New Music Friday: Songs you should check out this week featuring Victony, FOLA, Niniola, Odumodublvck

This week's Friday releases arrive alongside a significant album drop from Victony, whose sophomore project STARLIFE lands with multiple entries on the list. 

Elsewhere, Niniola steps away from her signature dancefloor sound for something far more personal, and FOLA continues his strong run of form. A mixed but mostly solid week.

The title track off STARLIFE opens with Victony in familiar territory, using smooth R&B-infused vocals over midtempo Afropop production. It is not his most adventurous work but it is well-executed and easy to return to, which is exactly what an album opener needs to be.

The more energetic of Victony's two entries this week. The Young Jonn collaboration is fast-paced and well-produced, blending rhythmic African percussion with contemporary pop instrumentation in a way that gives the STARLIFE project some needed momentum. A strong album cut.

FOLA stacks chanted vocal layers over an Afro-Amapiano backdrop to create something deliberately anthemic and crowd-ready. It is high-energy without being exhausting, and lands exactly where it intends to. Few artists his age are this consistent.

A return to his Okporoko Rhythms territory; gritty drill flows threaded through Afrobeats and highlife influences. For listeners already in his corner, this is comfortable ground. For those outside it, the entry point remains narrow.

The week's most immediately accessible release. 'Anybody' hooks from the first few seconds and does not let go easily. The melodic delivery is self-assured without being overbearing, and the replay instinct is genuine rather than manufactured. Worth noting.

Released amid Dapper's ongoing public dispute with Shallipopi and Seyi Vibez, 'Alafia', meaning peace, arrives with obvious timing, whether as commentary or coincidence. The smooth Afrobeats production is pleasant enough but the delivery does not fully match the weight the moment could have carried.

Upbeat, danceable and immediately familiar, which is both the record's strength and its limitation. Yemi Alade and Don Jazzy know exactly what they are making here and they make it well, though the question of artistic evolution lingers.

The standout of the week for different reasons entirely. The opening track from her Without You EP strips away everything associated with her usual sound, including the house energy and the dancefloor instinct, and replaces it with raw grief. It is a deliberate departure and it works precisely because it feels unguarded.

Nigerian singer and songwriter Victor AD (Victor Adere) released his latest project, The Therapist. On this track featuring Timaya, the artist returns to spiritual roots, turning personal history into testimony of resilience and grace. 

The track marks a new era for the fast-rising Afrobeats star. Following a remarkable run of collaborations, international performances and standout releases, BoyPee returns with a dancefloor-ready love anthem that sees him explore a more playful, confident and performance-driven side of his artistry. 

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