Mere days after Kizz Daniel released his new EP, ‘Barnabas’, there was some chatter online as to why the singer’s recent project releases were not greeted by the loud bells and whistles that often accompany similar drops by Nigerian pop stars. There’s probably some merit to this claim; you’d be forgiven for not remembering—or maybe even knowing—that Kizz Daniel dropped his third LP, ‘King of Love’ amidst last year’s lockdown, and now, with the release of his new EP, history seemed destined to repeat itself.
The whole truth to this puzzling reaction rests on the premise that many may not consider Kizz Daniel to be the most magnetic superstar around but he’s certainly as bankable as top tier Nigerian pop stars come. You’d struggle to find any Stan hives dedicated to the singer, but that doesn’t mean his music is struggling for attention, in fact, it’s quite the opposite. His latest smash hit “Lie,” has racked up its fair share of accolades on the TurnTable Top 50.
Produced by frequent collaborator Philkeyz, “Lie” builds on familiar Kizz Daniel traits, including a lustrous but overly unshowy beat that compliments the breezy tenor of his voice, alluring ad-lib harmonies, and the song’s cheesy lyrics (“Girl, I don’t really care about your body type/what really matter na your vibe/I be the one for you”). Best of all, it sounds effortless, like he composed and rehearsed the song in his head while doing some mundane activity, before laying the main track and backing parts down in one take each. It also embellishes the idea that if there’s an avatar for standard Nigerian pop music, an artist such as Kizz Daniel fits the bill.
Over the last few years, Nigerian pop music has widened in scope and is arguably at its most diversified. In the same timeframe, though, the mid-tempo stylings popularised in the mid-2010s has sat firmly at the centre of Nigerian pop. Earning mainstream visibility at the top of that period, with a slew of hit songs and a widely beloved debut album, Kizz Daniel represents a bridge between the high octane sound of Nigerian pop in the late 2000s/early ‘10s and its mid-tempo succession. It’s a role he’s committed to playing, as he meticulously colours around familiar musical boundaries without sounding stale.
In Afropop, familiarity is not the most enticing gambit, but it can be refreshing to hear an artist confidently operate in their comfort zone to solid results. Nearly everything Kizz Daniel offers on ‘Barnabas’ has a predecessor or precursor in his catalogue. The lovelorn opener, “Pour Me Water,” is thankfully not as crass as the viral “Fvck You,” choosing instead to offer a vulnerable perspective into dealing with an unfaithful romantic partner. “Addict,” while not as empathetic a song as 2018’s “Tobi,” offers truth-telling without proselytising. The project’s pseudo-title track is slightly less blatant than 2019’s “Jaho,” but the verve in Kizz Daniel’s prayers for prosperity remains intact.
The Kizz Daniel formula hinges a lot on relatability, finding new and inventive ways to broach the same universal topics. He seems content with putting mundane realities into song, a detail that informs many of his biggest hits making them relatable to the wider Nigerian audience. It should sound familiar and monotonous, but it’s not. On “Oshe,” which features backing vocals from revivalist Highlife-fusion duo the Cavemen, Kizz Daniel shows why he’s an excellent troubadour, pulling off a blue-eyed romantic standout over a Folk-pop beat.
Alongside a host of talented producers including Philkeyz, Blaise Beats and Reward Beatz, the project is kept afloat with a supply colourful and consistent production, brimming with groovy percussion patterns, gleaming piano chords, some plucky guitar riffs, and the occasional horns. This EP is probably the only project from a Nigerian pop act with zero log drums or Amapiano flirtations, perhaps a perfect encapsulation of Kizz Daniel’s peculiar place in Nigerian pop music, where he’s right at the centre but not too bothered about adapting fairly new, dominating trends.
Also interesting is the fact that Kizz Daniel has already announced the release of a fourth album tentatively titled ‘Afro Classic’. With its imminent arrival underway and his new EP’s recent release, it’s clear that he’s one of the most prolific workers around and one with a foolproof formula that is yet to fail him. His desire to stay under the radar is offset by his list of hit singles and his sizeable ambitions which continue to earn him the admiration and support of his loyal audience. Kizz Daniel knows the groove he prefers, and he remains as reliable as ever.
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).”