It’s that time again. Every week, new music shows up, sweeping fans and music lovers off their feet while artists gauge reactions to know the effect of their creativity. At the NATIVE, we are committed to keeping our ears on the pulse of the music scene and bringing the best sounds to your doorstep. In our last edition, we brought you stellar new releases from Kah-Lo, BNXN, Young Stunna and more. Today, we have songs that move from Afropop to Amapiano to R&B, with our select artists showcasing their unending talent and passion for creativity. Lock in!
AYRA STARR – “RHYTHM & BLUES”
Emerging as this year’s best female artist, Arya Starr has delivered the highly anticipated single “Rhythm and Blues.” The new track, while showcasing the superstar’s vocal prowess, confesses love to a special person which she refers to as her rhythm and Blues. She emphasises on how special this person is as she sings in the chorus “My rhythm and blues/ So many things you dey do nobody do me like you do.”
MUZI – “MILK & HONEY/LIGHT”
Over the years, Muzi has been one of the most inventive artists in the South African music scene. An experienced purveyor of electronic sound, his music finds a middle ground between futuristic and traditional forms of expression, an ingenuity that’s made him a favoured act beyond the continent. On his new double release, Muzi channels the positive energies he’s reflected since the start of his career. The mellow “Milk & Honey” features British rapper The Last Skeptik who layers evocative bars over the production. “Light” sees Muzi go solo, but with his masterful vocal manipulation, it’s a communal-evoking record which calls the body to move.
DIANE DDDD – “MA JOLIE”
Exceptional Francophone artist, Diana Dddd, releases her awaited single “Ma Jolie.” The singer promotes the idea of valuing oneself and achieving personal growth within the context of relationships. The lively and colourful percussion instruments create a harmonious blend that beautifully complements the artist’s pure voice and the meticulously polished production.
WAVY THE CREATOR, SGAWD & ARIEENATI- “SHAYO GALORE” FT. LE MAV
After a long 2 year hiatus, Wavy The Creator bounces back into action with the rising rap queen, SGaWD, to deliver catchy and feel-good tunes on “Shayo Galore.” With the help of a formidable production trio of Le Mav, ArieNati, and Malik Bawa, “Shayo Galore” proves to be a good time accompanied by a lush, memorable beat. The song’s heart-thumping production promises a good time with a melting pot of Electronica, House and rollicking bass.
NISSI – “NOBODY” FT. FIREBOY DML
When this song was teased a while back, listeners eagerly anticipated its release. Nissi after all has been one of the shining lights of the alternative scene, impressing her luscious vocals on memorable songs over the years. Alongside Fireboy DML, both artists create a smooth vibe on this one. The writing is pristine as ever, the beat ecclesiastical, while the promise of remaining loyal to one’s lover renders a tender energy to the record’s seams. A fine collaboration.
DARKOO & TION WAYNE- “SHAYO”
On this party-ready track, Darkoo soundtracks the motions of a night out. Amid crowd vocals and the saccharine measure of the production, it’s a song with charming exhilaration and well-realised images. Her hybrid qualities are on display as she sings for those with some weight to get off their chest, while Tion Wayne delivers beautifully with his Christopher Wallace-mentioning verse. A fine collaboration, it extends Darkoo’s ethos of connecting the African soundscape to the diaspora.
BRUCE AFRICA – “SLOW”
A rising artist from Tanzania, Bruce Africa creates an impressionable melody on this one. “Slow” doesn’t describe the energy of the song; there’s rather a fast-paced progression to the beat, but it’s the artist’s tender yearning for a lover which supplies its attendant chorus and its title. Elements of the bongo flava sound are present, but the song resides more in the Afropop style, which proves Bruce’s versatility which, with the right push, should make him an accepted name around the continent.
DJ GIAA – “MESSAGE/JAZZ HOLE IKOYI”
The wide reach of Amapiano has been largely owed to producer/DJs and GIAA is a figure you should know. A consistent purveyor of the sound, his high-tempo production has earned him a loyal following from the US where he’s based. On his new double release, the masked act unfurls distinct layers to the Afrobeats sound, which is especially present in “Jazz Hole Ikoyi.” He’s also an inventive user of his vocals, a sort of hype man controlling the tempo of the party.
KEMUEL – “ALONE”
Known for his evocative writing and fine vocals, Kemuel has emerged as a young talent to watch out for. His collaborations with the likes of SPINALL and Olamide have bolstered his potential, but Kemuel continues to release solo material. His latest is this vibey record; on the other side of his heartfelt lyricism, where he sings about not wanting to be lonesome, there’s a bevy of Highlife-originated guitar playing which contributes to the song’s sweetness. Surely, it’s a good way to keep his name on playlists as we approach the end of the year.
COULTS – “IN THE MIDDLE” FT. DEELA & ODUNSI (THE ENGINE)
DEELA and Odunsi (the Engine) showcase their admirable synergy as they join Coults to deliver a memorable rendition of “In the Middle.” Each artist showcases their ability to sync perfectly with the heavy bass Rap track with ease. Coults strongly introduces us to the song with his verse and carries on to spearhead the captivating hook. Odunsi leads on the second verse while DEELA appears later on, sealing the track with the final verse sung in her effortlessly confident bars.
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).”