Nigerian American singer Tayo J returns with Afro-fusion track, “For The Night.”
The song pairs soft R&B vocals with a rhythmic bounce inspired by the melodic moodiness of Omah Lay and the global polish of Wizkid.
Tayo J is based in LA and aims to “bridge the gap between R&B and global Afro-pop.
“For The Night” by Tayo J is out now on all streaming platforms.
The nominees for the 2026 American Music Awards have been announced with Burna Boy, Wizkid, Tyla, Rema and MOLIY scoring nominations.
Tyla is the most nominated Afrobeats artist this year. She’s up four awards including Best Afrobeats Artist, Best Social Song of the Year and Best Music Video of the Year both for “Chanel” and Best R& B Female Artist.
Burna Boy has two nominations including Best Afrobeats Artist and Best Hip Hop Song for his contribution to Gunna’s “wgft”
Nigerian-American artist Shaboozey is also nominated in three categories including Collaboration of the Year, Best Male Country Artist and Best Country Song for “Goodnews”
The 52nd American Music Awards will take place on Monday, May 25th in Las Vegas.
As part of our About to Blow series we will be highlighting talented creatives in our Afrobeats Head community who are igniting the scene and poised for stardom.
For the first edition I spoke to Slay Papa, an artist who’s childhood dream as a devout Catholic was to become a priest but by divine intervention ended up studying Theater Arts at the University of Benin.
“My secondary school was a minor seminary,” he tells me over the phone.
“I believed it was Gods plan for me but I wrote a letter to a letter to Claritians about attending a major seminary after secondary school and they never got back to me. Then I became anxious about getting into university.
“During Benediction, whenever the monstrance was raised I would pray to God to help me get into university if it was his will. And if not, let me get into a major seminary.
A real lover boy, the Ibadan-native got his stage name thanks to his popularity with the girls in a neighboring secondary school.
“My friend Clement TYB and I used to pay 300 Naira record love songs at a studio close to our school and sent them to the girls in another school. I had a lot of female friends on Facebook so my friends called me Slay King and later I became Slay Papa
His dilemma meant that he was the last of his classmates to register for the UME exams but was surprisingly the first to be accepted into the university.
While in school his music took a back seat and until he graduated in 2024 when he released his song “Sport” inspired by Asake’s “Skating” off his Lungu Boy album
“I wrote it on a trip to Abeokuta. My friend Jumabee invited me and I just spent a lot of time checking out beats on YouTube till I found the perfect one.
“It’s a reminder to myself that I need to keep moving forward in life. I can’t be stagnant. Just like Asake in “Skating”
Slay Papa and Jumabee are also working on a new song to be released “soon”
Slay Papa’s Top Three:
Slay Papa and is confident that his music will change his life
“My greatest wish is for my music to take me around the world.”
He also has a mantra which he lives by and emphasizes on all his songs.
Before we end the call he makes me promise to include it my article.
“Slay Papa never dies.”
Stream “Sport” by Slay Papa
Follow Slay Papa on Instagram, Facebook and X
American artist BRIGHT-D is turning up the heat with the release of his brand-new single “Party Animal,” a high-energy anthem made for the dance floor
The release comes on the heels of BRIGHT-D’s second album, Taste of Diamond which featured international superstars Wizkid and Beenie Man, solidifying his place as one of the most exciting voices in today’s global music scene.
With “Party Animal,” BRIGHT-D continues to push boundaries, blending infectious rhythms, vibrant melodies, and irresistible hooks into a track that celebrates freedom, nightlife, and good vibes.
“This song is about letting go, living in the moment, and celebrating life,” says BRIGHT-D. “I wanted to give my fans something that makes them dance, smile, and feel unstoppable
Stream “Party Animal” by Bright-D
Follow Bright-D on Instagram
With songs like Lotto and Live it Up, Ghanaian artist Twicy is making a name for himself in the Afrobeats scene.
I recently caught up with him over Zoom shortly after his return from an Easter vacation to the Sao Tome and Principe, part of his prize for winning Artist of the Year at the 2024 Central Music Awards.
“It was so peaceful, just like heaven,” he says.
Born Ernest Bright Acquah in Agona Swedru located in the central region of Ghana, Twicy’s knew early on that he wanted to sing and perform around the world, largely influenced by his father who regularly played records by Fela Anikulakpo-Kuti and Bob Marley among others.
“Those songs shaped me, I would always imagine what it would be like to have people all over the world singing my songs,” he recalls.
After graduating from the Edinam an High School 2013, he was determined to pursue his dream full, recording early mixtapes and covers in studios around his hometown. “It was an exciting but challenging time, going from one studio to the other and trying to get money for the studio sessions,” Twicy says.
In 2016 he won first place in a Song Remix Competition organized by The Media Blast PR and Dailey’s Entertainment which earned him a record deal with Dailey’s Entertainment.
“I’m grateful to Big Moe and Dailey’s Entertainment. They really changed my life”
His win at the 2024 Central Music Awards capped up an eventful year which saw him embark on a media tour in Nigeria when I first met him. We connected early that year after his manager Moses Dailey hired me to join Twicy’s media and communications team.
“2024 was a busy but exciting year for me. I went to Nigeria and the UK for the first time in my life,” he says.
While in he Lagos, I took Twicy to the New Afrika Shrine and Ojuelgeba, Wizkid’s former hood which also inspired one of the biggest Afrobeats songs of the same name.
“I love Lagos and it was an honour to visit Fela’s shrine,” he tells me. “And Wizkid has always been such an inspiration to me so it was so inspiring to see his old hood. It felt good to be experience such iconic places in Afrobeats history.”
“One of my favourite things about Lagos was the food, especially the steaming bowl of cat fish pepper soup we had at the Afrika Shrine”
He tells me that he thought was actual cat meat pepper soup when he heard me making the order.
It reminded me of an old joke by comedian Basketmouth about a Nigerian who orders cat fish in a Ghanaian restaurant but is surprised when the waiter brings him a bowl of normal fish cut in into tiny pieces. So of course he was confused and wanted to know why to which the waiter in his Ghanaian accent replied that the fish had been “cut”
“I love the energy of Lagos, it’s similar to Accra in some ways. Something is always happening. “I loved the vibe at Obi’s House and the yellow Danfo buses. We have them in Ghana too. We call them Trotro,” he says.
“I also think about the CMS Church. It’s so beautiful and I plan to to shoot the video for my forthcoming single “All Over Me”
“It’s a beautiful song. I can’t wait to share it with my fans and that would be the perfect place to shoot the video”
“I love Lagos and I’m grateful for all the friends I made there, my friends in the media, Amos Ikwuje and Latino Perrico.
As we close, I ask Twicy about his dream collaborations and he lists Olamide, Ayra Starr, Crayon, Mqgixx and Shallipoppi who’s song “Laho” is currently doing ‘madness’ in Ghana.
Follow Twicy on Instagram and X
Wizkid and his partner Jada P were all loved-up at a birthday dinner to celebrate her birthday dinner in Lagos
The two lovebirds, who have two sons together, could not keep their hands off each other as they enjoyed a three course meal which included suya, Wizkid favourite, with their closest friends.
Wizkid’s pal, Rotimy, took to Twitter and on Friday to share pictures from the outing which took place at the swanky Gras Lagos restaurant.
Guests were greeted by a cute balloon wall as they arrived at the venue before sitting down to enjoy the lavish three-course dinner.
This comes after the funeral of Wizkid’s mother, Mrs Jane Dolapo Balogun, which saw some of the biggest names in Nigeria come out to support Grammy winner.
Guests at the star-studded ceremony included billionaire businessman Tony Elumelu, fellow artist Wande Coal, Nollywood actress Osas Ighodaro and Big Brother Naija’s Mercy Eke and Kim Oprah.
Wizkid has described the loss of his mum, who died in London on August, 18 2023, as “The deepest pain I’ve ever felt in my life.”
“The pain is profound. It hurts deeply,” he said at her funeral.
The deepest pain I’ve ever felt in my life. I’m lost but I pray God will comfort everyone of us. I’m lost without you Mom, I love you so much”mmm