SoulBlackSheep broke into the music scene in 2018 with his debut album, ‘Ecstacy, Just Chill’. The soulful R&B tracks instantly captured the attention of music fans as he mixed English and Yoruba lyrics over minimalist lo-fi instrumentals. He got fans hooked on the rare new sound they couldn’t get anywhere else, before it became clear that he was one of those reclusive artists whose releases only come once in a blue moon. We’ve continued to anticipate his sophomore album since, but he has released a new ‘It’s Just Loneliness’ EP to ease the yearning and offer new insight into his devastatingly introverted life.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BcqAGKMH4dg/
“You Are My Home” is the opening song on ‘It’s Just Loneliness’ and it’s addressed at a distant lover. His lyrics, “Sho ma pada wale oh(Would you return home)?”, over the sparse lo-fi production suggests a person in a small apartment with only a keyboard, a guitar and thoughts for company. He leans into the charming seduction of r&b to convince his love interest on the next track, “Honey For Your Cake”. While his lyrics are direct—“I love you cause I know you got cake/Pretty girl, give me some cake/You know this cute boy horny for your cake”—it speaks to his ability to wield his sensual passion with elegance.
The highlight for “Stuck in the Sky” is the woozy, chopped and screwed-down beat reminiscent of a Sango beat. His auto-tuned vocals, synths samples, 808 drum riffs and samples of video game sound effects create an otherworldly ambience that fits the astronaut in space direction of the cover art and his lyrics; “O to ojo meta(It has been a while)/ So I decided to write you a letter”. The melancholy from being alone slips out on “Stuck in a Cage” but his confidence returns on “Raised by the Internet”, where he brags about not giving a fuck what people think about the life he’s living and featured a rap verse from WeTalkSound member, VRSD.
“Monsoon” is an intimate and richly emotional love song that finds SoulBlackSheep confessing his sultry intentions for his lover. However, he returns to finding solace in sorrow on the closing track, “It’s Just Loneliness”. Chanting “Loneliness, it’s just loneliness” over the ethereal beat creates a quiet meditative space that’s perfect for the self-isolating days ahead of us while the world deals with the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic.
Stream SoulBlackSheep’s ‘It’s Just Loneliness’ below.
Featured Image Credits: Twitter/soul_blacksheep
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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).”