Barry Jhay’s backstory as the son of late Fuji music veteran, Ayinde Barrister, can fool some to think he earned his street cred through inheritance. However, it was his reflective and emotive candour that made his breakout single, “Aiye”, a mantra on the streets of Lagos. Fans have since anticipated his debut project and showed up in mass for the listening party organised ahead of the release of ‘Barry Back’ last week.
The same Yoruba-fueled performance that resonates somewhere between solemn introspection and motivational-speak continues to inform most of the 9 new tracks on ‘Barry Back’. The album builds out to show how his growth as an artist has allowed him to explore a wider range of sounds and themes. From the intro track, “Barry Back”, he uses his come-up story in the music industry to give pro-life tips to listeners; “Emi ma jaiye t’emi on a low(I’ll live my life on a low)/Ototo la wa aye(We came here individually)/ Ile aye lati pade ara wa(We just met here)”. On the next track, “Ashe She”, he continues to encourage listeners, asking them to remain prayerful as his auto-tuned vocals add an angelic sheen to the energetic beat produced by Tee-Y. On every album, you typically find the one song dedicated to God, and on the 7th track, “Ma So Pe”, he sings praises to his creator.
The narrative changes shape from the 3rd track, “Daddy”, a romantic song which proves to us that he’s just as capable of making club bangers, as he is at making thought-provoking songs. For the wedding-dacne destined “Only You”, he cleverly enlisted afropop’s current loverboy, Davido, whose reputation makes the affectionate lyrics convincing.
The EDM-inspired Ice Beat-produced instrumentals for “Pa Mi” pushes the boundaries of Barry Jhay’s sonic experimentation, as he blends his Yoruba melodies with a familiar sample from The Harlem World & Ma$e “I Really Like It” to fit into the pockets of the EDM beat. Barry Jhay continues to show off his nimbleness with the return to introspection on how he came to be living his dreams on “Money” and “Superstar”.
Barry Jhay’s debut album reflects the current mainstream appeal seen with younger artists such as Fireboy DML, Oxlade, Roddy Rich, Lil Baby, Meghan Thee Stallion and others, who manage to find the sweet spot between solemn introspection and turn-up music. You definitely don’t want to sleep on him.
Listen to ‘Barry Back’ below.
Featured Image Credits: Instagram/therealbarryjhay
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You are meeting Debola at a strange time in his life. He wandered into a dream and lost his way back. Tweet at him@debola_abimbolu
Street-pop star, Asake, has released a surprise new single titled “BADMAN GANSTA.” Produced by super...
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 arrivebefore 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.
Ayra Starr has released her highly anticipated single “Hot Body.” The Mavin popstar has been teasing...
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.
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...
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).”