Shortly after Olamide presented EMPIRE founder and CEO Ghazi with the Clive Davis Visionary Award at Billboard‘s first Global Power Players event in London last month, the YBNL label boss didn’t rest on his laurels and continued refining his craft on his 11th studio album, Olamidé. The Nigerian rap legend taps in with Wizkid twice on the horn-heavy “Kai!” single (featured in last month’s African Fresh Picks column) and boastful “Billionaires Club” cut with Darkoo while linking up with American hip-hop heavyweight Dr. Dre on the smooth “Indika” collab with Spinall.
After becoming the first Ghanaian solo female act to perform at Coachella this past spring, Amaarae continues to put her cultural pride on display with her third studio album Black Star, due Aug. 8 via Interscope Records. And she fuses highlife, kpanlogo and more on the LP’s lead single “S.M.O.,” which stands for “Slut Me Out.” Meanwhile, there are new heavyweight cuts from Young Jonn, SPINALL, Crayon, BNXN and more.
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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 curate your new soundtrack for the summer with our Spotify playlist below.
Odeal, “London Summers”
Odeal is ready to be outside with a new ting on his arm on “London Summers,” the first single from his upcoming EP The Summer That Saved Me. Shae Jacobs and Jack Dine blend the shuffling percussion of house with Afrobeats and R&B’s breezy grooves to create Odeal’s latest day party jam. And his sensual lyrics, like “Headed back to your place/ I done fell in love with your taste/ Never get enough of your fragrance” capture the fleeting exhilaration of a summertime fling – as well as the hope it lingers a little longer after the season’s over.
Bloody Civilian, “Ladida”
The Nigerian singer-songwriter-producer returns with “Ladida,” her first single of 2025. The rousing Afro-fusion production soundtracks the hormonal rush that only her lover gives her, but the lighthearted bounciness of her “La-di-da-da-da-da” hook puts her back at ease.
Maleek Berry feat. Wizkid, “Situation”
Maleek Berry reunites with longtime collaborator and friend Wizkid on the sizzling highlight track “Situation” from his debut album If Only Love Was Enough. Berry finds himself stressing over a girl who’s giving him the run around, but Wiz reminds her she’d still be his even in another life. “Back in the day we understood each other very well, and I think that’s what has allowed us to keep this connection for all these years and understand each other musically for all these years,” Berry told Clash of his working relationship with Wizkid.
Amaarae, “S.M.O.”
Amaarae champions sexual liberation and summertime gratification on “S.M.O.,” the slinky lead single from her upcoming third album Black Star. In a press release, the Ghanaian-American star says “S.M.O.” is inspired by “Ghanaian ‘80s highlife trailblazer Ata Kak and blends it with a mean Detroit club bass, a drum roll akin to both Magic System’s ‘1er Gas ‘1er Gaou’ and Michael Jackson’s ‘Rock With You’ and an infectious zouk melody that sounds like a steel pan lipsing an evil synth.” She compares the song’s sensual messaging to Janet Jackson’s “The Pleasure Principle” and Donna Summer’s “Love to Love You Baby,” adding, “I don’t know how much clearer one can get when they ask you to ‘SLUT ME OUT.’”
Olamide, Wizkid & Darkoo, “Billionaires Club”
Olamide is living it up on “Billionaires Club” with Wizkid and Darkoo from his latest self-titled album. P.Priime’s blissfully laidback production provides the perfect backdrop for Olamide and Wiz’s braggadocious verses. Meanwhile, Darkoo impressively holds her own while putting her sexy touch on the third verse that brings the song to a sweeping, cinematic close.
Olamide, “1 Shot”
Olamide’s self-titled latest album is full of outstanding collaborations with some of the brightest lights in Nigerian music right now: Wizkid, Seyi Vibez, Darkoo, Asake, SPINALL, Young Jonn and Boj among them, and he even clears space for a Dr. Dre verse. But he hardly needs help in producing a great song, and on the solo cut “1 Shot” he reminds everyone that he’s hands down among the greatest and deserves mention among his peers on the continent. It’s an instantly catchy track with throwback vibes and a swagger to it that only really he can pull off.
Young Jonn feat. Asake, “Che Che”
Long a superproducer in his own right, Young Jonn at this point can be considered at the forefront of Afrobeats as a lead artist, too, with a track record of dropping big hits for a few years straight now — and this collaboration with the young legend Asake stands alongside his other recent work in that regard. It’s an intricate production, with Jonn taking the first verse and the hook before clearing way for Asake to do his thing.
Spinall feat. Destin Conrad and JayO, “Want You”
DJ Spinall has, like Young Jonn, made a successful foray into lead artist territory in the last few years, and seems to save his best stuff for his own projects. This one has a late-night sweaty summer dancefloor vibe, as excellently produced as anything in his catalog, with breathy vocals to match. His instrumentation has always stood out, and does again here.
Crayon, “Roju”
“Roju” is a vocal showcase for the Nigerian singer, as well as a love song to both a woman and the world. With a hard-driving drum background that belies its light and airy feel, Crayon delivers a big standout in his career in time for the summertime, with a hook that soars majestically over a swelling organ.
BNXN & FOLA, “Very Soon”
BNXN has become one of the most reliable hitmakers in the game over the past few years, with his heartfelt and melodic vocals often shining through brightest. On this track, he and FOLA trade lines seamlessly and effortlessly, with the young singer fitting right in on the emotional track about a strained relationship that both sides are trying to save.
