LAGOS, Nigeria: Nigerian singer and songwriter Yemi Alade has released her latest studio album, IT’S YEMI ALADE, a 16 track project that brings together Afropop, highlife, Afrobeats, R&B, lingala, dancehall and Afro house.
Released through Effyzzie Music, the album draws from Alade’s Nigerian musical roots while incorporating influences and collaborations from across Africa and beyond.
The project features artists including Kenyan musicians Bien, Njerae and Sofiya Nzau, Nigerian acts Spyro, Don Jazzy, Jeriq and Teni, French singer Singuila and Congolese musician Ferre Gola.
Alade said her Highlife background played an important role in shaping the project, while the album also gave her an opportunity to experiment with sounds and musical styles.
“IT’S YEMI ALADE is a love letter to my core fans,” she said. “It is an ode to my Highlife roots, a celebration of where I come from, and an exploration of where I am going.”
“The album is a mixture of new, old, and borrowed sounds. I wanted to experiment, to explore different textures and bring together genres and influences that feel both familiar and unexpected. This mixology of sounds is not simply about redefining Highlife. It is about elevating it, introducing it to new spaces while still honouring the spirit and foundation that made me fall in love with it in the first place.”
The 16 tracks explore themes ranging from love and celebration to resilience, identity, spirituality and different aspects of African cultural life.
Songs such as Owa and Minister of Enjoyment take a more upbeat direction, while Earth Song, Titanium and Paradise move towards more introspective themes.
Several songs from the album had already been released before the full project became available. They include Ala Bekee featuring Don Jazzy, Don’t Be Shy featuring Bien, Yemi Mi Lova featuring Spyro, Don’t Worry featuring Fave and Shawa Shawa (Ashawo).
The album’s title also came from an interaction between Alade and her fans. Rather than choosing the name alone, the singer asked her online followers to suggest possible titles for her next project.
The suggestion It’s Yemi Alade repeatedly appeared among the responses and was eventually selected as the album’s title.
“For the first time ever, I decided to randomly seek the help of my fans. I put the question out online and asked them what they thought my next album should be called,” Alade said.
“The response was overwhelming. I received so many suggestions, but one title kept coming up again and again: It’s Yemi Alade. So, in many ways, this is a fan-picked album title, even though it is also self-named.”
The release adds another chapter to Alade’s catalogue, which includes Rebel Queen released in 2024, Mamapiano in 2023, African Baddie in 2022, Queendoncom in 2021, Empress in 2020, Woman of Steel in 2019, Black Magic in 2017, Mama Africa in 2016 and King of Queens in 2014.
IT’S YEMI ALADE is available worldwide through Effyzzie Music.
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