This week's New Music Friday brings a wave of Afrobeats releases, with the headline collaboration being Fola and Davido's late-night record '2 am in Toronto'. The list also features new tracks from Phyno, Oxlade, Vector, Qing Madi, and more, with a notable shift toward emotional and mood-driven sounds.
Fola and Davido Lead the Collaboration Highlights
Fola's '2 am in Toronto' is a late-night Afrobeats record built around vulnerability and romantic loyalty. According to the review, FOLA's smooth delivery is the consistent strength of the track. He blends easily with most artists because he rarely overplays his hand. The review notes that the Davido feature does not add much to the record, and the song would hold its own without it.
Another collaboration, 'CTRL' by Kashcoming featuring Zaylevelten, is described as a street-pop and trap-fusion record with a chorus that earns attention. The experimental trap energy from Zaylevelten is highlighted as the most interesting element, though the track operates in a niche with a clear audience without crossing over.
Phyno and Oxlade Deliver Melodic New Tracks
Phyno's 'Beautiful' marks a deliberate pivot away from his harder rap style toward smooth, melodic Afrosounds with highlife-fusion undertones. The review describes it as warm and accessible in a way that Phyno does not always allow himself to be, with a clear target audience.
KOHDEE's 'Uwese' features Oxlade, whose presence is welcomed on any record. The track itself is described as an average Afrobeats and Afro-pop record, but Oxlade's verse is the highlight and justifies the listen.
Collaborations and Hip-Hop Influences
Moonshine's 'What a Feeling' featuring Minz and Qing Madi is called the week's most well-executed collaboration. Minz's laid-back Afro-pop delivery and Qing Madi's powerful R&B vocals create a genuine contrast that works in the record's favour. Both artists are fully present, and the mood holds consistently throughout.
Vector's 'Dad & Dot' featuring Cynthia Ifie is a conscious hip-hop record that trades rap bravado for emotional depth. Vector's lyricism is reliable, and the subject matter is handled with care, requiring patience from the listener but rewarding it.
Wave$tar's 'Ric Flair Drip' is track five from Swagstar, borrowing the title and energy of Offset and Metro Boomin's 2017 record and channeling it through a Lagos-rooted Afro-trap lens. The review notes it works well enough without demanding too much comparison to the original.
