Afrobeats Fresh Picks: Boj, Olamide, Odeal, Rema, Spinall, ODUMODUBLVCK and more

Rema's rebelliousness and deep respect for Afrobeats are at the heart of his boundary-pushing second album THAT'S HIMstemming from his social media handle @heisrema and meaning the one in GREEK. It reached No. 7 Advertising signWorld map album. Alté frontman Boj delivers one of the season's brightest LPs — while recruiting an international lineup of distinguished artists — on 12 Summersrepresenting the twelve years he spent in music.

Tyla drops her first song since her self-titled debut album in March with Spinall's “One Call” (also featuring Omah Lay) debuting at No. 12 Advertising signThe US Afrobeats Songs chart this week (dated August 3). And ODUMODUBLVCK builds on his chart success when he raps “22 weeks at Advertising sign charts' on his proud single 'Not All That'.

We've highlighted 10 of our favorite new Afrobeats (and related) songs released in the last month or so. Check out our latest Fresh Picks and find your new summer soundtrack with the Spotify playlist below.

Odeal, “Soh-Soh”

Odeal heats things up on 'Soh-Soh', the smashing dance spot from his four-track EP Sunday at Zuri's This is influenced by Zuri Awela, a person of Nigerian and South African descent shouts at Xand “represents parts of our Sunday at her beach house: noon (arrival), afternoon, evening and night,” she wrote. While Odeal reminisces about last summer's twists and turns in “Soh-Soh,” he's making new memories this summer with a short that enchants him and is willing to “spend a million” to win her heart. It's impossible not to follow the song's sexy sax and crunchy shakers – even Kiara you can't get enough of it.

Rema, “HEHEHE”

“Monday morning, we're talking about me while I'm making money,” Rema boasts before breaking into his manic, cartoonish laugh at the heart of his single “HEHEHE” from THAT'S HIM. The 24-year-old star clobbers his foes with naughty staccato chords that punctuate every 'HE', the only time Rema takes his breath away from his hoarse flow. His confidence reaches a fever pitch when he asserts himself in the upper echelon of Afrobeats alongside Wizkid, Burna Boy and Davido and doubles with his quarter X statement: “No more big three, now there's a big four.” But given Rema's track record and his latest LP heralded as breathing new life into Afrobeats, it's not a far-fetched statement.

Tay Iwar, Le Mav & GOLD, “Rock Steady”

Five years after their first GOLD album, Tay Iwar and Le Mav (who are collectively known as GOLD) reunite on his sparkling EP GOLD II. On highlight 'Rock Steady', Iwar muses about morning sex and his lover's golden body, while Le Mav's sultry production makes them want to stay in bed a little longer. But the tempo changes in the last minute of the track, where Iwar cranks up his “These days, I feel like I've been chosen” and Le Mav builds tension with the bridge's piano chords before launching into the kaleidoscopic synth outro. “Rock Steady” on a very lively note.

Gabzy, JayO & Odeal, “Too Fine”

UK R&B/Afrobeats artists Gabzy, JayO and Odeal don't let a girl who's “Too Nice” out of their sights on their latest collab. The trio combine catchy melodies, sweet guitar licks and saccharine lyrics to not just take a girl home for the night, but to make her their wife, with Gabzy, whose alter ego is Mr. Malone, claiming that could be 'Mrs. Malone” on the chorus. It's hard not to succumb to their individual, irresistible charm and theirs Vevo DSCVR performance is further proof.

Boj & Sainté, “Koshi”

Boj hits up fellow UK artist Sainté on cool opener “Koshi” from the former's latest album 12 Summers. Tropical guitar melodies complement the effortless comedy of DRB member LasGidi (“Rock best drip on legendary, fresh to death to cemetery,” he sings in the first verse), while Sainté raps about impressing a girl with the money he didn't have never her previous husband . But no amount of money or level of drip could make anyone compare to these two.

ODUMODUBLVCK, “Not All That”

Few MCs have a more distinct aesthetic than ODUMODUBLVCK, and on this latest single he turns the energy up to the max, delivering a relentless series of lyrics that brim with confidence, both listing his feelings – Burna Boy, Skepta, Wizkid, Davido , Stormzy and Olamide are all being scrutinized – and compared to a reincarnated Tupac, while celebrating his wins in recent years since bursting onto the scene, including two Headies Awards and “22 weeks in Advertising sign charts.” If he's talking about the success of “DECLAN RICE”, it was actually 27 weeks on the US Afrobeats Songs, but after a while, it'll be hard to keep track. This song is a worthy victory lap.

Olamide, Fireboy DML & Asake, “Uptown Disco”

YBNL boys join forces again for this posse cut off label boss Olamide latest EP, Ikigai / (生き甲斐), Vol. 1, which, while definitely not a disco groove, pulsates with electricity regardless. Fireboy sets the tone and jumps the first verse and trades and closes with Olamide for the hook, before deferring to the latter for the second verse as the two effortlessly run off tongues and sports references. Asake brings the track home, putting an exclamation point on one of the only songs featuring all three artists

Spinall feat. Tyla & Omah Lay, “One Call”

Spinall has been one of the most consistently great DJ/producers in West Africa in recent years, and here he brings together Omah Lay with one of the brightest lights of the past 18 months in Tyla for an infectious and sultry track. Tyla in particular makes an irresistible contribution. The production grows with the song, bringing it to a collaborative finale and making it one of the best tracks of the month.

Rema, “YAYO”

Rema's THAT'S HIM The album represents a step forward in the young singer's career as he continues to progress beyond the astronomical success of “Calm Down”. With “YAYO,” he delivers a frenetic track that ripples with energy, with a blistering hook that provides the only half-second break in the entire song — and an explosion of melody that feels both surprising and infectious.

Boj feat. Victony, “Pressure”

This silky track from Boj's excellent new album 12 Summers represents another palette for mocking Victony to paint on as he brings in his signature voice to take over the track with a verse that takes his mind off the gutter. Which isn't to say that Boj himself is missing from the track, he stands out in its full collaborations – his vocals are the steady counterpoint, the tamer side of the human spirit that helps make the whole song, a great late night single.