life ambition rolled into one.
While many still want to see him stretch beyond his influences, “Chickendo” proves he’s mastered his lane. The next challenge is innovation, but for now, this one is a surefire December staple.
Khaid — Sorry I’m Not Sorry
The 22-year-old Nigerian prodigy, fresh off his introspective “Rover” collab with Ayo Maff earlier this year, flips the script here: no more brooding over lost loves; this is a pure, unfiltered declaration of independence. Khaid switches gears and stands firm on “Sorry I’m Not Sorry“, a two-minute burst of self-respect and youthful defiance. Known for his emo-Afropop blend — pain wrapped in melody — he flips the script here with a track that feels like closure, confidence, and catharsis rolled into one.
The production is bright and buoyant, almost deceptively cheerful for the lyrical weight underneath it. Vibrant drums, slick synths, and a restless bounce carry his airy falsetto as he shrugs off toxicity and emotional baggage with a cool, almost playful detachment.
It’s a manifesto: no apologies, no overthinking, no returning to old versions of himself. The hook is a sticky chant waiting to explode on timelines, a Gen-Z rallying cry delivered in a style that balances swagger with sensitivity.
Khaid has carved out a lane that merges dancefloor energy with emotional honesty. “Sorry I’m Not Sorry” feels like a sharpening of that identity — punchy, catchy, and primed for both playlists and Instagram captions.
Tekno — Don’t Stop
Tekno taps back into his pop-savant bag with “Don’t Stop“, a flirtatious, high-energy single that proves he hasn’t lost an ounce of his touch. Even after navigating vocal challenges and sonic shifts in the industry, Tekno’s formula remains bulletproof: keep it simple, keep it catchy, keep it groovy.
Self-produced as expected, the track leans on bubbling percussion, crisp synths, and a bassline built to move waistlines. Tekno understands negative space better than most — he leaves room for the beat to breathe while stacking seductive ad-libs and cheeky melodic runs that turn the track into a dancefloor whisper.
Vocally, he sounds playful and mischievous, gliding through lines soaked in Pidgin romance and sly innuendo. It’s classic Tekno territory: sensual without sweat, catchy without clutter, and flirtatious without forcing it.
“Don’t Stop” reinforces why he remains one of Afropop’s most consistent hitmakers. Not every track needs to chase new trends — sometimes the original formula is still the strongest.
TxC, Davido, Shoday, Scotts Maphuma, Zlatan, AI Xapo — Nakupenda
“Nakupenda” is a pan-African house party disguised as a single — a thunderous five-minute celebration where Johannesburg’s bass-heavy Amapiano heartbeat meets Lagos’ melodic swagger. With TxC leading the charge and Davido, Zlatan, Shoday, Scotts Maphuma, and AI Xapo all showing up in peak form, the track is engineered for the global dancefloor.
TxC lays the foundation: thick log drums, hypnotic synth curls, and a deep, rolling bassline that never lets the tempo dip. Davido opens with smooth, melodic assurance, immediately elevating the track’s mainstream appeal. Zlatan follows with the kind of rowdy, percussive delivery that turns any song into a street anthem. Shoday adds sweetness and next-gen emotion, while Maphuma and Xapo weave in additional texture and rap-coded grit.
Despite the star power, nothing feels overcrowded. Every act gets their moment, and the chemistry is the glue. Swahili, Pidgin, English — the languages fold seamlessly into one another, creating a universal love anthem rooted in rhythm, movement, and collaboration.
“Nakupenda” beyond a new music Friday release, shows Amapiano and Afrobeats are no longer cousins; they’re collaborators. And this track is exactly what December needed: love as groove, unity as bassline.
LISTEN TO THE FULL NEW MUSIC FRIDAY PLAYLIST BELOW
