This week’s New Music Friday opens with Davido and NO11 on Gimme Dat Ting, followed by Mavo and SSSoundGawd’s BB Lifestyle. LADIPOE also returns with No Level alongside Pa Salieu, one of the collaborations housed on his newly released REVIVAL album. CKay contributes E Clear, while Olivetheboy and Medikal connect on Stopit. Cheque expands Yazi with a deluxe edition that includes Zodiac II featuring Blaqbonez.
The opening stretch continues with Uchy’s Wavy, taken from Harder Than Diamonds, while Berri-Tiga brings Zlatan and Izztopik together on Adamma, and Tkay Maidza links with Jenevieve for Romanticize. Tobe Nwigwe, Flavour and C.S. Armstrong combine on PERFECTION, while BARDBANKS recruits L.A.X and Logos Olori for Jamming.
Beyond Afropop and street music, this week also carries a strong R&B and alternative presence. Masego’s Heaven appears on his new album Fix Your Face, while M.anifest delivers HANDKERCHIEF. Brown Joel strips things back on the acoustic version of How Long, and The Lagos Panic teams up with Lady Donli on FFG. Kitay and Yarden share Teqi, while Manana’s Calendar adds another reflective entry to the week.
Elsewhere, Jubed connects with Not3s on Fall, Craig Lucas releases Joyride, and O.L.A joins Ayjay Bobo on Hot Baby. Big Hookz and Ice Prince deliver Gimme Ya All, while Troy Venus and Monochrome release their collaborative Space Duo Tape. Ian Storm, Dunnie, Baray and CHUKWUMA also link on DND II.
Steve Lacy’s new album Oh yeah? contributes pure colour featuring Erykah Badu, extending the week’s alternative and soul offering. Chocolate City closes the list with Tonight, bringing Blaqbonez, Major AJ and Noon Dave together. From major albums and deluxe projects to collaborative singles and emerging releases, this week’s Critic Circle selection captures another broad snapshot of African music and its growing connection to global sounds.
Full New Music Friday Playlist — July 17, 2026
- Davido, NO11 — Gimme Dat Ting
- Mavo, SSSoundGawd — BB Lifestyle
- LADIPOE, Pa Salieu — No Level (REVIVAL)
- CKay — E Clear
- Olivetheboy, Medikal — Stopit
- Cheque, Blaqbonez — ZODIAC II (Yazi Deluxe)
- Uchy — Wavy (Harder Than Diamonds)
- BhadBoi OML — Orindowo
- Berri-Tiga, Zlatan, Izztopik — Adamma
- Tkay Maidza, Jenevieve — Romanticize
- Tobe Nwigwe, Flavour, C.S. Armstrong — PERFECTION
- BARDBANKS, L.A.X, Logos Olori — Jamming
- Masego — Heaven (Fix Your Face)
- M.anifest — HANDKERCHIEF
- Brown Joel — How Long (Acoustic)
- Alorman, Mista Silva — Talk & Do
- The Lagos Panic, Lady Donli — FFG
- Kitay, Yarden — Teqi
- Manana — Calendar
- Jubed, Not3s — Fall
- Craig Lucas — Joyride
- Kobilou, Aibrid — Pay Me
- O.L.A, Ayjay Bobo — Hot Baby
- Big Hookz, Ice Prince — Gimme Ya All
- Troy Venus, Monochrome — Space Duo Tape
- Ian Storm, Dunnie, Baray, CHUKWUMA — DND II
- Steve Lacy, Erykah Badu — pure colour (Oh yeah?)
- Chocolate City, Blaqbonez, Major AJ, Noon Dave — Tonight
