Big Ken has released “Gemma,” a new single that adds to his run of releases in 2026.
“Gemma” follows other 2026 releases from Big Ken, including “Coco Baby,” “No Face,” “Money Evidence” and “Cruise.”
Big Ken’s catalogue spans Afrosounds alongside hip-hop and R&B influences, with earlier releases including Rich Before Rap, Midnight Sun and Flowers.
“Gemma” is available on streaming platforms.
Ricky Sky’s new track “Sikasso” began with an early version that ultimately did not match the direction he wanted.
The project started in 2025, as Sky experimented with rhythmic patterns, atmospheric elements and different sounds in his studio. After completing an initial version, he decided that the structure and energy were not quite where he wanted them to be.
Rather than continuing to make minor adjustments, Sky returned to a blank project. He kept only the elements from the original session that he felt were worth developing and rebuilt the track around them.
That process allowed him to rethink the arrangement, dynamics and overall direction without being tied to the decisions made in the first version. The production was then constructed, mixed and mastered independently in his own studio.
For Sky, the process reflects his view of music creation as a continual process of transformation. Instead of forcing a version that did not feel right, he chose to start again and build “Sikasso” around the ideas that still felt true to his original vision.
The single is now available on streaming platforms.
BOYRECK thinks an Ayra Starr collaboration would be a hit. The artist tells Afrobeats Head about finding his sound, the music that shaped him, his latest single “Genuine,” and why he considers himself “experimental, versatile and unrepeatable.”
Having spent time in Ibadan, Abeokuta and now Lagos, how would you describe the personality of each city? Which one feels most like home, and how have they influenced your music?
BOYRECK: Ibadan is a city I grew up in, that is home. I’d describe its personality as lovely and friendly. Abeokuta is a great city, I was born there, I am from there. I’d describe its personality as energetic and youthful especially because I am currently schooling there too. I haven’t really been to Lagos that much but from my experience while I was there, Lagos is a very interesting and energetic city.
Each city has its uniqueness which in a way has influenced my sound.
You started out as a rapper before finding your lane in Afro-fusion, R&B and Neo soul. Was there a particular moment or song that made you realise your sound was evolving?
BOYRECK: Yes! The story actually goes back to 2020, when I was hospitalized for more than a month. It was during that period Omah Lay dropped his debut album, Oxlade started getting recognition. I loved their sound so much and I said to myself that if they can pull off this kind of sound, I can surely do so too. Their songs kept me going while I was hospitalized and it became an inspiration for me during that period.
Olamide was one of your earliest influences. Who are some of the artists, past or present, that have shaped your music, and what have you learned from them?
BOYRECK: Yes, there are a few of them: Omah Lay, Oxlade, Buju.
From them, I learnt that there isn’t one way to create music. There’s always room for creativity, experimenting and improvement in whatever you do.
Give to people something they have been starved of and they will love you unconditionally and that is something I hold dearly as an artist. I want my people to be able to connect to my craft with a pure soul and love me unconditionally.
Your latest single, “Genuine,” is out now. What’s the story behind the record, and what were you feeling when you wrote it?
BOYRECK: Honestly, I had something different in mind when I heard the beat, I sang an entirely different melody on it. It was my producer, Chuksmagic, who told me to go home and rewrite the song.
I had many trials and errors before I finally managed to compose the intro of the song. I felt a different kind of peace when I composed the intro. It was like a man meeting his fated woman😂. I was in that feeling till I finished the song.
When you’re not making music, what does a perfect day off look like for BOYRECK? How do you usually relax and recharge?
BOYRECK: If I am in Ibadan, there are only a few things I do.
I usually go and help my mum at her shop. Honestly, I am not the type that goes out, if I am not at shop then I am at home😂
When I am in Abeokuta, it feels more youthful for me because I have my friends and coursemates around. There are more things to do.
Your music is full of emotion. Has love or being in a relationship influenced the way you write songs, or do you draw inspiration from other people’s experiences too?
BOYRECK: I get asked this question a lot, but I honestly think it is the way I was brought up. I have this calm, gentle and loving personality I’d say. I was brought up with love around me. And yes I draw inspiration from other people’s experiences too.
If you could collaborate with any three artists, Nigerian or international, who would make your dream collaboration list, and why?
BOYRECK: First and foremost, Olamide.
I love that man a lot, he made me fall in love with music.
Arya star, I can feel the connection in our sounds. I believe whatever song we make will be a hit. The scenes!!!
Lastly, Dave. Imagine me dropping a crazy hook and Dave coming in with those verses. It’s madness😂
You’ve been building your career steadily rather than chasing overnight success. What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned about patience and consistency in the music industry?
BOYRECK: “Consistency, consistency I promise to remain consistent In my positive version”
In this music industry, I have learnt that consistency cannot be underestimated. You have to keep doing your thing and improving.
Patience is a virtue but don’t overplay it, you shouldn’t be too patient, hunger has to override it but it needs to be balanced.
What’s one thing people assume about BOYRECK that isn’t actually true?
BOYRECK: People think that I am gentle because I don’t talk too much😂
As you continue to grow as an artist, what can fans expect from you over the next year? More singles, collaborations, a project, or something completely unexpected?
BOYRECK: Expect the unexpected, what if I bring Beyoncé out of retirement or I have a joint project with Drake or BTS?
Afrobeats Head Quick Fire
• Coffee or tea? Warm water
• Morning or late-night studio sessions? Late night
• Ibadan or Abeokuta? Abeokuta
• Rap or R&B? R&B
• One Nigerian artist you’d love to collaborate with? Taves
• One international artist you’d love to collaborate with? Dave
• A song you wish you had written? Honestly, there’s no particular song I wish I had written, I listen to all types of music😂 i could be jamming Fuji today, American old school tomorrow, RnB the next day, Apala, Trap, Hip hop, Beautiful Nubia, Reggae and so on…
I am not limited to one particular genre, I love exploring different sounds so it hard to say I wish I wrote a particular song.
• What’s currently on repeat in your playlist? Would I be selfish if I say Genuine? 😂 Okay seriously now “How do you do? by Beautiful Nubia”
I play the song almost every morning, I love it.
• Three words that describe BOYRECK.
Experimental, Versatile and Unrepeatable.
• What’s one thing people would be surprised to learn about you?
That I stammer a little bit, it’s been part of me since childhood but I don’t let it get the best of me.
• Finish this sentence: “In five years, BOYRECK will be a phenomenal artist, one that you get to experience once in a lifetime with a sound so unique to my identity alone.
”Genuine” by BOYRECK is out now on streaming platforms.
Eylsia Nicolas returns with “They Call It Love,” a new recording that reflects on her return to music after a difficult period that left her questioning whether she would be able to sing again.
The song has been recorded in several styles and languages, with this version taking a less commercial approach. Nicolas worked with a full orchestra for the recording, using the arrangement to give the song a broader and more reflective character.
The release comes after Nicolas says complications from long COVID affected her lung capacity and vocal cords, making music feel out of reach for a time. Through work involving spatial audio restoration, samples from her earlier recordings and AI-assisted technology, she was able to reconstruct the sound of her voice and return to recording.
That experience informs the context around “They Call It Love.” Rather than presenting the song simply as a comeback statement, Nicolas describes the ability to create music again as something deeply meaningful after believing she might not be able to sing.
Her path back to music follows a career that has taken several turns. Before returning to recording, Nicolas pursued tennis from a young age, later working in the record business and education before moving into fashion and other ventures. Music, however, remained a recurring part of her life.
On “They Call It Love,” she takes that return in a more expansive direction. The orchestral version places the song within a different musical setting from its more commercial counterparts, allowing the arrangement and vocal performance to carry the emotional weight.
For Nicolas, the recording is ultimately connected to the idea of being able to create again after an unexpected interruption. “Being able to create again has meant more to me than I can express,” she says.
“They Call It Love” is part of Nicolas’ continuing return to music and her exploration of the song across different styles and languages.
The single is now available on streaming platforms.
Texas artist takenonote returns with “MENACE,” a hip-hop and Afrofusion track centered on ambition, self-belief and staying connected to the people who have been part of his journey.
The song reflects on the mindset of continuing to pursue new opportunities regardless of previous achievements. Its lyrics draw from takenonote’s experiences across music, business and his relationships with the people around him, framing ambition as something shared rather than purely individual.
Musically, “MENACE” combines hip-hop with Afrofusion influences, incorporating Ghanaian slang into takenonote’s writing. The cultural references connect the track to his Ghanaian roots while its rap-driven foundation keeps it within his broader hip-hop sound.
The Ghanaian connection also comes through in the cover art, which references “233,” Ghana’s international dialing code, alongside visual elements drawn from the country’s flag and cultural identity.
“MENACE” follows takenonote’s recurring interest in personal growth, identity and cultural connection. It also continues the blend of rap, R&B and Afrofusion that runs through his work.
“MENACE” is now available on streaming platforms.
Suki Salaam has released “Body,” an Afrobeats track that incorporates elements of jazz and saxophone into its production..
The song is built around an Afrobeats rhythm, with saxophone melodies appearing throughout the arrangement. The jazz influence comes primarily through the instrumentation, while the percussion keeps the track grounded in an Afrobeats structure.
It focuses on rhythm and melody, with the saxophone providing one of the defining musical elements of the record.
“Body” is now available on major streaming platforms.
Aur3n0 has released “Dum Spiro Spero,” a melodic house track that draws on Afro House influences and takes its title from the Latin phrase meaning “While I breathe, I hope.”
The song examines uncertainty, pressure and the persistence required to keep moving through difficult periods. Rather than presenting hope as an absence of hardship, its central idea is about continuing to hold onto it while facing challenges.
Musically, “Dum Spiro Spero” combines warm synth textures, deep basslines, driving percussion and atmospheric vocal elements. The production moves between melodic house and Afro House influences, with cinematic elements shaping the track’s overall atmosphere.
The Latin phrase also connects to Aur3n0’s interest in European history, philosophy and classical expressions, bringing an older idea about perseverance into a contemporary electronic setting.
Aur3n0 is an independent electronic music producer whose work combines melodic house and Afro House with themes including resilience, human connection and personal growth.
“Dum Spiro Spero” is available now on major streaming platforms.
Garbage Garden has released “emaN yM yaS,” a new electronic track that examines identity, emotional dependency and the need for validation through another person.
The title is “Say My Name” written backwards, reflecting the song’s central idea: a person who increasingly relies on another person’s attention to confirm their own sense of existence. As the relationship develops, the other person becomes less of an individual and more of a mirror through which the narrator seeks reassurance about their own identity.
The song approaches this dynamic from a psychological perspective, exploring the point at which the desire to be seen can become consuming. Its lyrics examine validation, dependence and a form of narcissism in which another person’s identity is gradually reduced to its role in confirming the narrator’s sense of self.
The production mirrors that instability. Whispered passages develop into heavier electronic sections, while glitch textures, cinematic synths, shifting melodies and abrupt changes in dynamics replace a conventional repetitive structure. The arrangement continually changes as the narrator’s emotional state becomes increasingly fractured.
“emaN yM yaS” draws from electronic pop, synthpop and experimental electronic influences, while Garbage Garden approaches its subject more as an examination of psychological behaviour than a straightforward expression of romantic vulnerability.
Garbage Garden is a Kobe-based artist project led by Yulmi. The project combines alternative rock, electronic textures and experimental sound design, with recurring themes of memory, survival and self-reclamation.
“emaN yM yaS” is available now on major streaming platforms.
P La Cangri has released “Free Ride,” a new bilingual dance single combining contemporary dance production with English and Spanish vocals.
The New York-based artist, DJ, producer and songwriter uses the track to explore attraction, chemistry and the idea of living in the moment, while also reflecting on the work and effort behind success. The title’s central idea plays on the contrast between enjoying life’s pleasures and recognising that meaningful achievements come at a cost.
Musically, “Free Ride” sits between commercial dance and Latin-influenced club music, with its bilingual vocals forming a central part of the track’s identity. The song was released independently through Gutierrez Enterprises.
P La Cangri’s broader sound incorporates Latin influences alongside dance, House, Amapiano and Reggaetón. Her work as both a vocalist and producer informs an approach that moves between different forms of contemporary dance music.
Speaking about the track, P La Cangri says: “Free Ride” is about letting go, living in the moment, and enjoying the journey, but also remembering that the best things in life are earned.
“Free Ride” is available now on major streaming platforms.
Multidisciplinary artist Hugh O has released “Oh No No No No No,” a new track that forms part of his expanding catalogue of independent music.
The release arrives alongside a wider body of work from Hugh O, who began releasing music in 2023 and has been developing projects across electronic and experimental styles.
His music draws on elements of soft techno, atmospheric electronic production and classical influences, with an emphasis on melody and immersive sound.
“Oh No No No No No” offers a glimpse into Hugh O’s current creative output as he continues developing a broader catalogue of albums and singles.
“Oh No No No No No” is available now on streaming platforms.