Dave drops his sophomore album ‘We’re All Alone In This Together’
Equal parts profound, equal parts party-pumping
Over the past four years, Dave has become an incomparable force amongst UK rappers. Growing into mainstream prominence in 2017 following an OVO Sound Radio appearance and a collaboration with renowned hitmaker J Hus on “Samantha”, the rapper is known for his deep societal commentary shared through powerful poetry. His debut album, ‘Pyschodrama‘ is a decorated piece winning Brit, Mercury and AIM prizes, as well as earning platinum certification. Off the back of this success, Dave’s sophomore album has been hotly anticipated, within the industry and amongst fans.
Finally arriving today, ‘We’re All Alone In This Together‘ looks to be living up to the hype. Equal parts profound, equal parts party-pumping, with different moods and sounds co-mingling across the album, Dave’s sophomore is just the thought-provoking, attention-grabbing hour you’d expect from the mid-20s rapper.
Heavy on the lyrics, ‘We’re All Alone In This Together‘ is stacked with lengthy numbers that divulge the hardships, Dave, his family, and his community have had to endure, given their socioeconomic background. Like “Lesley” on ‘Pyschodrama‘, this album’s preeminent piece is “Heart Attack”, which includes a heartfelt teary note from Dave’s mother at the end. The opening audio on this penultimate track also features news clips detailing the uptick of knife crime in London, ahead of Dave spitting about the cycle of suffering that pushes inner-city residents into crime.
Besides, “Heart Attack”, the rest of the project is rife with sound-bites that reiterate the weightiness of the song’s subjects and also convokes a plethora of featured artists. Featuring Boj, who dishes out some sing-along Yoruba bars, right after the Wizkid-assisted “System”, on ‘We’re All Alone In This Together‘ Dave comes together with exciting acts from a wide variety of musical nodes and tastes.
From Snoh Allegra to James Blake and Stormzy on the promotional single, “Clash”, Dave’s collaborators take us through the album’s twists and turns as expertly and meticulously as the artist himself. “Both Sides of A Smile” and “In The Fire” in particular are collaborative masterpieces. The former track taps into Dave’s storytelling prowess, whilst on the second track ShaSimone leverages Dave’s ability to bewitch audiences over stripped and simple beats, espousing lyrics in a dynamic, captivating way.
A record that has emerged controversial on the timeline is “Twenty To One”. With its sing-song hook, the accurately titled number is cleverly timed for audiences who listened to the album at its midnight drop. As grating as the nursery rhyme chorus might seem at first, it is incredibly catchy, and as you subconsciously begin to sing along, you have no choice but to appreciate the melody’s merit.
Featured Image Credits: Dave/Instagram
ICYMI: 1-LISTEN REVIEW: SARZ & OBONGJAYAR’S ‘SWEETNESS’
Asake Links With Tiakola On Gritty “BADMAN GANSTA”
Another step towards ‘Money,’ his fourth
Street-pop star, Asake, has released a surprise new single titled “BADMAN GANSTA.” Produced by super producer, P.Priime, the single, Asake’s second of the year, arrives with a crisp black and white feature and a stellar guest verse from French rapper and singer Tiakola.
The singer posted the full music video–a monochromatic montage of dazzling shots and scenes of his opulent lifestyle–across his different social media handles on Thursday evening, July 24, with a caption that read, ‘The World Of Money.’
Earlier in June, the ex-YBNL star announced a new album titled ‘Money.’ A few months before that, he released a loosie titled “Military” and then “WHY LOVE,” his first official single under his new imprint Giran Republic. “Military” served as a bookend to the first arc of his impressive career as much as an announcement of a new era, while “WHY LOVE” officially kicked off season two.
Following the release of “WHY LOVE,” Asake has also featured on songs like Olamide’s “99,” J Hus’ “Gold”, and Young Jonn’s “Che Che,” delivering standout verses that favour a melodious, laid-back approach as opposed to the spirited, fast-paced style that earned him success early on. “BADMAN GANSTA” also excels with this approach, as Asake’s melodious musings about his current lifestyle dovetail nicely with Tiakola’s equally sturdy verse over a plush beat that samples Amerie’s 2005 classic “1 Thing.”
With Asake releasing three albums in as many years, it’s not unreasonable to assume ‘Money’ might arrive before the end of the year. There’s also the possibility that he might be willing to take his time a little more now, seeing as he his under his imprint now.
Whatever the case may be, ‘Money’ is likely to arrive sooner rather than later, and it will be fascinating to see what other aces Asake has up his sleeves.
Listen to “BADMAN GANSTA” here.
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Ayra Starr Releases Her Sizzling Anthem, “Hot Body”
An 11th-hour summer anthem for the
Ayra Starr has released her highly anticipated single “Hot Body.”
The Mavin popstar has been teasing the new single for a few weeks now, posting multiple promotional videos across social media that built up significant excitement for her third official release of the year. The release of “Hot Body” comes on the heels of recent reports that confirmed the Grammy-nominated singer had officially joined Roc Nation’s roster, the American music label, entertainment, and sports services company founded by rapper and business mogul JAY-Z.
Earlier in February, Ayra Starr shared “All The Love,” a sumptuous Afropop ballad produced by labelmate Johnny Drille and Teemode, before releasing the sleek and sensual Wizkid-assisted “Gimmie Dat” about months later. In that time period, the singer picked up two awards at the 2025 MOBO Awards for Best African Music Act and Best International Act before also clinching her first BET award for Best International Act in June.
It was recently announced that the pop singer would be joining Coldplay on the UK leg of their Music Of The Spheres World Tour between August to September, and her impressive year continues with the release of “Hot Body.” Once again, teaming up with close collaborator Ragee and UK production duo The Elements, Ayra Starr manages to deliver a sweetly erotic summer jam that’s sure to elicit plenty lip-biting, hip gyrating, and flirty winks. “Look what a hot body can do,” she sings repeatedly, almost like an enchantress performing a magic trick.
With her current deal with Mavin and Universal Music still running and the recent confirmation of her management deal with Roc Nation, it’s safe to assume that “Hot Body” might garner significant momentum both at home and abroad. Outside of her music, the singer recently wrapped up the shooting of the film adaptation of Tomi Adeyemi’s Children of Blood and Bone which is reportedly set for release in early 2027.
Listen to “Hot Body” here.
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Zulo Details His Evolution On New ‘Z’ EP
Packed with his reflections on faith, love, and cultural pride, ‘Z’ distills ZULO’s thoughts into a...
ZULO is no stranger to reinvention. Formerly known as Lil Trix, the rapper rose through the ranks with a series of gritty mixtapes that chronicled his upbringing, thrills, and connection to the community. Since his rebrand, he’s steadily grown into a renowned voice in South African Hip-Hop, regarded for his storytelling, cultural homage, and genre fusion.
Three years after the release of ‘Talk To Me Naace,’ his reintroduction to the scene, ZULO has returned with ‘Z,’ a three-track EP that shows a glimpse of his evolution as an artist and human. Packed with his reflections on faith, love, and cultural pride, ‘Z’ distills ZULO’s thoughts into a refined sound that’s bold, emotional, and distinctly South African.
The three-tracker opens with “God’s Armour,” a gospel-inflected protest anthem layered with brass and trap drums. It is followed by “Sweeter Success,” an infectious Afropop-inspired groove built around a nostalgic sample of UPZ’s iconic “Pure Surprise”. Beneath its shine lies a darker message: the emotional cost of ambition, the toll of always pushing for more. ZULO produced the track himself, with additional production from Miglow and SpiceDrums.
‘Z’ closes with “Spaan”, a gritty street anthem that samples Kamazu and confronts addiction, poverty, and the lingering scars of apartheid through the lens of coloured identity. “These songs are battle cries and war journals,” ZULO says. “‘Z’ is everything I’ve fought through to stand where I am. The EP follows a strong run of 2024 singles, including “Adawise,” “JOL,” “Garden,” and “Smaak To Love (Lamza).”
Listen to ‘Z’ here.
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