Essentials: Ejoya’s ‘Class of ’20, Vol. 1’ is a compilation featuring artists you want keep tabs on
Featuring Buju, Jinmi Abduls, DJ Yin, and more
The thing you have to understand is, artist development used to be very different to what it is today. In the past, rising artists were given significant leg room to work out their potentials and refine the defining elements of their crafts, however, these days, coming out as newbie means making the right impressions with your first couple of moves.
It’s not that potential isn’t appreciated, it’s just that, in an era of short attention spans, captivating listeners’ ears off the bat is the difference between being another act through the revolving door and being a star-in-the-making.
With this caveat, upcoming artists are always figuring out ways to make their music unique and compelling, however, due to the saturated landscape, it can still be hard to cut through all the noise. This is where platforms that can assist in amplifying the artist’s talent come in. Recorded in a creative camp at the beginning of this year, ‘Class of ’20, Vol. 1’ is a compilation project focused on a crop of talented artists working their way towards widespread prominence. Curated by Lagos-based distribution and marketing services outfit, Ejoya, the project consists songs from artists, producers and engineers on their inaugural freshmen list.
As an avenue to exhibit their powers to a potentially large pool of listeners, made possible by the curating company’s wide reach, ‘Class of ‘20’ centres on (re-)introduction, in an atmosphere with no pressure. It’s musically diverse, often impressive and sometimes rough around the edges, like the participating artists. Listening to the project is the audio equivalent of watching the Rising Stars challenge at the NBA All Star weekend: it’s deliberately low stakes, underpinned by camaraderie and has its remarkable moments.
In this setting with multiple talented artists, it’s those who can project a magnetic personality that lead the way, and afro-fusion singer Buju leaps to the forefront. Even before his Zlatan-assisted breakout hit, “Spiritual”, Buju was already showing flashes of the generational talent he can be, and his two appearances on ‘Class of ‘20’ continue to tow that path. With his bubbly vocal performance and vivid songwriting, “Mind Games”, the IBK-produced lead single, shines brighter in the context of the project. For his second look, the DJ Yin-commandeered “Ko Le”, Buju pitches up to use his head voice without compromising his self-assured cadence.
#Presenting20 #EjoyaClassof20 #ClassisinsessionWith limited time in front of the mic, artists have to boil down their contributions to showcase the compelling parts of their skillset, even when they’re experimenting with a sound that previous listeners might be unfamiliar with. For his solo cut, “Gboju”, Remy Baggins switches things up from the sensuality of his recent work, barrelling his way through an EDM-trap beat with reckless brags and taunts. Mainly known for his gentlemanly, blue-eyed love songs, Jinmi Abduls slips into the lothario role on the smooth, lust-driven “Kryptonite”, contrasting his slick melodies with the straightforward lyrics of the equally impressive Yusufkanbai.
With a significant portion of the songs featuring two or more artists on a song, ‘Class of ‘20’ hinges on the dynamic and interplay between collaborating artists. “Scream and Shout” features the reliable duo of Minz and Fasina, and even though the cut doesn’t really rival the sublime quality of their previous collaborations, it functions off their chemistry. Potential club hit, “Collect”, is bracketed by cocksure and catchy quips from rappers MOJO and Kunle, while Minz and Emo Grae add a melodic dimension with their syncopated, street hop-indented melodies.
Through collaborations between similarly styled artists, like the late-night r&b groove of Sute and Oddio’s “Lavender”, and those featuring the balancing act of musically diverse artists (“Hi Lo”, “Lagos Girls”), ‘Class of ’20’ is a great medium for listeners to get re-acquainted with and discover voices who plan to be here for the long haul. In its totality, the project flaunts the talent of artists who will continue to refine and strengthen their identities on the way to their respective pinnacles.
Listen to ‘Class of ’20, Vol. 1’ here.
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ICYMI: OXLADE DEBUT PROJECT, ‘OXYGEN’, IS EVERYTHING WE EXPECTED IT TO BE
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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