Tyla, Mavo, Teni, Taves and Zaylevelten on New Music Friday

It’s one of those rare Fridays where playlists aren’t just getting new singles, they’re being completely refreshed. This week’s New Music Friday is packed with full-length statements as Tyla, Mavo, Teni, Taves, and Zaylevelten each arrive with a new album or EP, offering listeners everything from infectious Afropop anthems and soulful R&B to introspective storytelling and genre-bending sounds. Whether you’re looking for your next favorite project or simply catching up on the biggest releases of the week, these are the bodies of work commanding attention.

Tyla – A*POP (Album)

Tyla’s A*POP arrives as a confident, roots-forward sophomore statement that doubles down on her vision of African pop on a global stage. Released July 24, 2026, the 14-track, roughly 44-minute album follows her self-titled 2024 debut, bolstered by the TYLA+ deluxe and the 2025 WWP EP and arrives after major milestones including Coachella, World Cup performances, and continued chart success with singles.

Tyla has described the project as more intentional than her debut’s whirlwind creation. In interviews, she has spoken about personal growth at 24, feeling more settled and clear on her direction: extending what an African pop star can sound and look like, pushing back against expectations of what is “African enough”. The album’s promotional framing—“African,” “Unapologetic,” “Confident”—aligns with its sonic and thematic core.

The sequence opens with recent singles and moves through a mix of sultry mid-tempos, grooves, and closer moments of reflection:

Key features lean heavily South African (Liquideep’s house-rooted “Fairytale,” MaWhoo, Babalwa M) with Zara Larsson as the main international guest on the dancehall-tinged “She Did It Again.” Production credits include P2J, Sammy Soso, Ian Kirkpatrick, Ari PenSmith, Believve, and others, blending amapiano log drums and grooves with sleek pop, R&B, dancehall, and house elements.

Pre-release singles set the tone: “Chanel” delivered hypnotic, chart-climbing amapiano-pop energy; “She Did It Again” with Zara Larsson brought playful menace and international crossover; “Is It Love” and the earlier “Is It” further established the album’s questioning, sensual vibe.

A*POP builds on the debut’s amapiano-pop-R&B foundation but feels more rooted and self-assured. Tyla’s breathy, playful vocals remain central—sensual yet controlled—over productions that prioritize groove and atmosphere without overstuffing. Collaborations with South African artists reinforce hometown pride, while global polish keeps it playlist-ready for summer.

Lyrically, the album often withholds easy romance. Love demands proof: tears, Chanel bags, presence, or receipts rather than empty compliments. Tracks explore confidence “That Girl,” “Mr. Nonchalant”, desire and hesitation “Kiss,” “Feel Something,” “Right Now”, post-relationship clarity “I Don’t Care”, and self-questioning “Is It”. It’s flirtatious with an edge, Tyla positions herself as someone who sets terms rather than chasing validation.

Early standouts includes the vocally strong openers “Is It Love” and “Is It”; the Rihanna-esque plea of “That Girl”; the hypnotic “Chanel”; the generational house nod “Fairytale”; the confident strut of “Mr. Nonchalant”; and the chemistry-driven “She Did It Again”. Some mid-album cuts “Double Blind,” “Feel Something,” “Right Now” are more transitional or thinner on hooks by certain listeners, creating a slight dip in momentum before stronger closers.

Tyla’s A*Pop carries an effortless cool with a balance of confidence and vulnerability, refined melodies, and natural integration of South African influences with global pop ambitions. It’s a record of intention that strengthens her foundation, with a thematic rigor around proof and agency.

A*POP is not a radical reinvention, it is Tyla stepping more fully into her self-defined lane: an African artist making sleek, sensual, groove-heavy pop that refuses to dilute its origins while chasing broader appeal. The best moments deliver infectious hooks, a confident attitude, and cultural grounding.

Mavo – Business (Album)

Mavo’s ‘Business’ lands as a polished, street-smart Afrobeats mixtape that turns hustle anthems and luxury flexes into a full statement of arrival. The 13-track, roughly 35-minute project dropped on July 24, 2026. It marks a key chapter for the 22-year-old Nigerian artist who has balanced optometry studies at Afe Babalola University with a rapid rise from SoundCloud uploads to mainstream breakthroughs.

Long before the 2025 viral smash “Escaladizzy” with WAVE$TAR thrust him into wider Nigerian and international attention—alongside tracks like “Shakabulizzy,” collaborations with Wizkid, and strong streaming numbers—Mavo was already carving out a distinct lane. He calls his sound “Burbur,” a swaggering hybrid of Afrobeats, street slang, melodic rap, and youthful energy. ‘Business’ feels like the natural escalation: a project centered on the grind, guap, sacrifice, survival, and the spoils that come with it while still making room for romance and reflection.

Collaboration on production comes from names including PsykoWorldwide, Wana SN, Decs, AOD, Mootion, and Sleazy. Features include UK rapper AJ Tracey on “Poison” and frequent collaborator SSSoundgawd on the already-popular “BB Lifestyle.” “Use Me” also ties closely to producer P.Priime. Lead singles and pre-release cuts such as “Use Me,” “Mofe,” “Shy Lover,” and “BB Lifestyle”.

Mavo’s ‘Business’ is a quest for luxury items and liquidity colors Mavo’s worldview. The title track opens with a direct call—“Let’s talk about guap”—setting a tone of ambition that runs through family care and exclusive access on “Jehovah,” romantic vulnerability on the soulful “Letter To My Baby,” and transactional or uncertain desire on “Use Me.” The project balances commercial Afrobeats bounce with street authenticity, mixing uptempo flexes, melodic hooks, and more introspective moments.

Production is sleek and contemporary, leaning into the polished studio sound that has defined his recent singles while retaining the energetic, slang-heavy delivery that made early work resonate. Standouts emerging in early listens include the title track’s motivational drive, the reflective “Jehovah” and “God’s Promise,” the romantic “Letter To My Baby,” the infectious “Ice Cream” and “Superwoman,” the hit-ready “Use Me” and “Mofe,” the smoother “Shy Lover,” and the feature-boosted closers “Poison” and “BB Lifestyle.”

‘Business’ is Mavo doubling down on what works. Hustle narratives, luxury aspirations, melodic hooks, and Burbur swagger dominate a concise, replayable set that feels both of-the-moment and true to his independent roots. The best tracks deliver instant energy and personality; the features add useful variety; and the thematic focus on money, ambition, and relationships gives it cohesion.

Teni – The Wellness Package (EP)

Teni - The Wellness Package on New Music Friday

Teni’s The Wellness Package arrives as a concise, feel-good seven-track EP centered on healing, balance, self-expression, and good vibes. Released July 24, 2026, the project marks a colorful new chapter for the Nigerian Afrobeats star. Teni has long stood out for her charismatic delivery, socially conscious or playful lyricism, and genre-blending instincts rooted in Afrobeats but open to pop, R&B, and other flavors. After a period of creative reset and promotional campaigns that included interactive “treasure hunt” challenges tied to the wellness theme, ‘The Wellness Package’ positions itself as “the cure” for normalcy: a personal, reflective, yet celebratory body of work about growth, reflection, and unapologetic living.

The seven-track EP opens introspectively and builds through collaborations before closing on an energetic note. “Zion” with Olamide served as a key pre-release single and cultural centerpiece. Production credits include talents such as Deeyasso and Spotless. The project leans into soulful storytelling, melodic hooks, and Teni’s signature charm, with reported experimentation including reggae-inspired elements on the opener.

Thematically, the EP revolves around wellness in a broad sense; meditation and facing forward, wisdom, emotional or relational dynamics, spiritual or cultural grounding, material success, and forward motion (“HTGT”), balancing reflective moments with feel-good, replayable energy. The features add strong chemistry: Olamide on the previously released “Zion,” Chike’s melodic touch on “Wurumanya,” and The Cavemen’s organic highlife/Afrobeats flavor on “Wise”, all coming together to form a colorful creativity, cohesive listening experience, and Teni’s ability to deliver charm across the short runtime. As a short EP rather than a full album, it prioritizes quality and mood over volume.

‘The Wellness Package’ is Teni delivering exactly what the title promises: a compact, personality-driven set focused on balance, reflection, and uplift. It doesn’t reinvent her sound so much as refine and package it with thoughtful features and thematic cohesion. The best moments—particularly the introspective opener, the Olamide collaboration, and the Cavemen feature—showcase her charisma and willingness to experiment within a feel-good framework.

Taves – Popstar – Side A (EP)

Taves - Popstar - Side A on New Music Friday

Taves steps firmly into his popstar era with Popstar – Side A, a tight, emotionally sharp eight-track EP that captures the chaos, romance, faith, and ambition of a young man rising in Lagos. Released July 22, 2026 the roughly 19-minute project serves as the first half of a planned two-part body of work. Taves, the Ibadan-raised singer-songwriter, has been steadily building momentum since his earlier work, including the 2024 EP Are You Listening? and the viral “Folake”. He earned recognition as an Apple Music Rising Ambassador, Billboard’s African Rookie of the Month, and a Headies Rookie of the Year nominee.

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Taves “Popstar” opens with the declaration “See my life set to chaos / ’Cause I’m a young man in Lagos” on the title-evoking “Chaos”. The EP explores the dual meaning of “popstar”—fame and pressure on one side, playboy energy and romantic entanglement on the other.

Romance and desire drive several tracks. On “Deliver Me,” a love interest acts as both stimulant and savior who can motivate him back to life. “Isn’t It Beautiful” leans into the moral gray of white lies for peace. “Uche Jumbo” flips the talking-drum motif and energy of Wizkid’s “Don’t Dull” into a celebration of Nigerian beauty standards, complete with the “Awọn eleyi” refrain. “Preaching” turns financial struggle into a grounded prayer for sustenance and a chance rather than excess, with a driving bassline and the line about fighting demons while simply finding a way forward. The project balances upbeat, melodic Afropop and R&B textures with introspective lyricism.

Early standouts frequently mentioned include the opener “Chaos,” the romantic “Deliver Me,” the already-familiar “Uche Jumbo,” and the closer “Take Me Away”.

‘Popstar – Side A’ is a confident, concise statement from one of Nigeria’s sharper rising voices. Taves sharpens his melodic instincts and personal storytelling into a short, immersive set that feels both of-the-moment and rooted in lived Lagos experience. The best tracks deliver instant hooks alongside genuine emotional texture.

Zaylevelten – B4SAVEME (EP)

Zaylevelten - B4SAVEME on New Music Friday

Zaylevelten’s B4SAVEME is a razor-sharp, eight-minute teaser that doubles as a statement of intent from one of Nigeria’s most interesting underground voices. The four-track EP following its release quickly climbed to No. 2 on Apple Music Nigeria’s Top Albums chart. It functions explicitly as a prelude to his forthcoming full project Save Me or SAVEME.

Zaylevelten is an Ikorodu, Lagos-raised artist with family roots in Ebonyi State. Born in 2002, he self-produces much of his work and has carved a lane blending trap, hip-hop, alté, and Afrobeats into a raw, experimental sound aimed at Gen Z and Gen Alpha listeners. Producers on the project include Thislondon, ELEMEN3, Johnson IP, Oche, and others. “Tease Me” stands out for sampling/interpolating Wizkid’s 2011 classic “Tease Me/Bad Guys,” giving the old hit a modern, darker flip.

B4SAVEME leans into experimental, atmospheric production with hip-hop and trap foundations, Nigerian street energy, and flashes of Afrobeats nostalgia. The dark cover art matches the mood: chaotic, teasing, and slightly unhinged in the best way. It moves through high-energy experimentation, nostalgia, and personal updates without overstaying its welcome.

“Tease Me” opens with the Wizkid sample and immediately generates conversation for how it reworks a Superstar-era classic into something current. “Yeye Talk” benefits from the Thisizlondon feature, while “SuperMega” and “Update” deliver the denser, more signature Tenski production and delivery. The EP feels like a controlled burst rather than a full narrative, exactly what a “before” project should be.

B4SAVEME is short, sharp, and purposeful. Zaylevelten doesn’t waste a second: he samples a classic, locks in a strong feature, and delivers his experimental hip-hop/Afrobeats hybrid with confidence. It works best as a vibe check and appetite-whetter for the full ‘Save Me’ project rather than a standalone epic. The real test will be how ‘Save Me’ expands on this foundation.