Afrobeats is no longer the only genre driving conversations around African music and its growing influence on the global soundscape. From African pop, R&B, hip-hop, reggae, and dancehall to increasingly global sounds, artists are finding new ways to make those influences feel seamless rather than calculated. This week’s releases reflect that fluidity in striking ways. Beyoncé and Pharrell Williams revisit the sound and ambition of the mid-2000s on the newly unveiled “Can I Watch You,” while bees & honey brings Omah Lay, BEAM, and Gyptian together for the hazy, cross-continental “As We Get High.” Neither track fits neatly into one box, and that is precisely the point.
Across Afrobeats, Afropop, hip-hop, and their increasingly interconnected offshoots, artists are leaning into records that can travel between scenes without losing their individual identities. This week’s releases are part of a growing pool of music that feels less concerned with strict genre rules and more interested in atmosphere, personality, and unexpected collaborations. The result is a collection that moves comfortably between intimate R&B, African hip-hop, Afropop, reggae, and Caribbean sounds without feeling like a playlist assembled around one formula.
Here are five new and trending songs bringing fresh energy to the conversation this week…
#1. Beyoncé and Pharrell Williams — Can I Watch You
“Can I Watch You” arrives as part of Beyoncé’s B’Day 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition, giving fans a previously unheard piece of the album’s era nearly two decades after its original release. The track is among several rare and unreleased recordings included in the expanded project, which also features Spanish recordings and additional collaborations.
The reissue allows Beyoncé to revisit an album that helped define her early solo career. She has described wanting B’Day to sound “big, percussive, hard, up-tempo, and energized,” while maintaining the melodic and harmonic foundations of R&B. Produced by Beyoncé and Pharrell, “Can I Watch You” offers another glimpse into that creative period while fitting naturally into the anniversary project.
The deluxe edition also includes “Cuerpo Tumbao (Get Me Bodied)” with Maluma and “Irreemplazable (Como La Flor),” featuring previously released vocals from the late Selena Quintanilla.
#2. bees & honey ft. Omah Lay, BEAM and Gyptian — As We Get High
Berlin-and-London collective bees & honey gathers three distinctive voices on “As We Get High,” pairing Nigeria’s Omah Lay with Jamaican artist Gyptian and BEAM for a relaxed cross-border collaboration.
The song follows “SAWA” with AYA and continues the collective’s interest in connecting African and Caribbean talent. Omah Lay’s melodic delivery sits comfortably against the record’s understated percussion, while BEAM and Gyptian add a distinctly Caribbean character without overwhelming the arrangement.
There is plenty of breathing room in the production, allowing each vocalist to make an impression. Following the success of “Show Me Love” and the FOLA-assisted “when the party’s over,” bees & honey appears to be building a catalog designed for international audiences.
#3. Nemzzz ft. Travis Scott — GASS
For listeners who prefer their playlists with considerably more weight, Nemzzz and Travis Scott arrive with “GASS.” The collaboration connects the UK rap scene with one of hip-hop’s biggest global names, resulting in a track driven by bass, pounding drums, and a darker atmosphere.
Both artists bring commanding performances to the record, with their different approaches giving the song its character. Rather than packing the production with unnecessary elements, the beat leaves enough space for the rappers to dominate it. “GASS” is the kind of record that makes its biggest impression when played loud.
#4. Nasty C and Tellaman — Natural
South African hip-hop heavyweights Nasty C and Tellaman reunite on “Natural,” the sixth track from their long-awaited joint album T’s & C’s Apply.
Their history together gives the song an easy chemistry that is difficult to manufacture. “Natural” follows earlier releases including “Playlist” and “Call Me,” continuing a project built around the duo’s shared history and the “terms and conditions” concept behind its title.
Produced by Christer, Lastee, and Tellaman, the track favors warmth over aggression. Its smooth, R&B-leaning production gives Tellaman’s melodic approach room to sit alongside Nasty C’s rap delivery. The contrast works particularly well, resulting in a record that’s relaxed, mature, and deliberately understated.
#5. Black Sherif ft. Full Blown — Love Again
Black Sherif closes out this list with “Love Again,” a collaboration with Full Blown, the Trinidad and Tobago duo of brothers Kevon and Kory Hart.
The song appears on Black Sherif’s six-track EP SUN SHERIF, a project that further highlights the Ghanaian artist’s ability to move between Afrobeats, Afropop, and more emotionally charged songwriting. “Love Again” is particularly easy to return to because of how naturally its production, vocals, and performances fit together.
Full Blown brings an additional Caribbean dimension to the record, complementing Black Sherif without disrupting its smooth character. It is the kind of song that does not need to force a dramatic moment to make an impression; its appeal comes from how effortlessly everything works together.
Featured image: @beyonce/Instagram
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