This week's New Music Friday is headlined by Blaqbonez previewing his upcoming album with a catchy Asake collaboration, while BNXN closes out his Still In Charge EP and DJ Tunez continues his cultural partnership with Terry Apala. The list also features fresh releases from Lojay, Tml Vibez, Txmmyily, and SHON, offering a relatively quiet Friday with a few standout moments across the board.
Blaqbonez and Asake Lead with 'Ikebe 3000'
The lead single for NOMADINHO: 4TH PRIME, due October 16, arrives as a dance-ready Afrobeats record driven largely by its chorus. The Blaqbonez and Asake chemistry holds throughout, even when the verses lose some coherence. The track is catchy enough to do its promotional job ahead of the album.
BNXN Closes 'Still In Charge' EP with Melodic Finale
BNXN's If You Like is the closing track on Still In Charge, and it is quintessential BNXN—smooth, unhurried, and putting melody first. Soft guitars and a relaxed rhythm give his vocal phrasing room to shine in a way the EP's higher-energy tracks do not. It serves as a strong way to close a project.
Lojay's 'Money Lingo' and Tml Vibez's Street-Pop
Lojay's Money Lingo is an upbeat Afro-fusion record built on silky vocal runs and conversational Pidgin over driving percussion. The song is at its best in the background, rewarding passive listening more than active attention, which limits how far it travels but does not undermine what it is.
Tml Vibez's Gentleman, track six from A Street Kid's Diary Disc 2, showcases his melodic street-pop approach over smooth Afrobeats production from Demmy. The execution is competent, but the record does not assert itself strongly enough to stand out within the broader project or the week's list.
DJ Tunez and Terry Apala Continue Cultural Fusion
DJ Tunez's Apala Groove featuring Terry Apala is a direct continuation of the sonic partnership that produced Apala Disco. It blends DJ Tunez's contemporary electronic framework with Terry Apala's indigenous Yoruba vocal cadence and traditional lyricism. The cultural collision works because both artists are fully committed to it, rewarding listeners with an appetite for Fuji and Yoruba musical traditions.
Other Notable Releases and Their Impact
Txmmyily's Lalakula, featuring Famous Pluto and Zaylevelten, was built on weeks of TikTok snippet teasers. It delivers a fast-paced club groove that will find its audience on the same platforms that built the anticipation. Beyond that specific context, the record has limited reach.
SHON's Lekki Epe (OLOMBE) II featuring Abefe is an expanded second rendition of SHON's July release. It pairs a steady Afrobeats drum arrangement with smooth vocal melodies, improving on the original without dramatically redefining it. It is an enjoyable listen for those already familiar with the first version.
This week's releases collectively highlight the diversity of current Afrobeats, from album-promoting singles to EP closers and cultural experiments. As the industry moves toward the October album release season, these tracks set the stage for what listeners can expect in the coming weeks.
