Essentials: ‘King Don Come’ is a testament to D’banj’s dynamic and entertaining career
And yes, the king is back
The mid-2000s was an era populated by Afropop artists who were synonymous with how they staged their skill sets, ironically, Dapo ‘D’banj’ Oyebanjo, a self-styled ‘Entertainer’ was the anomaly. He didn’t have the Okoye brothers nimble feet, the vocal dexterity of TuFace, nor did he bear the musty to be a composer and multi-instrumentalist like Lagbaja. Despite a vague all-encompassing title that should glean his creativity across vast board of entertainment inclined crafts, all D’banj came with was a harmonica, a boyish charm and an other-worldly charisma that always seem to be brimming for a soon-to-come controversy. Yet an Entertainer he proclaimed himself, and an entertainer he was.
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Since his No Long Thing debut in 2005, D’banj’s disregard for genres and labels has been obvious right from the “Intro” track where he describes himself simply as “An Artist”—presumably summing up all categories as within his range. This inclusive aesthetic has allowed him take on as many personas as he has hit singles. But while his aliases; Igwe, Koko-master, Importer Exporter Koko Water, Eja nla, African Michael Jackson portray his dynamism as a mere reckless charm and spectacle, his latest project, King Don Come marries his music and versatility in a way that even the best DJs couldn’t have imagined.
Opening with lead single, “It’s Not A Lie” featuring popular highlife artist, Harry Songs and former label mate and long time collaborator, Wande Cole, D’banj takes us through his epic history and why he’s so lovable; “He makes The People To Dance”. The highlife dance number produced by Dr. Amir and Cheeky Chizzy was an instant hit with dancehall affections that Afropop strives on. And though he’s clearly back-packing the nostalgia of his past fame with self samples from “Oliver Twist” on “Ntswempu” and samples of his harmonica on “Egweji” (a sequel to “Igwe”?) featuring Phyno, he deserves credit for not resting on his laurels and using the past to inspire the present.
Even when the present is a dark drug inclined universe, D’banj has no trouble reinventing himself as the legendary Mexican drug lord, Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzma over a Maleek Berry produced trap beat, where he, Wande Cole and Gucci Mane can test the extent of their thug vocabulary. While some may disapprove of the song’s violent narrative and outrageously unlikely brags, stunt of this magnitude aren’t exactly outside D’banj’s emo. But fortunately, he doesn’t continue this trap theme through all 12 tracks on King Don Come. Killertunes and Cheeky Chizzy produce “Turn Down For What (Focus)”, a mid-tempo afrobeat number that emphasises D’banj’s influences from the Fela inspired beats to his interpolation of Kendrick Lamar’s “I Love Myself” chants from “I”.
Still, D’banj remains every bit as entertaining as ever and on “That’s What I Mean” he features his brother Kayswitch who assists him as he embraces his raunchy side—probably also his most confident side. They truly share the same mind here as their vocals and lyrics interact with each other in effortless fluidity. This harmony with his featured artist continues on Bucie and Busiswa’s assisted “Ntswempu” despite singing in different languages.
Though there are only 12 tracks and at least 3 of them have already been heard before the album dropped, King Don Come is not only satisfying but also convincingly cohesive.
Stream the album below.
Featured Image Credits: Instagram/iambangalee
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And here’s probably why he tracklisted “Oliver Twist” on ‘King Don Come’
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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