Seyi Vibez and Phyno ditch their usual sound for something softer this week, while Blaqbonez, Cheque and a Nigeria-Zimbabwe duo also drop new music.
Okay, so this week’s new music was actually kind of surprising. Not because anyone dropped a bad song, but because two of the artists everyone thought they had figured out decided to switch things up completely.
Let’s start with the biggest gist: Seyi Vibez, the guy known for his high-energy street-pop and Fuji-Amapiano mix, just released a slow, R&B-leaning love song called “Back 2 U.” No heavy percussion, no street bounce, just him singing his heart out. And honestly? It doesn’t feel like a gimmick. It feels like he actually meant it, and if you’re willing to sit with it, it grows on you.
Phyno did something similar. If you know Phyno, you know the aggressive Igbo rap flow he’s built his whole career on. But on “Healing,” he trades all of that for acoustic guitar, soft synths, and a mid-tempo pace that lets the song breathe. It’s about loss, and you can tell. This one hits different because it doesn’t feel calculated at all, it just feels like a man processing something real.
Now, for people who just want the usual Blaqbonez energy, don’t worry, he’s still him. “Big Performer,” produced by P.Priime, has all his signature swagger and clever wordplay riding over an Afrobeats groove. Nothing new here, but he executes it so well you won’t mind.
Zinoleesky’s “Dantata” stays in his comfort zone too, mixing electronic Afrobeats with traditional percussion. It’s decent, just not the kind of song that makes you stop scrolling.
Muyeez opened his debut album All Hail Muyeez with “Water,” a track that pulls straight from Fela’s “Water No Get Enemy.” Bold move, big shoes to fill, and while the idea is exciting, the execution doesn’t quite reach the ambition behind it.
Then there’s “Perspe,” from Joeboy, Fxrtune, and Joeboy’s own Young Legend imprint. Three different voices, one smooth Afro-pop record. Good chemistry, good production, just not quite as memorable as you’d hope given the names involved.
Cheque’s “Timeless” is exactly what fans expect from him, melodic trap in the “Zoom” mold. Solid, but safe.
The real sleeper pick of the week? Zimbabwean singer Nutty O linking up with Nigeria’s Fido on “Too Much.” It’s an Afro-dancehall record, and something about a cross-border collab just hits differently. Both artists brought their A-game, and together they made something neither would’ve made alone.
So yeah, plenty to stream this weekend. But if you only have time for two songs, let it be Seyi Vibez and Phyno.
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