Tyla, Ayra Starr, Asake, Chella and More on New Music Friday
On this week’s New Music Friday, artists are showing us what happens when sound meets intention. From Tyla’s soft but firm re-entry to Asake’s villainous glide over a flipped Amerie sample and Ayra’s self-assured sway, this is music that knows what it’s doing and who it’s doing it for. Let’s get into it.
Tyla — WWP (We Wanna Party) [EP]
Tyla’s music journey has witnessed a jaw-dropping meteoric rise, diligently supported by her talents from the start of her career—in the form of smash singles and her 2023 debut album ‘TYLA’, which was followed by a deluxe in 2024. Preceded by two lead singles and a listening party that conveys the essence of her newly released pop EP ‘We Wanna Party‘, Tyla reminds fans with the 4-track project why she’s the globally preferred pop star from Africa, and how long she intends to fill the shoes.
Across four tracks—“Bliss”, “Is It”, “Mr Media”, and “Dynamite”—Tyla blends the sensual leanings of R&B with Amapiano drums and the soft rebellion of pop’s next wave. The production across the EP is bright and bouncy, but still sharp.
Standout “Dynamite”, which, according to Tyla, was recorded in 2022, brings in Wizkid for a flirtatious back-and-forth with an energetic and assured delivery. “Dynamite” showcases a chemistry born from a blend of Wizkid’s punchy energy and Tyla’s mellow glide. “Your body bang like dynamite” might sound like a TikTok hook waiting to happen, but the record carries more sonic weight than gimmick.
On Mr Media, Tyla switches pace and tone, addressing critics with sharp wit and calculated softness. It’s a flex, but one wrapped in clean production and deliberate confidence.
‘WWP’ is exactly what Tyla curated it to be: an upbeat, party groove crafted by the soul of a South African who understands the heritage of her home.
Asake ft. Tiakola — BADMAN GANGSTA
Asake has entered his jet-set global villain arc, and BADMAN GANGSTA is the soundtrack. Teaming up with French-Congolese rapper Tiakola, the track pulls from Amerie’s “1 Thing” for its rhythm bed, but what they build over it is more than just a sample flip.
Asake raps and croons like he’s taking victory laps, blending Yoruba and pidgin with cheeky baritone flair. Tiakola’s French delivery slots in, adding texture like pepper in a sweet stew. Together, they play off each other with a synergy that proves international collabs don’t need to feel manufactured.
Produced by AoD and P.Priime, the beat leans into nostalgia without getting lazy—plenty of bounce, smoky sax notes, and space for both artists to stretch.
The music video, shot in noir-ish black and white, is part documentary, part luxury diary: Paris runways, studio booth confessions, and flexes wrapped in realness.
More than just a one-off, BADMAN GANGSTA feels like a proper marker in Asake’s journey.
Fireboy DML — Dopamine
Fireboy’s pen has always flirted with the poetic, but ‘Dopamine‘ is straight-up chemical seduction. He takes the science of feeling good and wraps it into a sonic experience that’s warm, melancholic, and flirtatious in equal parts.
Produced by Anoop D’Souza and Jonah Christian, the track is lush without being showy—think layered harmonies, slow-rising synths, and subtle reggae pulses anchoring his smooth vocal delivery. It’s Fireboy back in his Afrobeats-meets-R&B bag, but the writing has matured.
Love is a drug, and he’s both the addict and the supplier. ‘Dopamine‘ captures that emotional grey space between obsession and honesty, wrapped in clean arrangements that don’t overpower the message. As the first single off his upcoming project, it sets the tone: Fireboy’s going deeper but still wants to make you sway.
Ayra Starr — Hot Body
Ayra Starr is in her pixie cut era, and she’s not holding back. ‘Hot Body‘ is the follow-up to the grown-and-sexy lane she tapped into on ‘Gimme Dat‘ with Wizkid, but now she’s owning it with a brand-new single following the announcement of a partnership with ROC Nation.
With Ragee and The Elements on co-production, the track leans into dancehall but keeps that polished Afropop core. It’s light, breezy, and playfully bold—a summer anthem made for mirror selfies and girls’ night out clips.
Lyrically, Ayra Starr is in self-love mode, but it’s less preachy, more “You see it, and I know you see it.” With the right push, ‘Hot Body‘ could be one of those records that haunts charts and pool parties well into next year.
Amaarae — Girlie-Pop!
Nobody does alt-hyperfemme like Amaarae, and Girlie-Pop! is peak cyber sugar with an attitude. It blends hyperpop’s glitchy aesthetics with West African bounce, all while Amaarae plays the role of lyrical assassin in baby-pitched vocals.
“Sexual agency” might be the academic term, but this song is pure energy. She sings like she’s rolling her eyes at anyone who doubts her power.
Produced by long-time collaborator Kyu Steed and Maffalda, the track pops, glitches, and shifts in unexpected ways. It’s rebellious with intentional chaos—but also controlled, with a confidence so palpable it excites the listener for her forthcoming project on the horizon. If ‘BLACK STAR‘, her upcoming album, is cut from the same cloth, we’re in for a cultural moment.
Chella — Loyal
Following the release of his smash hit ‘My Darling‘, which made Spotify’s Summer Song and Global Impact lists, Chella rides the wave of global appeal with a similarly energetic groove on Loyal. On the song, Chella proves he isn’t a one-hit wonder as he crafts a record that holds the listener’s attention while evoking specific emotions. With lyrics like “Every day I’m singing Hosanna”, the track almost feels spiritual, though rooted in romantic devotion.
There’s an honesty in his voice that makes it feel more lived-in than performed. Smooth Afro-R&B production gives it playlist replay value, while his delivery does the emotional heavy lifting.
Like his previous hit, Chella’s ‘Loyal‘ is already picking up on TikTok, and if he keeps this up, he’ll be bumping shoulders with the bigger names sooner than expected.
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