🔎 Our verdict: 6.0 → “Decent but Skippable”
🎧 Standouts: Mr Media, Bliss
Serving as a preview of her upcoming LP, WWP (We Wanna Party) is South African pop star Tyla’s second EP and her first to spark controversy. Amid cultural debates over her racial identity and accusations of appropriating Nigerian musical phrases, the project has fallen short commercially. This has led some to question her artistic credibility.
Still, the music offers plenty to enjoy. With four tracks spanning 11 minutes, the EP delivers a colourful fusion of genres that reflects both Tyla’s roots and the creative voices around her. African-American and African, primarily Nigerian, producers and songwriters shaped the sound.
The lead single Dynamite features Nigerian superstar Wizkid, adding further weight to its Afropop credentials. With both artists singing seductively to each other in English and Nigerian Pidgin, the track has a smooth and unhurried feel, layered with soft guitar riffs. It evokes the sultry vibe of DJ Khaled’s Wild Thoughts.
Another standout is Bliss, a chill mid-tempo dance-pop record that explores the feeling of being in love. Blending amapiano, pop, afrobeats, R&B, and more, the EP captures the pulse of 2020s Afropop. Though brief, it is packed with catchy hooks and carefree energy, offering a taste of what’s to come.
Tyla, often called the Queen of Popiano, uses this release to spotlight South Africa’s growing influence. Nods to fellow amapiano artists, Zulu chants, SA House rhythms, and a reference to the Bacardi dance all point to South African music as a rising force in the global Afropop scene.