From ‘Black Panther’ to ‘Judas & the Black Messiah’, the last few years have seen a resurgence in the popularity of film soundtracks. So, it follows that the newly released sequel of the 1989 comedy classic, ‘Coming to America’, is accompanied by two soundtracks, both of which feature heavy involvement from African artists scattered across the continent. On the official “Coming 2 America” soundtrack, comprising songs used in the film, Davido, Burna Boy, Tiwa Savage and Tekno make appearances amongst an all-star cast that includes Megan Thee Stallion, John Legend, Nile Rodgers, and more.
Curated by Def Jam Africa, ‘Rhythms from Zamunda’ is the second accompanying soundtrack, billed as a collection of songs inspired by the new film. Featuring songs by Nasty C, Tiwa Savage, Prince Kaybee, Larry Gaaga, and more, the project traverses across the continent to accommodate a diverse range of sounds aimed at displaying the heterogeneity of music in Africa. Coming at a time when soundtracks are back in style, along with its gradual embrace on the continent (in Nigeria, at least), ‘Rhythms of Zamunda’ is a potentially significant project, and it’s been treated as such by the contributors and curators.
In support of the “inspired by” soundtrack, a multi-cast Tiny Desk concert has just been released, featuring a handful of artists performing their contributed songs. In trademark Tiny Desk fashion, all performances shot at different locations, are tied together by the platform’s preference for intimate, acoustic live settings. The concert opens with a rendition of the project’s lead single, “Black & White” by Nasty and Ari Lennox, with both artists filming from different locations but still displaying phenomenal chemistry, similar to their performance on The Ellen Show a few weeks back.
The South African rap superstar then introduces Cameroonian singer Locko, who delivers a stripped-down version of his catchy bop, “Magnet”. SA R&B sensation Ricky Tyler takes over, flaunting his velvety vocals while singing the fluttery melodies of “Everything”, a standout from his impressive debut album, ‘Small World’. Nigerian singer/rapper, Alpha P follows right after, upping the tempo with his boisterous, TMXO-produced cut, “Jiggy Bop”, exuding megawatts of energy alongside an electric band and a lively hypeman. Superstar SA House DJ/producer Prince Kaybee steps up to the plate in the same setting as Nasty C and Ricky Tyler, and he’s joined by Msaki as the duo perform their iconic song, “Fetch Your Life”.
The multi-artist concert is rounded off by Togolese premier duo Toofan, as they perform their Fally Ipupa-assisted smash, “Ye Mama”, performing with the manic energy they’ve come to be associated with on stage. With high-quality cinematography and stellar musicianship across every segment of the Tiny Desky concert, the ‘Rhythms of Zamunda’ cast adheres the ethos of its host platform, while doing a great job of making the case for African music’s diversity beyond the stock description of “Afrobeats”.
Watch the Tiny Desk concert here.
Featured Image Credits: YouTube/NPR
Dennis is a staff writer at the NATIVE. Let me know your favourite the Cavemen songs @dennisadepeter
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).”