Burna Boy, Seyi Vibez, Moliy and Lojay on New Music Friday

Another Friday is here, and with it comes the vibrant pulse of fresh sounds ready to soundtrack your weekend. This week’s lineup sees Burna Boy intensifying his album rollout with ‘Update’, Lojay delivering a soul-stirring confessional on ‘Somebody Like You’, and Seyi Vibez shaking things up with his surprise EP ‘Children of Africa’. Bella Shmurda explores vulnerability on ‘Verily’, while Moliy taps Skillibeng and Shenseea for a dancehall-infused remix of ‘Shake It to the Max (Fly)’.

Update — Burna Boy

This week, Burna Boy has intensified the rollout of his forthcoming album ‘No Sign of Weakness’ (NSW) by changing his profile picture across social media to a throbber image and removing images of himself from the cover art of his past albums. The rollout also came with a new release, ‘Update’—possibly a lead single from the upcoming ‘NSW’.

The song, which samples British R&B band Soul II Soul’s 1989 classic ‘Back to Life’, opens with Caron Wheeler’s iconic vocals: “Back to life, back to reality.” However, Burna Boy’s choice of sample holds more depth than his freestyle-like delivery over the backdrop refrain “However do you want me, however do you need me.” With a heavy groove crafted by P2J, ‘Update’ is bound to put listeners in a swaying mood. However, deciphering Burna Boy’s intended message in this track remains elusive. It’s not entirely surprising to witness a slight dip in overt creativity after such a prolific six-year run of high-quality output. If you’re a fan of ‘Bundle By Bundle,’ ‘Update’ evokes a similar vibe, like an extended second verse.

Somebody Like You — Lojay

Lojay’s debut album stands as one of the most anticipated upcoming projects of 2025. Originally slated for a 2024 release, the album’s debut was postponed for undisclosed reasons, with a TBA date still pending. Since the initial announcement, Lojay has released a two-track single, ‘Falling/Unleash,’ where he vividly portrays a world of lavish provision for his muse. Building further anticipation, Lojay unveiled a deeply confessional and emotionally resonant track titled “Somebody Like You” on Thursday. Rife with Lojay’s palpable despair, yet interwoven with vibrant and expertly played guitars, the song culminates in a heartbreak-infused, yet subtly rhythmic melody. “Somebody Like You” showcases Lojay’s genuinely rich sonic artistry and could easily dominate your weekend playlist.

Children Of Africa — Seyi Vibez

Amidst ongoing label disputes with his former record label head, Dapper, Seyi Vibez has, under his NSNV INC imprint, unexpectedly released an EP precisely at midnight today, February 21st. Also partnering with new distributor Empire, Seyi Vibez has delivered his tenth project in just four years, “Children Of Africa.” Seyi Vibez’s new EP, ‘Children of Africa,’ has swiftly ascended to the pinnacle of the Apple Music Nigeria Top Albums Chart, equalling Davido’s ‘Timeless’ record by reaching number one within a mere six hours. This concise four-track, nine-minute EP boasts phenomenal production and an impressive, innovative display of Seyi Vibez’s unique artistic talents. Featuring a single collaboration with US rapper NLE Choppa on “Macho,” this unexpected pairing adds to the surprise element of Seyi Vibez’s unannounced release, uniting artists from distinct cultural and musical landscapes to create something undeniably appealing to his audience. Every track on the EP is a standout, showcasing explosive production, particularly from Semzi, and notably Larrylanes on “Shaolin.”

Verily — Bella Shmurda

Bella Shmurda kicks off his musical year with a new single titled “Verily,” a track that explores his interpretation of Afro-R&B and underscores his vocal prowess as an artist. Bella

Shmurda adopts a vulnerable stance on ‘Verily,’ and the inclusion of themes of longing feels notably fresh within his discography. This is particularly true given his compelling performance on this, his first single of 2025. Employing a drum pattern reminiscent of Sade’s ‘Sweetest Taboo,’ Bella Shmurda effectively conveys his yearning for his muse on ‘Verily.’ He subtly hints at potentially turning to harmful substances for solace if this muse remains elusive—adding a raw emotional edge to the song.

Shake It To The Max (Fly) — Moliy ft Skillibeng, Shenseea

Ghanaian artist Moliy, known for her delicate vocals, enlists Skillibeng and Shenseea for the remix of her dancehall single ‘Shake It To The Max (Fly)’. On this track, Moliy adopts a rap-like flow with her childlike vocals, seamlessly blending into the dancehall production by Disco Neil. The original song, nearing a milestone of 2 million Spotify streams, has garnered widespread acclaim in Ghana and was a dominant hit upon its release last December. For the remix, Jamaican DJ and rapper Skillibeng leads, laying a robust foundation before Shenseea enters, rap-singing her verse and adding a rich layer to Moliy’s already captivating record. This strategic collaboration is sure to solidify the track’s prominence within the dancehall music scene.

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Lockdown — L.A.X

L.A.X has announced the impending release of his album ‘NOBODY LIKE ZAZA,’ scheduled for April 10th. This album announcement coincided with the unveiling of ‘Lockdown,’ the lead single from the 13-track project. On ‘Lockdown,’ L.A.X vulnerably serenades his muse, expressing how she has placed his heart under “lockdown” and declaring his willingness to fend off any rivals for her affection. ‘Lockdown’ arrives just months after L.A.X’s previous hit song ‘Let Me Know,’ featuring Ayo Maff and Taves.

Laho — Shallipopi

Like calculated spontaneity, Shallipopi, much like his former labelmate Seyi Vibez, has released his highly anticipated track ‘Laho.’ The song, which rapidly gained traction online after Shallipopi teased it weeks prior, continues to flourish across social media platforms, particularly TikTok. Shallipopi’s consistent ability to craft instantly engaging tracks with catchy lyrics and infectious rhythms continues to strengthen his reputation as a serial hitmaker with each new release. Notably, Shallipopi now employs a strategy of teasing snippets of his music before official releases, effectively generating buzz for songs that become hits even before they fully drop. ‘Laho’s’ full release reveals a terrific second verse that complements the already popular first verse and chorus teased earlier, ensuring the song’s overall grooviness will be excellent weekend listening.