The NATIVE’s First Impressions Of BNXN’s ‘Captain’
The NATIVE team reacts to BNXN's sophomore album.
Back in 2019, when BNXN broke through with the Zlatan-assisted “Spiritual,” it would have been hard to envisage the heights that the singer would eventually reach. From a young singer in Gbagada with dreams of traveling the world with his music, BNXN has become one of the most highly regarded Afropop acts working today, respected for the strength of his songwriting and his dulcet vocals that are as recognisable as they are sonorous.
A series of successful years ultimately culminated in the release of his debut album, ‘Sincerely, Benson,’ in 2023. Billed as an earnest letter to fans invited into the sanctum of his world, ‘Sincerely, Benson’ cemented BNXN’s reputation as an artist in tune with his feelings as a compass for his music. In the two years since then, he has continued to be at the forefront of the genre, thanks to a joint tape with Ruger and collaborations with Rema, as well as rising stars like Taves and Fola.
It’s all set the stage for the arrival of his sophomore album, ‘Captain,’ a self-complimenting indication of how the singer perceives himself and his position in the music industry. With features from Victony, Seyi Vibez, and the Soweto Gospel Choir, BNXN is operating at a new level in his career. After a few listens to the new album, The NATIVE team gives our first impressions of ‘Captain.’
WHAT WERE YOUR EXPECTATIONS OF BNXN GOING INTO THIS ALBUM?
Sien: I knew the album would be insane. I had heard bits and pieces and seen multiple tweets about him putting in a lot of time to perfect the album, so I was highly expectant.
Bamise: As someone who has for the most part enjoyed BNXN’s music in bits and pieces and not collectively on a project, I was mostly curious to see if my previous sentiments would remain the same or if I’d have a different experience. However, listening made me realise I had been hoping for more in terms of sonic and vocal application; a more interesting and nuanced selection of instrumentals and seeing BNXN try out new vocal tricks, something to take his output on projects from a collection of good songs and passable ones to being cohesive, deeply compelling and immersive. Spoiler alert, I didn’t get that 
Boluwatife: To be honest, I’m never really sure what to expect from BNXN. His previous projects have been nice, but they haven’t moved the needle in my opinion. Bnxn has always been able to make good songs, that’s well-established at this point. But I think his projects are always missing a little extra something, so I didn’t go into this one with high expectations.
WHAT SONGS STOOD OUT ON THE FIRST LISTEN?
Wale: “Totori” was an instant favourite. He teased a snippet of it about four months ago and I had been looking forward to hearing a full version of it. I also liked “Ashimolowo” because of how he flipped that famous Twitter joke. That final stretch of the album is really hard, in my opinion
Daniel Akins: “Cough Syrup” stands out. BNXN and Victony on a song together is like a mashup of beautiful melodies, and that’s exactly what listening to “Cough Syrup” felt like.
Shina: My pick will be between “Cough Syrup” and the title track. “Cough Syrup” because of the melodies and chemistry between Victony and BNXN, and “Captain” mainly because of its production.
HOW WELL DO YOU THINK THE GUEST APPEARANCES ENHANCED THE LISTENING EXPERIENCE?
Israel: The guest appearances added range to the album. Each feature brought something unique, whether it was a different energy, perspective, or sound. They didn’t feel forced either; it felt like real collaborations, not just names on a tracklist.
Daniel Banjoko: The features were well thought out and didn’t feel like any were out of place. Everyone who appeared on the project came in to complement BNXN’s sound and not take away from it.
Moore: The guest appearances on ‘Captain’ are generally thoughtful and well-placed, adding dimension without overshadowing BNXN’s voice. Each feature feels purposeful, enhancing the emotional range of the album. The Soweto Gospel Choir’s contribution on “In Jesus Name” stood out to me in particular. Their harmonies bring a spiritual gravity that elevates the track without ever feeling overstated.
WHAT SONG IS THE BIGGEST SKIP?
Bamise: This is a tough one for me, not because of an absence of skips but rather because I think the album can be categorised into good songs, great songs, and then other songs that feel like an overstretched interlude. As a result, I go from finding myself locked in and vibing to the first four tracks, “I Alone” to “Very Soon,” and then apparently to have zoned out till “Yes Sir” and “Laye Mi” come on. I also would not miss listening to “Totori.”
Shina: So this is my opinion, and you should please respect it lol. The biggest skip for me would have to be “Jies.” First, I don’t even know what the word means, though I’m curious to find out, and secondly, compared to the rest of the songs on the project, it wasn’t memorable and didn’t catch me on first listen. Maybe on my third or fourth go, my opinion will change.
Wale: I didn’t like “Eleyi.” The issue with BNXN’s introspective style is that he can easily get lost in trying to nail down the specifics of a feeling or an emotion. That’s the issue I have with “Eleyi” for me, it just doesn’t translate well, and it doesn’t add anything to my listening experience.
WHAT SONG HAS THE BIGGEST HIT POTENTIAL?
Daniel Akins: “Laye Mi” dropped ahead of the album. It’s a very solid song, and I think new listeners are about to discover how good of a song it is. The song has a now familiar BNXN chorus feel, and I think that is a recipe for a hit.
Boluwatife: There are a couple of strong songs on this album with a lot of potential, but I think “Laye Mi” could quickly become one of those songs that slithers into everyone’s playlist. I liked it when I first heard it earlier in the week, and it still stands out on the album. It’s the type of breezy Afropopiano that could do well on the charts and airwaves.
Daniel Banjoko: “Jies” really stood out to me. I’m really happy it wasn’t released before the project came out. It sounded fresh but also familiar, and I feel a lot of people will be drawn to the song sooner or later.
OVERALL FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Wale: I think this album is meant to be the inverse of ‘Sincerely, Benson,’ but it still mirrors it in many ways. The downstated flow, dragged-out melodies, and airy melodies. I like more than half of the songs on the project, but I need to sit with it some more because sometimes more songs grow on me. It’s good to hear new BNXN, though.
Bamise: I really like how BNXN continues to make a case for R&B in his way. We don’t have a lot of guys in the mainstream carrying that torch, and I had a great time listening to the project (save for a few skips). It feels like one of those albums they say “has something for everyone,” but beyond the cliché, I think there’s still work to be done to break away from delivering projects that are strong in pockets and veer into monotony in others, towards making one that feels compelling from start to finish. This, in my opinion, is a recurring issue with BNXN projects, but I’m rocking with RnBenson and will be giving “Jies” and “Cough Syrup” many more spins.
Shina: Always a pleasure to listen to BNXN. The soft melodies, witty references, familiar/favourite samples and interpolations were all present again on his sophomore project. On first listen, the project is sonically cohesive. No song felt out of place in my entire listen. My favourite part of the project was the latter half of the album. Sheesh, that was a great run.
Listen to ‘Captain’ here.
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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