New Music Friday: Rema, Fireboy DML, CKay, Zlatan and more drop new songs

This week's Friday releases arrive in a rush, with several artists dropping lead singles for upcoming albums alongside EP releases and label collaborations. 

The roster spans Afrobeats, dancehall crossovers, Afro-Brazilian fusion and R&B, making for one of the more varied Fridays of the year. Quality is mixed but there are genuine standouts worth your attention.

The seventh track off Llona's sophomore album On The Road is a highlight. 'Masculine Love' leans into his introspective style with soulful, soothing vocals over contemporary Nigerian rhythms. Understated and well-executed, particularly for listeners who gravitate toward the R&B end of Afro-fusion.

Produced by American hitmaker Mustard alongside long-time collaborator London, 'Tea' arrives as the lead single for Rema's upcoming third studio album. The beat switch is the track's most interesting technical moment, shifting between hard-hitting production and infectious Afrobeats rhythm. Rema's distinctiveness is intact but the record feels like it could have landed harder than it does.

The fourth track on CKay's 12-track album BANGER BOY draws from Nigerian slang for hardship and filters it through his signature Emo-Afrobeats storytelling. The emotional terrain: love, trust, resilience, is familiar CKay territory. Whether it finds the TikTok traction it appears engineered for remains to be seen.

The lead single for Fireboy's upcoming fifth studio album ZUKO, marks a deliberate sonic departure, pairing him with Jamaican dancehall heavyweight Masicka on an Afro-dancehall record that commits fully to the genre crossover. For an artist known for melodic Afropop, the shift is noticeable, and he handles it better than expected.

Darkoo taps into the ongoing 'That Girl' cultural conversation for a sun-drenched Afro-fusion track that bridges London's Afroswing energy with Lagos street-pop. Asake's presence gives it immediate credibility. The result is average but carried by a genuinely catchy chorus that justifies repeated listens.

Part of Ruger's new EP Raw & Unfiltered Vol. 1, 'Private Chef' blends Afrobeats with Brazilian funk influences and features MC Morena. The cross-cultural production is the record's most interesting element. The lyrical territory, however, revisits familiar Ruger themes around relationships and women in ways that feel well-worn rather than fresh.

A label collaboration that keeps things light and energetic without demanding much from the listener. The chemistry between Blaqbonez and Noon Dave is the consistent draw on these Chocolate City ensemble records, and it holds here, even if the song itself is unremarkable.

Zlatan's first solo single of 2026 is exactly what his audience expects, coming with heavy log drums, fast-paced percussion, Zanku bounce, and unrestrained street energy. 'Italawa' does not reinvent anything but delivers what is expected in the way it always has.

The most ambitious production on this week's list. TiMi coordinates six distinct vocalists across a spacious, warm mid-tempo arrangement without losing cohesion. Ric Hassani's soulful R&B presence anchors the record, while the remaining features handle contrast and texture effectively. A strong ensemble effort.

From the seven-track EP Wahala Pikin, 'E Never Choke' is a statement of relentless ambition across a blend of Afrobeats, Afro-drill and street-hop. Compact and direct.

The opening track from Kemuel's Borokiri Boy EP sets a reflective tone, built around vulnerability and timing in romance. The Afrobeats and R&B blend is smooth and the DJ Tunez production gives it polish.

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