FOLA, Phyno, NO11, Kashcoming, Qing Madi and More On New Music Friday

FOLA and Davido are making promises of forever, Phyno is reminding somebody’s daughter that she is, in fact, the finest girl in the room, and NO11 and Gabzy are ready to spend money they may or may not have on a Coachella-worthy lifestyle.

Elsewhere, Kashcoming and Zaylevelten are serving street-pop and experimental trap, while KOHDEE and Oxlade are betting on the power of a good vocal performance.

There are love songs for the romantics, records for people who like their music with a little swagger, and a few that might need another spin before you decide how you feel about them.

So, what deserves a spot on your weekend playlist? Let’s get into this week’s New Music Friday.

FOLA & Davido – “2am in Toronto”

FOLA’s sophomore album, 9, arrived with a familiar Nigerian music industry formula; bring in a heavyweight collaborator, give the fans something to anticipate, and let the music do the rest.

On “2am in Toronto,” Davido joins FOLA for a romantic Afrobeats record that puts commitment ahead of material things. The album, released on October 9, also features Ayra Starr, BNXN, Darkoo, Bella Shmurda and Zlatan.

The song opens with a question that should make every person in a relationship with a wealthy partner sit up a little straighter. ‘You have all this silver, gold and diamond, but can you spend it all?’ The answer, apparently, is that losing the money would be worth it if it meant gaining real love.

In this economy?

There is something charming about the song’s insistence that affection is worth more than an impressive bank balance. The lyrics are full of reassurance, with promises to stick around and make a partner feel secure. It is the sort of sentiment that sounds especially good when the person making those promises can also afford to take you out.

Davido brings his familiar, easy confidence to the record, while FOLA leans into the softer, more vulnerable side of his delivery. Their performances fit together without turning the song into a competition over who can make the grandest romantic declaration. The repeated assurances of “no dey worry” give the track its emotional centre: beyond the money and the name-dropping, the point is to make somebody feel chosen.

FOLA’s chorus adds another layer of feeling, moving between gratitude for the person who entered his life and the determination not to give up on the relationship. The blend of English, Yoruba and Nigerian Pidgin also keeps the song rooted in the everyday language of Nigerian romance rather than making it sound like a generic international love ballad.

Phyno – “Beautiful”

Phyno has spent years giving us hard bars, street wisdom and the kind of Igbo rap that makes you wish you understood every single line. But every now and then, the man reminds us that he can also be soft. “Beautiful” is one of those moments.

Released ahead of his forthcoming album Let That Sink In, scheduled for October 30, the song trades some of his harder-edged energy for a smoother, more melodic approach to romance. It follows a run of releases that have included the prayerful “Uzo Ano,” “Na Afa Nna (Freestyle)” and the reflective “Healing.”

Here, Phyno is completely taken by a woman, and he wants her to know it. He admires her looks, promises not to fumble the relationship and speaks about her with the sort of enthusiasm usually reserved for a football club that has just won a trophy. The woman in question is clearly not competing with anybody. Her face card is paying, her presence is calming him down, and he is already praying that she is the one.

Honestly, we love a man who knows when he has met his match.

On “Beautiful” Phyno comfortably moves between Igbo, Pidgin and English. The language shifts give the song personality and intimacy, allowing him to express affection in a way that feels familiar to the world he comes from. The references to family, blessings and traditional expressions add warmth without making the song feel like it is trying too hard to prove its cultural identity.

The melody is also a welcome fit for the subject. Phyno is not trying to out-rap the beat or fill every available second with bars. He gives the hook room to breathe, letting the central declaration do its job. The repeated chorus is simple, affectionate and easy to remember, while the smoother arrangement makes this one of his more immediately accessible romantic records.

There is a difference between a song that tells you a woman is beautiful and one that makes you believe the singer is genuinely delighted by her existence. “Beautiful” leans towards the latter.

It is not a complicated love song. Sometimes, a man simply wants to praise his woman, promise not to mess things up and make sure everybody knows she is the one.

If you are looking for something to play while getting ready for a date, or you want to send your partner a not-so-subtle hint, this one should do nicely.

NO11 & Gabzy – “Coachella”

“Don’t be greedy, let me spend all your money.” That is how NO11 and Gabzy introduce “Coachella,” and frankly, we appreciate an artist who tells you exactly what kind of time they are trying to have.

The song takes its title from one of the world’s most recognisable music festivals and builds a whole attitude around luxury, designer fashion, expensive cars and the sort of lifestyle that looks particularly good on Instagram. But this is not exactly a heartfelt ode to the festival experience. The real attraction is the money, the flexing and the pleasure of being seen doing well.

NO11 arrives with plenty of confidence, throwing around references to designer clothes, private luxury and the feeling of being ahead of the competition. The repeated demand to have money wired over gives the chorus its cheeky, almost ridiculous charm. It is deliberately excessive. Nobody is putting this on to hear a lecture about financial responsibility.

And then there is the “nepo baby” line. The joke works because it taps into a familiar conversation about privilege: who gets to enjoy the good life, who has family money behind them, and who is trying to build that kind of wealth from scratch. NO11 and Gabzy play with the fantasy rather than turning it into a serious social commentary. The result is a song that understands the appeal of luxury without asking listeners to take every boast at face value.

Gabzy brings a smoother, more melodic presence to the record. His contribution complements NO11’s brashness, creating a contrast between the song’s cheeky demands and the more relaxed delivery. The pairing makes sense: NO11 supplies much of the attitude, while Gabzy gives the record a softer edge that keeps it from becoming one long shout about money.

The production leans into a breezy, synth-rich sound that suits the track’s fashion-and-festival imagery. It is easy to picture this playing while people get dressed for a night out, taking pictures before they leave the house, or posting a holiday carousel that quietly suggests somebody has been having a very good year.

Is “Coachella” profound? Absolutely not. Must every song be profound? Also, absolutely not.

The brief is to sound expensive, look good in your imagination and give people something catchy to play while they enjoy themselves. The only question is whether you are the person sending the money or the person waiting for the transfer notification.

Kashcoming ft. Zaylevelten – “CTRL”

Kashcoming and Zaylevelten’s “CTRL” occupies a different corner of this week’s releases. Where the romantic records lean on melody and the luxury anthem is busy showing off, this collaboration settles into street-pop and trap-fusion territory, with Zaylevelten’s experimental energy providing one of its more interesting elements.

The track has a clear audience. It is built around a particular sound and attitude, and it does not spend much time trying to make itself palatable to listeners who are not already interested in that lane.

Zaylevelten is the most compelling part of the pairing. His approach brings a rougher, more experimental edge to the record, giving “CTRL” a little more personality than a straightforward street record might otherwise have. The trap influence helps distinguish it from the more familiar melodic Afrobeats formula, and that willingness to play in a narrower sonic space is worth acknowledging.

The limitation is that the track’s appeal may not extend far beyond the listeners who already enjoy this sound. Its energy and attitude are there, but it does not necessarily offer a particularly strong bridge for someone coming in from outside the genre’s orbit. If you enjoy this kind of music, that probably will not matter. If you do not, “CTRL” is unlikely to be the record that converts you.

Still, experimentation does not have to mean making something everybody understands on the first listen. Sometimes the value is in hearing artists try something different, even when the result is not an immediate standout. “CTRL” has enough character to justify a listen, particularly for anyone following the newer wave of Nigerian street-pop and trap-influenced sounds.

Consider this one for the playlist you put on when you want less romance and more edge.

KOHDEE ft. Oxlade – “Uwese”

There are few things more frustrating than a song with a promising vocalist that never quite becomes as interesting as it could have been. “Uwese,” KOHDEE’s collaboration with Oxlade, lands somewhere around that territory.

Oxlade’s voice is one of the record’s biggest attractions. He has the kind of vocal presence that can make even a familiar Afropop arrangement feel worth revisiting, and he brings a welcome lift to this collaboration. His performance is the highlight, adding colour and melody to a track that otherwise stays within fairly familiar territory.

KOHDEE and Oxlade are working in a comfortable Afropop space here. The song is accessible, melodic and easy enough to settle into, but it does not always push beyond the expectations that come with that sound. There are no particularly jarring choices, but there are also few moments that make you stop what you are doing and ask to hear that part again.

That is the tricky thing about a good feature. A guest artist can elevate a song without necessarily transforming it. Oxlade gives “Uwese” a strong reason to listen, but the collaboration would be more compelling if the song around him offered a little more surprise or a stronger musical identity of its own.

This is not a bad record. It is simply a fairly average Afropop song with a very good vocal performance at its centre. If you are already a fan of Oxlade, that may be all the encouragement you need to press play. If you are looking for this week’s most inventive production or most memorable songwriting, however, there are other places to start.

“Uwese” is an easy listen, but with Oxlade involved, it is hard not to wonder whether the song could have reached a little higher.

So, did this New Music Friday deliver?

There is a little something for different moods this week.

Our picks for the most immediately rewarding listens are “2am in Toronto” for its warmth and chemistry, and “Beautiful” for the way Phyno lets his softer side come through. “Coachella” is the one to reach for when you want a little swagger, while “CTRL” will appeal most to listeners who enjoy the newer street-pop and trap crossover. “Uwese” is pleasant company, even if it does not quite make the strongest impression of the five.

Queue them up, turn the volume up, and tell us which one is making it into your weekend rotation: