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Nothing marks November better than Billboard African Rookie of the Year Odeal releasing a new project. In keeping his OVMBR tradition alive, the British Nigerian star dropped The Fall That Saved Us EP, a neo-soul/R&B-driven reflection of complicated romance and self-discovery that builds on the somber world he created in his November 2024 EP Lustropolis and that arrives four months after The Summer That Saved Me.
But what did come as a total surprise this month was Tems‘ Love is a Kingdom EP. Across seven tracks, she confronts the fickleness of love head-on, while embracing self-renewal. Tems, along with rising Afropop star Taves and more notable artists, also appear on Show Dem Camp’s masterful AFRIKA MAGIK album, which is deeply rooted in the timeless sounds of the continent.
We’ve highlighted 10 of our favorite new songs by African acts that have come out roughly within the last month. Check out our latest Fresh Picks, and catch a vibe with our Spotify playlist below.
Show Dem Camp & Ajebutter22, “Small Chops and Champers”
Tec and Ghost of Show Dem Camp toast to the soft life with alté leader Ajebutter22 on the celebratory “Small Chops and Champers” track from the Nigerian rap duo’s latest album AFRIKA MAGIK. Named after nibbles and bubbles, the laidback collab delights in their successes. “For us, AFRIKA MAGIK isn’t just an album; it’s a cultural document. A reminder that our stories, in all their beauty and chaos, are magic,” SDC said in a press statement.
Taves, “Popstar Party”
Taves gets the “Popstar Party” started with his electric new single from his forthcoming debut studio album Popstar. The Afropop star captures the intoxicating thrill of fame and late-night festivities with his melodic bravado, while SirBastien’s guitar solo on the outro further highlights Taves’ moment in the spotlight. “‘Popstar Party’ is me having fun in the sun – letting go, unleashing energy that’s been building inside me,” Billboard’s former African Rookie of the Month said in a press release. “I want people to move, to feel alive, and to see what kind of world I’m bringing in Popstar.”
Nonso Amadi, “Drown”
Nonso Amadi passionately pleads with a lover to not let him “Drown” in his deep affection for her on the highlight track from his To Cry a Flood EP. The Afro R&B trailblazer’s suave flow anchors the vulnerable number, which interpolates Amerie’s 2005 classic “1 Thing” on the chorus.
Odeal feat. Wizkid, “Nights in the Sun”
Amid Odeal’s wintry world of Lustropolis, the “Nights in the Sun” closing track from his The Fall That Saved Us EP radiates with a refreshing warmth. Odeal imagines sweet mornings with someone over P2J’s sweltering production, while Wiz dreams of “sipping on fine wine, a perfect whine.” “This is the glow, the nights that feel like they could go on forever, where everything is light and easy again,” Odeal told Clash. “[Wizkid] carries that feeling of effortless joy and nostalgia in his voice, and it brought another dimension to the world I was building.”
Tems, “What You Need”
Tems delivers a hauntingly beautiful epilogue about a relationship not worth salvaging on the “What You Need” standout track from her surprise EP Love Is a Kingdom. Her frequent collaborator GuiltyBeatz’s stripped-back R&B production gives her the floor to stand firm in rebuking a love that no longer belongs to her, singing, “Your love is not my lifeline, you love is not my home.” After Tems previewed it during an Instagram Live years ago, even declaring “this song is not coming out,” “What You Need” absolutely deserves a home in her discography.
Tems, “Big Daddy”
From its first notes, this latest single from Tems — off her new EP Love Is a Kingdom — grabs the listener, well before her distinctive voice invites you into her latest tale, a cutting takedown of an ex who has come crawling back. It’s a celebration of her own power over a person she used to love, and the ways in which she wields it. But more than anything it is also a song with a clear and nuanced vision, not unlike the star herself. A welcome return.
King Promise & Davido, “Bad Habits”
Davido is, of course, an established superstar by now, but King Promise is still on the rise, and he may have one of the best voices in the Nigerian pop scene right now, as evidenced by his breakout his “Terminator.” On this track, though, he trades in obvious vocal prowess for songcraft, and this song succeeds in every way, from the production to the vibe to the lyrics that celebrate the level of success that Promise is exuding right now. Davido adds to that effortlessly, creating one of the best African songs of the year.
LAX & Olamide, “Belinda”
L.A.X. has a strong track record now of crafting irresistible vibes, and “Belinda” is no different on that front. This one, produced by Davido collaborator Ragee, is a little more hard-driving than some of his previous work, but leans strongly on amapiano elements to hammer home its beat, while the legendary Olamide slides through with the assist on this lovesick yet confident cut.
Ayo Maff, “Tension”
Still just 20 years old, Ayo Maff is the next young Nigerian singer/songwriter to emerge on the scene overflowing with talent. He’s already got an EP (Maffian) and an album (Prince of the Street) under his belt, and “Tension” is his latest single to raise the bar on what he’s capable of. With ambitious production reminiscent of Fireboy DML’s Playboy album, “Tension” leans contemplative and emotional, but remains catchy and positive, with a pulsing undercurrent that keeps the song from slipping into melancholy. It’s a two-minute statement of intent: next year is his.
Omah Lay, “Waist”
Omah Lay has kept a relatively low profile since breaking out with his Boy Alone album a few years ago, but “Waist” feels like a return to form for the young artist — versatile, creative and unexpected in different ways, all of which keeps people coming back to his music again and again. He feels like a refreshing voice in a scene that at times can follow trends, and this track portends big things to come in his next era.
Fall is here, and so is a fresh crop of African music releases that’ll help you get into the swing of the new season.
Juls, one of the most sought-after modern Afrobeats producers, tries his hand at palmwine music — which incorporates Portuguese guitars brought from sailors, local West African melodies and Trinidadian calypso rhythms and is named after the traditional homebrew made from the sap of special palm trees — with his latest EP Palmwine Diaries Vol. 1. Rising Nigerian rapper ODUMODUBLVCK also introduces more listeners around the globe to his “okporoko rhythms,” his self-defined genre that blends hip-hop, grime, Afrobeat and progressive R&B.
Meanwhile, young singer Khaid drops another melodic banger, budding superstar Ayra Starr gets more personal than ever (without dropping the energy), BNXN releases another slow-burning single and the fusion of Afrobeats and Latin music continues with another potential hit from Feid and Rema.
We’ve highlighted 10 of our favorite new Afrobeats (and related) songs that have come out roughly within the last month. Check out our latest Fresh Picks, and kick off the new fall season with our latest Spotify playlist below.
Ruger, “Tour”
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The Afro-dancehall star reassures his mother that he’s doing well for himself and he’s only concerned about his money on “Tour,” the trap-tinged opener to his latest album RU the World. Ruger recorded “Tour” while shortly after wrapping up his tours in the U.S., Europe and Canada, and he revealed that his righthand producer Kukbeatz “made this beat in the toilet.” But regardless of where the song was made, Ruger’s here to remind everyone that he’s made it.
Patoranking feat. Zion Foster, “Woman of the Year”
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Following his and Wande Coal’s 2014 Afropop hit “My Woman, My Everything,” Patoranking delivers yet another sweet ode to women who deserve to be celebrated for their everyday contributions to others’ lives. With a sultry verse from British-Nigerian singer Zion Foster, and Dhannyjazz’s sumptuous saxophone leading the production, the Nigerian star serenades the only lady in his life as a way of thanking her for everything she does for him.
ODUMODUBLVCK, “MC OLUOMO”
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The Nigerian rapper gives us a taste of his upcoming EZIOKWU mixtape, due Oct. 6 via NATIVE Records/Def Jam, with his invigorating new single. “MC OLUOMO” first samples a video of a fan jokingly taunting the MC by yelling “Odumodu, on your feet, run!” after the fleeing MC during an event at Lagos State University (LASU). But his hustle, even in the literal sense, comes from his hard work, and he wouldn’t be able to get to the bag without it. ODUMODUBLVCK delivers this message over a flamenco-esque drill beat, a taste of his unique “okporoko rhythms.”
Juls, “Palmwine Riddim”
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British-Ghanaian producer Juls set out on a mission to bring his Ghanaian motherland back into the conversation about African popular music with his six-song set, Palmwine Diaries Vol. 1. The first single, “Palmwine Riddim,” is a lilting, laid-back instrumental that pays homage to highlife’s jazzy horns, and even though it incorporates Juls’ harmonies, he lets the music do most of the talking and solidifies its timelessness.
June Freedom, “Say Salud”
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The Cape Verdean American artist’s newest single deserves a toast. “Say Salud” is as refreshing as the Dom Pérignon, DeLeón or whatever drink you should be sipping on while getting lost in its irresistible rhythm. “Go-golo, go-golo, go-golo, ah/ You cool my temperature/ Making me sweat like you drippin’ agua/ Hamduli-hamdulilah,” Freedom sings, mesmerized by the way a woman moves (because who could stay still to this song?).
Khaid, “No Time”
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Khaid is not reinventing the wheel, but the teenager’s output this year is full of earworm melodies that are irresistible, and his voice has an emotional maturity beyond his years. “No Time” continues his hot streak, which dates back to 2022, and it’s a worthy addition to a catalog that is growing with one formidable banger after another. It should be exciting to see where he goes from here.
BNXN, “Sweet Tea”
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BNXN’s work this year has included a series of slow burners, and this one fits the bill as well, with an understated, almost wistful vocal propelled by contemplative production. But his songs often have the ability to fly under the radar until you wonder what, exactly, you’ve spent all day humming, only to revisit them and realize you’ve connected with them on an almost subconscious level. His songs demand repeat listens, and the rewards more than not reveal themselves.
Feid & Rema, “Bubalu”
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The fusion of Afrobeats and Latin music, in the broader senses of each, has been steadily gaining in popularity for months now, and this collaboration between two young yet established hitmakers from each sector was always likely to spark interest. But the result is something special, a danceable backbeat with vibes that are through the roof, which should find a home on plenty of dance floors even as the weather gets colder. This heralds a strong future for collaborations like these.
NSG, “NELLA ROSE”
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The latest single from the London-based six-piece group has plenty of energy and a fusion vibe, bringing in some amapiano drums to a distinctly British flair, and combining a wordless singalong hook with rapped verses in this cut named for the famous Belgian YouTuber. With a debut album out next month, the group has plenty more where that came from.
Ayra Starr, “Rhythm & Blues”
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After a breakout year-plus, the young singer decided to show off a more vulnerable side on her latest single. But don’t look at it as a simple R&B love song — there’s plenty of spark and even an urgent vibe to this one, as she sings about the type of relationship that provides energy and creativity rather than stress or anxiety. Perhaps the best thing about Starr’s growing catalog is that there are no limits to her sound — she’s succeeding on her own terms. This one reinforces that notion.
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