Zaylevelten, Wande Coal, Smallgod, Odumodublvck and More on New Music Friday
New Music Friday arrives with a spectrum of feeling this week — from chest-out declarations to soft-spoken promises, from cross-border link-ups to solitary affirmations. There’s the hunger of artists tightening their grip on momentum, the poise of veterans reminding us why their voices age like fine silk, and the warmth of collaborations that feel intentional rather than algorithm-assembled. Across the board, confidence shows up in different forms: sometimes as grit, sometimes as devotion, sometimes as melody that lingers long after the beat fades. If anything defines this week’s slate, it’s presence: artists stepping into their space fully aware of who they are and daring the culture to lean closer.
Muzz – Zaylevelten
Zaylevelten, the Nigerian underground rapper and producer who’s built buzz off experimental mixtapes like ‘then 1t g0t crazy‘, drops “Muzz” as his latest single today. “MUZZ” by Zaylevelten lands like a distilled burst of raw emotion and understated swagger — a short, sharp mood that doesn’t waste a single second of its runtime. The production, self-produced, is straightforward trap-leaning Afro-fusion: heavy bass, crisp hi-hats, and minimal melody beyond some atmospheric layers. Right away, you notice how “MUZZ” thrives on tension—rhythmic phrasing that feels both conversational and punchy, wrapped in production that sits somewhere between street-smart trap bounce and nimble Afrobeat soul. “Muzz” doesn’t venture far into the weird, experimental territory he’s known for in past work. Playful rhythms and catchy hooks are there, as promised in early write-ups, but it’s mostly standard fare.
Lyrically, it’s pure flex: counting money in Lekki, shocking old friends with the glow-up, designer fits, partying, and casual sex references. Lines like “Whole lotta money, yeah / Laugh at the bank ’cause it funny” set the tone early, mixed with pidgin flows that feel natural “As e be so, make I dey on my trips, yeah”, with references to Frank Ocean and Rihanna popping up. The chorus—“Anytime you see me, I dey muzz“—repeats endlessly, where “muzz” seems to mean vibing hard or moving in luxury mode, making it an earworm that just sticks.
They Love Me – Odumodublvck
Odumodublvck kicks off 2026 with his first official single of the year, “They Love Me”. Odumodublck’s “They Love Me” is flirtatious and Valentine-timed, with guest vocals from Valentina Rose. Clocking in at just 2:14, it’s a short, punchy drop produced by UCEE.
The beat is standard Odumodu fare: rumbling bass, sparse drums, and minimal melody—built for his gravelly, commanding delivery rather than hooks. It thumps decently, but nothing is innovative; it feels like a variation on his usual drill-tinged okporoko sound. “THEY LOVE ME” feels like a distilled manifesto — unfiltered, unapologetic and wired with the kind of braggadocio that only Odumodublvck can pull off with both swagger and subtlety. It’s all bravado. Core idea: even enemies secretly love and obsess over him “Enemies love me / Everything wey I do omo fancy am / I dey make dem sick of me”. He flips it to women too “She loves me / But she’s too shy”, with lines about girls playing his tracks during sex despite friends’ warnings. Then it ramps up aggressive: “Fuck dem / Whip dem / Jail term / Enslave men / I’m a bad man / From Bendel.” References to shooting first, hot-headedness, and pulling up like Rick Ross. Pidgin flows heavy, authentic to his Abuja roots, but the repetition—verse-chorus structure loops a lot—makes it feel padded for such a short runtime.
“They Love Me” sees Odumodublvck’s raw energy and confidence hit hard. His voice dominates, bars land with that signature menace, and the “they love me but too shy” chorus sticks quick. However, the romantic angle feels forced amid the hostility; it’s more a hate-admiration flex than a love song.
Dearly – Wande Coal ft. Qing Madi
Wande Coal links up with Qing Madi on “Dearly”, a Valentine’s-timed single and a nuanced love song that meets both heart and ear with graceful balance. The collaboration between Wande Coal and rising songstress Qing Madi spots a moment where veteran finesse and fresh emotion merge into something that sounds destined to become a slow-burn favourite.
Right from the instrumental opening, “DEARLY” opts for warmth over flash – a mid-tempo reel of soft Afrobeats and Afro-R&B elements that leaves room for vocals to breathe. There’s a minimalism to the production; it’s not about overt hooks or heavy drops but about letting two voices merge in a conversation of affection, longing, and tender vulnerability.
Wande Coal brings that timeless silkiness he’s been crafting since the early 2000s, his falsetto gliding effortlessly through the verses like an old friend you trust with deep thoughts. Qing Madi brings emotional depth and higher-range harmonies; her emotive phrasing laces through the track without ever being overshadowed, matching the older head’s sincerity with authenticity and heart.
Lyrically, “DEARLY” doesn’t shout its intentions; it whispers them in lines wrapped in devotion and warmth. It’s flirtatious without being superficial, sentimental without being saccharine—that rare kind of love song that feels intimate even on speakers loud enough to fill a room. The chemistry here doesn’t feel like a trend-engineered duet, it feels like two artists genuinely meeting at the crossroads of love and melody.
In a sea of releases this week, “DEARLY” stands out for its restraint and emotional layering. It’s the kind of song that slides into late-night drives and slow-dance playlists, the kind you come back to not just because it’s catchy but because it feels.
Fire – Smallgod ft. Sarkodie, Joshua Baraka
Smallgod drops “Fire”, his new single featuring Ghana’s Sarkodie and Uganda’s Joshua Baraka, as a cross-regional Afro collab, with an accompanying video. “FIRE” by Smallgod featuring Sarkodie and Joshua Baraka lands as a deliberate blend of swagger, cross-continental flavour and melodic pulse—a track that feels designed to cross borders without losing the soul of each artist’s identity.
Heavy percussion, booming bass, and layered synths build intensity on the track with a minimalist hint, making it club-ready Afrobeats with rap edges—explosive drops and space for the features to shine. Production feels polished and powerful, aimed at turning up rather than introspection. It rides a warm, rhythmic groove that fuses highlife-leaning instrumentation with subtle, punchy percussion, a sonic foundation that gives each performer space to inject personality.
Thematically, it’s about dominance and heat with a boasting presence, success, divine backing, and that untouchable vibe. Enter Sarkodie, whose veteran presence immediately calibrates the track’s momentum. His verse layers deft lyrical confidence over the beat, a reminder of why he’s one of Africa’s most respected emcees — a seasoned navigator on any track he touches. Using his flow as a bridge between punchy rhyme schemes and charismatic delivery, he holds his weight effortlessly.
Then there’s Joshua Baraka, whose contribution adds an intriguing melodic contour. His style — often described by fans as emotive and smooth — gives the song a broader emotional range, grounding it in a warmth that contrasts beautifully with Sarkodie’s grit. This interplay between sharpened bars and honeyed vocals lifts “FIRE” out of generic territory.
“FIRE” is a fusion of seasoned lyricism and melodic charm — a cross-section of styles that feels immediate, radio-ready and genuinely collaborative.
LAST FOREVER — JOHNNY DRILLE
“LAST FOREVER” by Johnny Drille lands like a familiar breath of sincerity, the kind of love song that feels both timeless and intimately now, adding to the singer-songwriter’s thread of heartfelt storytelling and melodic warmth.
From the opening moments, there’s a softness to the arrangement that turns every note into something personal. The production is clean and atmospheric, letting the acoustic guitars and gentle percussion act as a quiet frame for Johnny Drille’s voice rather than a flashy backdrop.
Vocally, Johnny Drille delivers with that signature sincerity he’s known for. There’s a vulnerability in his tone, a way of singing that feels like he’s confessing to someone directly rather than performing in a room. It creates an intimacy that few artists can pull off without tipping into cliché.
“LAST FOREVER” leans into devotion and lasting connection — a romantic sentiment that lingers. Listeners who’ve followed Johnny’s catalogue know this isn’t new territory for him, yet here it still feels fresh because it’s delivered without artifice. Love as promise and melody as embrace
In a week where big-energy and high-production tracks dominate the surface, “LAST FOREVER” stands as a quiet reminder of why Johnny Drille’s brand of heartfelt songwriting still resonates — precise, contemplative and warm.
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