Friday, October 9, 2026, brings another wide mix of new music, with Nigerian singles, African projects and international albums arriving together.
FOLA leads the Nigerian releases with his 14-track album 9 and the Davido-assisted single 2am in Toronto. Phyno, WurlD, Vector and Zoro Swagbag also have new singles, while Tobe Nwigwe’s THE BRIDGE connects Nigerian heritage with the wider diaspora.
Internationally, Troye Sivan, Pitbull, Carly Rae Jepsen, Chase & Status and Remi Wolf offer new albums across pop, hip-hop and electronic music. 
Here are 15 releases worth adding to your weekend playlist.
1. FOLA – 9
FOLA releases his 14-track sophomore album 9 through Dangbana Republik Records and EMPIRE.
The project features Davido, Ayra Starr, BNXN, Darkoo, Bella Shmurda and Zlatan. Its football-inspired title continues FOLA’s striker identity, but the album also gives him space to explore romance, ambition and personal growth.
For Afrobeats listeners, 9 is the clearest Nigerian album to start with this Friday.
2. FOLA featuring Davido – 2am in Toronto
FOLA also gives listeners a new same-day single with Davido on 2am in toronto.
The collaboration is one of the most immediate talking points around 9, pairing one of Nigeria’s established global stars with one of the newer voices building momentum in the genre.
It gives the album a strong crossover entry point before listeners move through the rest of the tracklist.
3. Phyno – Beautiful
Phyno begins the rollout to his forthcoming album with Beautiful, a softer single built around love, gratitude and devotion.
The rapper is best known for his hard-hitting Igbo records, but this release leans into melody and warmth. It also offers an early look at the direction of his next full-length project, Let That Sink In, which is scheduled for later in October.
4. WurlD – Da Da
WurlD returns with Da Da, a polished Afropop and R&B record that keeps his vocals at the centre.
The song moves through relationships, city life and ambition over a restrained rhythmic arrangement. Its easy pace makes it a natural fit for listeners looking for something smooth rather than heavy.
5. Vector featuring Cynthia Ifie – Dad & Dot
Vector takes a personal route on Dad & Dot, a reflective record about fatherhood, family and legacy.
Cynthia Ifie adds a soulful hook that softens the rapper’s delivery, while the production leaves room for the song’s message to remain clear. It is a more intimate release from an artist often associated with battle-ready lyricism.
6. Zoro Swagbag – Settings
Zoro Swagbag stays close to his indigenous rap roots on Settings.
The song blends Igbo, English and Pidgin, with an Oja flute adding another layer to the production by Izzy Beatzz and Masterkraft. Additional vocals from Ruffcoin and Only1Klem strengthen the record’s local character.
It is a strong choice for listeners who want Nigerian rap with a clear cultural identity.
7. Rybeena featuring Niniola – Carried Away (Oke Agba)
Rybeena teams up with Niniola on Carried Away (Oke Agba), bringing street-pop storytelling together with Niniola’s Afro-house presence.
The collaboration gives the emerging singer a recognisable guest voice while keeping the record rooted in contemporary Nigerian pop. Niniola’s appearance should also draw listeners who enjoy dance-oriented Afrobeats.
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8. boyBlandi – Collect
Emerging Nigerian singer boyBlandi adds Collect to Friday’s Afrobeats releases.
The single focuses on ambition, hard work and enjoying the rewards that come with progress. It is a discovery pick for listeners who want to look beyond the biggest names on the week’s playlist.
9. Tobe Nwigwe – THE BRIDGE
Nigerian-American artist Tobe Nwigwe brings his Nigerian and Houston identities together on the 12-track album THE BRIDGE.
The project includes collaborations with Adekunle Gold, Flavour, Odumodublvck and The Cavemen, alongside guests such as Sia, Labrinth, Busta Rhymes and Scarface.
With its Nigerian-rooted collaborations and diasporic perspective, THE BRIDGE gives this week’s roundup a wider cultural frame.
10. Les Mamans du Congo & Rrobin – WA SANGI
Congolese collective Les Mamans du Congo and French producer Rrobin release the 10-track project WA SANGI.
The album combines traditional Congolese voices and rhythms with electronic production. Dobet Gnahoré appears on Nlembo Ntila, while the wider project addresses women’s lives, environmental change, community and cultural transmission.
It is one of the week’s strongest African releases outside the Afrobeats mainstream.
11. Troye Sivan – She’s the Best
Troye Sivan releases his fourth studio album, She’s the Best, a 12-track project that moves between desire, identity, loneliness and queer belonging.
Lily-Rose Depp appears on the closing song, Lost Time. The album offers a more vulnerable counterpoint to Sivan’s dance-pop image, making it one of the weekend’s most prominent international pop releases.
12. Pitbull – PITCOIN
Pitbull returns with the 24-track album PITCOIN, his 13th studio project.
The release gives fans another long-form collection of the Miami artist’s familiar party rap and pop energy. Its size also makes it one of the week’s biggest international drops by track count.
13. Carly Rae Jepsen – Day and Night (Continued)
Carly Rae Jepsen expands her Day and Night era with the 32-song release Day and Night (Continued).
The extended project gives listeners a substantial pop set for the weekend, with enough material to move from bright, upbeat tracks to more reflective moments.
14. Chase & Status – Generic Everything
British electronic duo Chase & Status release the 10-track album Generic Everything.
The project includes J Hus, Little Simz, Giggs, Skrillex, D Double E, Blanco and other collaborators. Its mix of drum and bass, rap and UK club sounds makes it one of the international releases most likely to connect with African listeners who follow British music.
15. Remi Wolf – Mud
Remi Wolf closes the list with Mud, an 11-track pop album released through Island Records.
The project brings her colourful, genre-blending approach to another full-length release. It is a lighter international option for listeners looking for energetic pop after the heavier rap and electronic projects on this week’s list.
From FOLA’s Nigerian album and Davido collaboration to Tobe Nwigwe’s diasporic project and Troye Sivan’s new pop record, this New Music Friday offers a mix of familiar stars, emerging voices and cross-border collaborations.
There is no shortage of options for the weekend playlist, whether the mood calls for Afrobeats, Igbo rap, Afro-house, pop, hip-hop or electronic music.
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