Essentials: Ycee is more assertive than ever on ‘Ycee Vs Zaheer’
Leaning into the confidence of being an established and independent artist
The opening track of Ycee’s debut album, “It’s Amazing” sets the tone for his introspective and boastful project. Fans who have followed the rapper from his ‘First Wave’ project already know he’s got enough sauce to rap and sing melodic pop songs, and pre-released singles such as “Dakun” hinted that ‘Ycee Vs Zaheer’ would feature more of the same. Having grown comfortably into his position as a celebrated artist, he’s more confident on this album however, and delivers each of the 15 tracks with more assertiveness.
After bragging about his growth from “Tiny money straight to super-rich”, he closes “It’s Amazing” with a conversation between himself and his projected future self. The split personality doesn’t sustain through the rest of the project but it creates a sense of purpose through the rest of the tape. The second track, “Wahala Dey”, changes the pace for a slow-burning romantic number designed for dimly lit dancefloors. He quickly returns to rapping on “Bossing”, where he’s joined by Ms Banks to stunt on their opposition over the catchy Fanatix-produced beat, with a sample of Dre’s “Still D.R.E”.
Apart from showing off the range of Ycee’s influences, ‘Ycee Vs Zaheer’ also shows that he never does anything halfway. The Niniola-assisted “Chocolata” finds him exploring the niche house sound of afropop, as he sings over the mix of throbbing bass and synth harmonies produced by Beatsbykarma, for the raunchy number. He gets in his R&B bag for “Vibing”; imbibes a Caribbean swing for “Love Like That” and “So Nice” then switches to a trap bounce on the Phyno-assisted “Man”, where they both speak on the challenges they’ve faced while struggling to make something of themselves.
With heartfelt tracks like “Vacancy” and “Lair”, romance is a notable theme on ‘Ycee Vs Zaheer’. Ycee’s commitment to making music for everyone means party-themed songs with lustful intentions also feature on the project. “Bassline” featuring Davido and BOJ particularly stands out for the harmony the three share, delivering catchy melodies over the airy instrumentals produced by Adey for the dancefloor-inclined song.
Although Ycee never directly references his dispute with his former label, he cleverly alludes to it at several points during the course of the project. The lyrics for “Cheque” for instance, seem inspired by his rage from feeling under-compensated for his efforts as he brags about his accomplishments. His decision to avoid sensationalising the project pays off with tracks that can be appreciated with or without the context of his exit, as he leans into his more pleasant feelings from being an established independent artist.
Stream Ycee’s ‘Ycee Vs Zaheer’ below.
Featured Image Credits: Instagram/iam_ycee
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NATIVE Exclusive: Ycee tells NATIVE the creative process for ‘Ycee Vs Zaheer’
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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