All The Essentials From Ycee’s ‘First Wave’ debut EP
Riding the multi-genre rapper aesthetic
https://www.instagram.com/p/BSk1VwTjtYO/?taken-by=iam_ycee&hl=en
Most relatively new artist would crumble under the pressure but considering YCEE’s Sony distribution deal, First Wave was never in too much danger with regards distribution. He still got more than a substantial amount of attention with the assistance of the videos for “Juice” and “First Wave Documentary”, a short film explaining the process that went into making the EP. First Wave emphasizes the YCEE’s artistry as a versatile rapper that can handle different genres of music. He convincingly branches out to RnB, trap, grime, Afropop and rap on the 8 track EP which featured artists like Reekado Banks, Calibrii, Seyi Shay, Falz, Maleek Berry and Ghanaian Kly.
The EP starts with “Wavy”, an hip-hop track produced by Thai. The beat is bouncy and bass-heavy with. YCEE continues his braggadocios rap theme that made “Jagaban” a hit. He makes all the right brags, from reminiscing on how he went from ‘Nothing to something’ to stealing everyone’s girl.
“Bubbly” features fan fave, Falz who joins YCEE to gloat about how they still buy expensive drinks at the turn up in spite of the recession. Karma beats produces the track with a synth piano baseline. YCEE raps with his Porsche English but that doesn’t hinder Falz’s Baba Taju alter ego from slipping a few Yoruba infused lines into the mix.
Seyi Shay comes in for “Need To Know”, the lone RnB track on the album. It plays like a R. Kelly classic thanks to the pianos and horns in the song’s instrumental produced by Adey. YCEE does his best singing impersonation with a druggy vocoded effect. Seyi Shay delivers a beautiful sonic RnB verse and that inspires the rapper to hit high notes for the bridge that followed. The raunchy chemistry they share on the track brings out a more emotional side to YCEE that hasn’t been seen prior to the First Wave.
The First Wave EP won’t disappoint YCEE fans and could even earn the rapper more fans with the wider appeal in multi-genre EPs.
Listen to YCEE’s First Wave here.
Featured Image Credit: Instagram/iam_ycee
Best New Music: Brush your vibe-out playlist with Ycee’s new squad anthem, N.O.U.N
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.
Keep reading...
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.
Keep reading...
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.
Keep reading...
