NATIVE Selects: New Music From Shallipopi, Ajebutter22 & Tim Lyre
New tunes for the weekend
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 Dope Caesar, Jujuboy and more. Today’s NATIVE Selects features singles from Shallipopi, Rema, WurlD and more. Lock in!
SHALLIPOPI – “THINGS ON THINGS” & “OSCROH (PEPPERLINE)”
Shallipopi ups the ante with two singles, fresh off the release of the music video to “Obapluto.” On “Things on Things,” he fires warnings at his detractors on social media. He taps the nostalgia of a nursery rhyme on “Oscroh (Pepperline),” boasting about the new level he’s entered in his career. Both tracks are produced by Busy Pluto, who sets them on an Amapiano template.
LIL DURK – “ALL MY LIFE” FT. J. COLE & BURNA BOY
American act Lil Durk has released the remixes to his track “All My Life” with J. Cole. One of the remixes features Nigerian singer Burna Boy. With his verse, Burna Boy maintains the ground-to-the-top storyline of the song, narrating his come-up and his current success. “Head fucked up as a young buck/Seven years couldn’t leave my continent/Came to America, sell out stadiums and turn up,” he raps.
BOJ & AJEBUTTER22 – “RORA”
Ahead of their forthcoming tape ‘Make E No Cause Fight 3,’ BOJ and Ajebutter22 unveil the lead single “Rora.” Produced by Spax, “Rora” is a delightful Afropop tune with rich melodies borne from percussion, drums and saxophone. BOJ and Ajebutter22 glide over the track, pouring out their feelings to a love interest.
ICE SPICE & REMA – “PRETTY GIRL”
The American-Nigerian music collaborations continue with Ice Spice and Rema’s “Pretty Girl.” Both artists make the track a fun ride about romantic promises; they complement each other with a playfulness in their verses and hook. Ice Spice’s verses ooze confidence and Rema’s chorus colours the song with his distinct vocals.
DJ NEPTUNE & JOEBOY – “MUMU”
DJ Neptune and Joeboy have an effective partnership, as 2020’s “Nobody” with Mr Eazi and 2021’s “Abeg” with Omah Lay has proven. On “Mumu,” produced by Signal, Joeboy is the star of the show, opening up about his feelings for a love interest and how it doesn’t make him weak. Signal’s Afropop/Highlife production is also a winner.
MAYORKUN – “LOWKEY!”
Mayorkun follows up “For Daddy” with new single “Lowkey!” Both tracks are from his forthcoming EP ‘Love.. For Free.’ On “Lowkey!” Mayorkun addresses grievances suffered at the hands of people who have undermined him. “If you too sweet dem go lick you finish/If you want peace dem go break you pieces/The matter pass my hand/E scatter all my plans,” he sings.
WURLD – “SARAFINA”
Nigerian singer WurlD explores the romantic and sexual on latest single “Sarafina.” “See ya with ya bum bum/Na fun fun killa/Anytime she call, I Dey run go give her /Anything she want, I Dey rush deliver,” he sings. “Sarafina” is part of his EP ‘Don’t Get Used to This,’ which is scheduled to be released in November.
TIM LYRE & MINZ – “TIGHTER”
Tim Lyre and Minz perform magic on “Tighter,” a fine tune of seduction and romance. Both artists shine on Dare Kasali’s production, flowing effortlessly on the Pop-adjacent track. They sing to a love interest, with the word ‘tighter’ serving as a representation of commitment and sexual tenacity. “Tighter” is from Tim Lyre’s forthcoming project ‘Masta.’
SKALES – “DON’T SAY MUCH”
For those in the know, Skales has been reinventing himself of late, releasing self-aware songs which reveal an artist who’s still peeling into the depth of his stories. On his latest track “Don’t Say Much,” a breezy production sets the tone for his heartfelt lyrics, as he probes the motions of his life, speaking to how it’s sometimes seemed his career went the other way. Beyond the exhilarating vibe and the poignant lyricism, it’s the weightless admission of Skales that makes this one of the better songs released this period.
EMA ONIGAH – “SIDEMIRROR”
In recent years, the soundscape of Afropop has been colourfully expanded by young artists who are impressing their distinct styles on its conventions. One such artist is the Lagos-based Ema Onigah, who’s been working with the likes of veteran producer Ozedikus and writing songs for Tekno, among other known artists. From Onigah’s debut EP ‘DUST OFF’ comes this record, which sets a prescient mood while unfurling several themes with Ema’s razor-sharp delivery. It bares his growth over the years while showcasing his handle on everyday topics such as love and the desire to steer one’s destiny with precaution and finesse.
Words By Uzoma Ihejirika & Emmanuel Esomnofu
Featured image credits/NATIVE
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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