NATIVE Selects: New Music From Burna Boy, Lady Donli, Fireboy DML & More
some new heavy tunes to get into to
Every week, new music shows up, sweeping fans and music lovers off their feet while artists gauge reactions to know the effect of their creativity. At the NATIVE, we are committed to keeping our ears on the pulse of the music scene and bringing the best sounds to your doorstep.
In our last edition, we brought you new releases from Asake, Omah Lay, Libianca and more. Today, we have songs that move from Afropop to Amapiano to R&B, with our select artists showcasing their unending talent and passion for creativity. Lock in!
BURNA BOY – “SITTIN’ ON TOP OF THE WORLD (REMIX)” FT 21 SAVAGE
A few days out of his sold out stadium tour, Burna boy released “Sittin’ On Top Of The World” and the timing couldn’t be more perfect, as he adds more outstanding accomplishments to his belt. He acknowledges his international status over the Brandy-sampled instruments of “Top of the World.” For the remix, Burna boy returns with 21 Savage for a sleek and effortless delivery to accompany his mellow vocals.
FIREBOY DML – “YAWA”
Superstar producers, Telz and Magicsticks lay the groundwork for an outstanding track that’s buzzing the airwaves less than 24 hours after its release. Fireboy’s recently released track, “Yawa” introduces an ultra-confident artist. “I’m on a mission, I see no competition,” he sings over an instantly captivating, head-bopping beat. He smoothly dabbles between Yoruba and English as he sings of drowning out the background noise and focusing on his journey. Midway through the track, infectious log drums join Fireboy’s rendition with subtle whistle adlibs that embellish the track.
VICTONY – “MY DARLING”
Off the back of two successful remixes, Victony returns with a two pack release dubbed ‘My Darling + Angelus’. The Juls-produced track features infectious drum patterns accompanied by lush guitar strings. Victony unabashedly paints his love interest in a glorious light as he expresses why she is one of one saying. The track’s hook sees Victony repetitively refer to his love interest with the assistance of high-tempo choir vocals.
LADY DONLI – “MY ABILITY”
As her sophomore album inches nearer, Lady Donli peels back another layer of her artistry with her recently released “My Ability.” The groovy track features a confident Donli reaffirming her expertise and addressing the naysayers who are unsure of her talents. This stems from the doubt fans have expressed regarding her ability to top her standout debut project, ‘Enjoy Your Life.’ The track’s release is supported by colourful visuals that perfectly suit the gleaming production of the feel-good track.
DOPE SAINT JUDE – “ALPHAS”
South-African rapper, Dope Saint Jude, delivers some sure-fire bars over a drum-lead beat pattern for her first track of the year. She seamlessly glides across the heart-thumping instrumentals armed with slick bars and silvery vocals celebrating queer love and attraction.
MAJOR AJ & BLAQBONEZ – “MY OWN”
Carried on a great run of form, Blaqbonez has been most impressive on collaborations from last year. On “My Own” however, fellow Chocolate City signee and uNder alum Major AJ imprints his energy on the visceral cut, setting the tempo before his feature’s rap verse. With sweet horn licks and crowd vocals, it’s a song in sync with contemporary stylings while upholding the distinct message of debauchery and realism at its core.
TIM LYRE – “CHASING WIND”
A most intentional creative, Tim Lyre is equally great at producing and performing. Those twin aspects come to the fore on “Chasing Wind,” a serene record about the conflicting nature of life. Buttery bass sends a reggae-esque wave through the body, as the musician calmly sings about existential concerns. It’s a potent reminder of Lyre’s unique ability as a musician, this time moving past previously communal ideals to dig deeper into the core of one’s own individuality.
BABYBOY AV – “QUICK QUESTION”
The sonic experimentation currently underway in Nigerian pop is mindblowing. Artists are digging into the roots of sound, unearthing gems which will resonate for a long time to come. “Quick Question” bears evidence of such artistic vision. Carried on a mellow palmwine music groove, it’s a sensual record that shows Babyboy AV at his most tender. “Me I be different kind of person/ Baby, make we connect,” he sings, promising his love interest the better experiences of life. A magical record, this one.
MOHBAD & BELLA SHMURDA – “PARIWO”
The bromance between Bella and Mohbad has provided some wholesome cultural moments. On “Pariwo” they translate their obvious love for each other into a banging afropop record. With both honing on their strengths—Bella’s hook prowess and Mohbad’s rap-styled flow–it’s a feel-good that shines with a mellow flair. One for the dancefloor and all the fun spaces in between.
MINZ & ZINOLEESKY – “SOKOTO”
Earlier this year, Minz scored a ubiquitous hit with “Wowo”. After its remix and fairly recent visuals, the artist has moved on from what has been a productive run. “Sokoto” joins forces with the expressive Zinoleesky, both musicians impressing their distinct vibe. It’s Minz who sets things off with his atmospheric vocals, establishing the theme of romantic tension. Zino polishes the idea, while the amapiano-tinged production does great in its movement, exploding in its final minute from its initial silky control.
TOMI AGAPE – “CONTROL” FT T.U.C
It’s been a while since we got Tomi Agape music but she more than makes up with the sexy direction of “Control”. Utilising T.U.C’s avant-garde production that has House roots but swirls with ambient elements, there’s a visual sense of rolling lights in a dancefloor. It’s essentially a vibe song, as Tomi sings with a hint of naughtiness, “Control it, my emotions rolling”.
SKALES – “AS I WAKE UP”
It’s been a tale of resilience and verve that Skales has continued to put out music. A lot of artists who blew up around the same time as him have eased their grasp on the pop sphere, but not S to the K. “As I Wake Up” is unarguably his most immediately appealing record in a while. With assured songwriting upholding positivity amidst everything that’s happening, it’s a feel-good capsule that truly mirrors the freshness of a brand new day.
BORELSON – “SUMMERTIME IN TORONTO”
Amapiano continues to be the most influential genre around Africa. On this new cut, Gabonese Congolese musician Borelson curates a fun vibe that’s direct in its pursuit of happiness. Crowd vocals, rap verses, a hyped interlude—all the classic elements are present, and by the end of the record, its effusive vibe would have made its mark on the listener.
ICYMI: TEEZEE CAPTURES THE EFFERVESCENCE OF BRAZIL ON “STAMINA”
Maya Amolo Is Committed To Giving You The Sweetest Time
There’s undoubtedly more to come from the talented singer as she looks to solidify herself as one of the...
“Sweetest Time,” Maya Amolo’s latest single, is a soothing, lovesick confessional that mixes intimate, heartfelt lyricism with wistful production courtesy of Ugandan musician and producer SOULCHYD aka MAUIMØON. Alongside fellow Kenyan singer Ywaya Tajiri, the self-acclaimed sweetest girl delivers a lustrous duet that sees her soft vocals, which perfectly complement Tajiri’s more robust voice, skip and flit across moody synths, intensifying the spotlight on her wholehearted delivery. “I can feel you rushing through my system / Every single day it’s my religion,” she sings passionately halfway into the record. The whole thing sounds like the aural equivalent of a warm blanket; a truly affectionate record that immerses and envelopes its listeners in its warmth. This is the brand of vulnerable, understated R&B music that has been helping Amolo gain significant attention since she debuted in the pandemic year.
Born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya, Amolo always had an affinity for music. The singer and producer, who took on piano and guitar lessons as a child, has previously credited acts like Brandy, Erykah Badu, Prince, and Kenyan musical icon Eric Wainaina as her early influences – and it’s easy to see how Amolo’s style draws from this strong lineage of musicians whose music is equally expansive, soothing and vulnerable. After years experimenting with different styles, recording covers to beats she ripped from YouTube and posting them on her Soundcloud page, Amolo released her debut project ‘Leave Me At The Pregame’ in 2020.
The EP, which quickly soared up the charts in Kenya, served as a brief but emphatic introduction to Amolo’s minimalistic take on R&B. Standouts like the emotive opener “Puddles,” “Lush Green”, and “Jokes” showcase her clever and poignant lyricism that reflects on themes of love, depression, and self-healing. Along with sparse, melancholic production and the icy sensuality of her voice, Amolo delivered a remarkable debut that made her one of the most promising figures in Nairobi’s alternative music scene. Two years after ‘Leave Me At The Pregame,’ the Kenyan rising star released her debut album, ‘Asali.’
‘Asali,’ which translates to “honey” in her native Kiswahili, showcased Amolo’s progression as both an artist and a human being, as she swapped out the sad-girl tunes that filled her debut EP for more vibrant and intricate records – thanks in part to Sir Bastien and Kenyan producer and rapper Lukorito – that explore themes of growth and the complexities and rich luster of love. The album’s lead singles, “Foundry” and the self-produced “Can’t Get Enough,” found relative success on streaming platforms, placing Amolo as one of the continent’s most exciting new R&B voices. About a year after the release of ‘Asali,’ Amolo updated the album with 8 new songs on a deluxe version that featured Kenyan stars like Bensoul, Xenia Manasseh and Zowie Kengocha.
In August 2024, a few months after she delivered a splendid Colors performance, Amolo released a new project titled ‘What a Feeling.’ The 5-track EP, which essentially serves as an ode to Amolo’s home city, Nairobi, sees her experimenting with an array of dance sub-genres without straying too far from her R&B roots. While the project still retains much of the melancholy and elegance that defined her earlier work, there’s a hypnotic and pulsating energy that courses through ‘What A Feeling,’ that highlights a shift in the singer’s sensibilities. Amolo’s honeyed vocals gently seep through subtle Dancehall, Electronic, R&B and House-inspired production and the accompanying visualizer, a mashup of camcorder footage of her and her friends in Nairobi, also adequately captures the charming and nocturnal vibe of the tape.
The project produced standout tracks like the sensual “Let It Flow,” the title track and “Take It,” which later got remixed by Ugandan singer Soundlykbb and rapper SGawD. With Amolo’s latest release, “Sweetest Girl,” the Kenyan rising star continues her intricate exploration of R&B music, merging it with varying styles to produce her own distinct and refreshing variant. There’s no telling what Amolo might do next, but with only a handful of releases to her name so far, there’s undoubtedly more to come from the talented singer as she looks to solidify herself as one of the genre’s most prominent faces across the continent.
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T.I Blaze Updates ‘Shakur’ EP With Deluxe Version
Following the success of “Trenches Luv,” the street-pop star is back with seven new songs on the deluxe...
Over the last few years, street-pop, a guttural version of afropop, has surged to mainstream popularity, birthing stars like Asake, Seyi Vibez, and Shallipopi. On the homefront, a generation of younger stars also put unique spins on the sound. Singer, T.I Blaze, has been a notable star in the sub-genre since his 2021 single, “Sometimes,” and a subsequent remix with icon, Olamide, launched him into a different stratosphere.
Since “Sometimes,” Blaze has established his profile as a reliable source for songs that reflect the pulse of the streets while archiving his come-up story across a debut album (‘El Major’) and three extended plays like ‘The Fresh Prince Of Lagos’ and ‘Dangerous Wavy Baby.’ His 2024 EP, ‘Shakur,’ further underscored his evolution as an artist, featuring slippery numbers about escapism, his thoughts on life in the fast lane, and brotherhood with features from rising stars like Tml Vibez and BhadBoi Oml.
In 2025, the singer has picked up where he left off last year, releasing “Trenches Luv,” a balmy February release that examines the dynamics of romance from his point of view as a young adult moulded by the hard realities of life on the street. The success of “Trenches Luv” has led to a deluxe version of ‘Shakur’ with the singer adding seven new songs to the original version of the project. Impressively, on the new version of the project, TI Blaze taps up Ayo Maff and Ghanaian star Arathejay on “My Brother” and “Mario Remix,” respectively.
Led by a galala-inflected opener, “Track 1,” ‘Shakur (Deluxe)’ is both raw and complex with the singer sounding refreshed on songs like “My Brother,” “Dodge,” and “Introduction.” In many ways, this project is an invitation for listeners to explore the many facets of T.I Blaze’s artistry as well as a portent to celebrate his roots and offer a glimpse at his evolution.
Listen to ‘Shakur (Deluxe)’ here.
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NATIVE PREMIERE: Rigo Kamp Runs Ahead Of The Pack With The Visuals For “Marathon”
Rigo Kamp’s Marathon video is an intimate Afro-juju revival that pays homage to Sir Shina Peters and stamps...
Last Friday, Rigo Kamp, a NATIVE uNder alum and one of the architects of an equal parts nostalgic and refreshing sound released his self-titled debut EP, delivering a propulsive fusion of Alte, R&B, Funk, and Soul-infused rhythms.
Featuring previously released singles “Morning Sun” and “Summer”, the six-track eponymous EP executively produced by Odunsi The Engine sees Rigo lean heavily into his element as a sonic alchemist, jumping from silky falsettos to gritty grooves without losing an ounce of cohesion, and ultimately stamping the Abuja-born, Lagos-based singer-songwriter as a mad scientist of sound.
Just last November, Apple Music named Rigo Kamp as its Up Next artist, an acknowledgment that underscored his potential and confirmed what the tastemakers and underground scene already knew. Weeks later, he delivered an exhilarating live set for Spotify Fresh Finds in Lagos, proving he’s just as compelling live as he is in the studio.
On “Marathon”, the refreshing opener to the Rigo Kamp EP, Rigo borrows the bounce and swagger of Afro-Juju legend, Sir Shina Peters’ golden-era, fusing nostalgia with re-imagination to birth a vintage performance that feels like a private party for two, where it’s just Rigo, and you.
Get an exclusive first look at the video for Marathon here:
Listen to the Rigo Kamp EP:
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