American rapper J. Cole has officially released his highly anticipated seventh studio album, The Fall-Off, on February 6, 2026. The project arrives as a double album and marks one of the biggest moments in his career, blending introspection, legacy-driven storytelling, and significant international collaborations.
The Fall-Off is distributed through Dreamville and Interscope Records, with executive production credits including J. Cole himself, Ibrahim Hamad, and T-Minus. The album spans 24 tracks split across two discs, each reflecting a different chapter in Cole’s life and journey as an artist.
On The Fall-Off, Cole incorporates a range of guest vocals that broaden his sound and global reach. Confirmed featured artists include:
Tems: Nigerian singer-songwriter known for her emotive voice and worldwide collaborations.
Burna Boy: Nigerian Afro-fusion star blending Afrobeat rhythms with global music.
Future: American rapper featured with vocal contributions.
Erykah Badu: Legendary American neo-soul artist.
Album Structure: Double Disc Explained
J. Cole designed The Fall-Off as two distinct parts:
Disc 29 – Reflects Cole’s mindset around age 29, tracing his early rise in hip-hop.
Disc 39 – Offers insight into his thoughts at age 39, showcasing growth, reflection, and maturity.
This structure frames the album as a musical autobiography, connecting his past with where he stands today.
Full Tracklist
DISC 29
29 Intro
Two Six
SAFETY
Run a Train
Poor Thang
Legacy
Bunce Road Blues
WHO TF IZ U
Drum n Bass
The Let Out
Bombs in the Ville / Hit the Gas
Lonely at the Top (Bonus)
DISC 39
39 Intro
The Fall-Off Is Inevitable
The Villest
Old Dog
Life Sentence
Only You
Man Up Above
I Love Her Again
What If
Quik Stop
and the whole world is the Ville
Ocean Way (Bonus)
At the time of release, streaming platforms and social media reacted strongly to The Fall-Off. Fans praised the lyrical depth of the new songs and the blend of voices, especially the contributions from Tems and Burna Boy which many see as a positive step in the crossover between American hip-hop and African music.
Omah Lay has officially entered the upper echelon of Nigerian music artists on Spotify. The singer-songwriter now has 10 songs surpassing 100 million streams across all credits, joining a rare group that includes Burna Boy (20 songs), Wizkid (16), and Tems (13).
The milestone was sealed after Davido’s “With You”, featuring Omah Lay, crossed the 100 million streams mark on Spotify. The achievement marks Davido’s sixth track and Omah Lay’s tenth to hit this streaming benchmark, showcasing the growing influence of these artists both locally and internationally.
Spotify has become a key metric for measuring global music success, and Nigerian artists have increasingly dominated streaming charts. Here’s how the elite group currently stands:
Burna Boy: 20 tracks with 100M+ streams
Wizkid: 16 tracks with 100M+ streams
Tems: 13 tracks with 100M+ streams
Omah Lay: 10 tracks with 100M+ streams
Omah Lay’s presence on this list highlights not only his consistency but also the global reach of his music. Tracks like “Godly”, “Infinity”, and “Damn” have contributed to his growing international fanbase, making him one of the most streamed Nigerian acts of his generation.
Davido’s “With You”, featuring Omah Lay, was the track that pushed Omah Lay’s streaming count to double digits. Since its release, the song has resonated with listeners worldwide, blending Davido’s signature Afropop style with Omah Lay’s smooth vocals.
Omah Lay’s rise demonstrates the strength of emerging talent in the Afrobeats scene, while veterans like Burna Boy and Wizkid continue to set streaming benchmarks.
Publisher’s Note: This article is part of our weekly #OpinionPiece series exploring the intersection of Afrobeats and Lifestyle. The views expressed are solely those of the series editor and are based on the artist’s factual public brand, partnerships and cultural impact in the year published (2025).
Introduction: A Different Kind of Empire
While the Nigerian entertainment industry often rewards spectacle and volume, Tems has built an empire on the exact opposite: substance, selective presence, and unwavering creative integrity. In 2025, her lifestyle was perhaps the most influential for a generation tired of the loud, often draining, noise of social media celebrity. Tems redefined luxury not as what you buy, but as the freedom to control your time, your narrative, and your peace.
This piece argues that Tems’s deliberate choices from her fashion to her career management have established a powerful new archetype: the Minimalist Maven whose true wealth lies in her independence.
The Luxury of Creative Control (The Ultimate Flex)
In an industry where young artists often face pressure to conform, Tems’s biggest factual lifestyle statement is her insistence on total creative control.
Even after achieving global fame, Tems consistently maintained a high level of control over her production, songwriting, and artistic direction.
Opinion Piece: I see this as deeply aspirational. For young, ambitious Nigerians, the dream is often to climb the ladder until they gain the power to call the shots. Tems achieved this power early, making her lifestyle the blueprint for uncompromising ambition. She showed that self-worth and artistic vision are non-negotiable assets.
Quiet Luxury: The Power of Understatement
Tems’s aesthetic, which has become hugely influential, champions quiet luxury; a philosophy that extends far beyond her wardrobe.
Fashion Aesthetic: Her fashion choices are famously understated: oversized blazers, tailored trousers, simple flowing dresses, and a distinct lack of heavy branding. Factually, she prefers designers and pieces that prioritize texture, silhouette, and quality over loud logos. This moved the fashion conversation away from the “loud luxury” of earlier Afrobeats stars.
The Lifestyle of Selectivity: Her public life is marked by selectivity. She doesn’t overshare. Her brand collaborations are highly curated, often with global high-end brands that align with her refined, artistic image. This scarcity of her presence actually elevates her value, proving that silence and focus can be more impactful than constant chatter. I personally admire how she makes an oversized t-shirt look more expensive than a branded sequined gown.
Wellness and Boundary-Setting: The Internal Lifestyle
Perhaps Tems’s most significant, yet subtle, influence lies in normalizing a lifestyle centered on mental health and clear boundaries. In recent times, she has been open about having to cancel shows or take breaks due to her vocal health. Factually, she prioritizes her physical well-being (which is tied to her instrument) above the demanding touring schedule.
Opinion Piece: In a culture that often demands productivity at the expense of health, Tems’s decision to openly prioritize her well-being serves as powerful permission for young fans to slow down and protect themselves. She embodies a lifestyle where self care is not a trend; it is the foundation of long term success. Her serene, grounded public demeanor is the aspirational output of a well managed inner life.
The Pinnacle of Quiet Power: MLS Club Ownership
The biggest factual marker of Tems’s refined, high-level lifestyle in 2025 was her move into the global sports business.
San Diego FC Stake: In February 2025, Tems became a Club Partner in the Major League Soccer (MLS) team, San Diego FC, through her company, The Leading Vibe. This historic move made her the first African female to hold ownership stakes in an MLS club, joining a group that includes actress Issa Rae and World Cup winner Juan Mata.
Opinion Piece: This investment is the ultimate proof of intentional living. It is not a music endorsement; it is a serious, long-term business investment that bridges global sports, community development (linked to the Right to Dream Academy), and African investment (via Pave Investments). I would argue that this showed the aspirational Nigerian youth that the real next level of success is strategic, diversified global business ownership, executed quietly and effectively. It repositioned her from a global music star to a pioneering African mogul.
Tems as the Global Curator: The Partnership Philosophy
In 2025, Tems’s approach to brand partnerships solidified her image as a global curator an artist who partners based on shared values and aesthetic alignment, rather than just fees. This lifestyle choice sets her apart from peers who often take on a high volume of local endorsements.
Her visibility at major global fashion weeks and her appearances in campaigns for brands like Louis Vuitton (LVMH) often appearing alongside established international icons was not just a celebrity endorsement. It was a stylistic endorsement of her. These brands were signaling an alignment with her elevated, global, and highly selective aesthetic.
Opinion Piece: I believe this selectivity is her most powerful business lifestyle move. She understands the power of scarcity. By limiting her exposure to only the most prestigious and globally recognized brands that match her minimalist vibe, she ensures her personal brand value remains exceptionally high. This teaches young entrepreneurs and creatives to be fiercely protective of their own brands.
The Travel and Locale Factor
When Tems is seen, it’s often in an international, high-art context whether performing in Paris, recording in London, or featuring in a Vogue shoot in New York. This lifestyle projects an image of an African artiste who operates without geographical limitations, a powerful aspiration for many Nigerians who see global travel and opportunity as the ultimate marker of success.
Tems’s collective choices create what I will call the “Tems Effect”: a complete redefinition of what success looks and feels like for a young, creative African woman.
Her influence is a direct rejection of the exhausting, “hustle culture” lifestyle often promoted in Nigeria. She proves that high achievement doesn’t require high anxiety.
The lifestyle she projects is one where your unique voice both literally and figuratively is your most valuable asset. She encourages her fans to tune out the noise and focus on cultivating their singular talent.
Tems’s influence in 2025 defined a significant shift in the aspirational Afrobeats lifestyle. She has shown that true global influence doesn’t require constant noise or flashy showoff. Instead, it requires creative integrity, thoughtful choices, and the luxury of self-control.
She is the Minimalist Maven who proved to a generation that your most valuable asset is your peace, and that being selective, not saturated, is not rooted out of the African Music industry.
Pop superstar Justin Bieber has surprised fans yet again with the unexpected release of his eighth studio album, Swag II, on September 5, 2025. The project arrives less than two months after the launch of his previous album Swag, signaling one of the fastest turnarounds between albums in his career.
A Surprise Rollout
The album was announced in typical Bieber fashion; with cryptic billboards lighting up major cities including New York, London, Seoul, and Sydney, followed by a social media reveal just hours before release. However, some fans reported brief delays on streaming platforms, with the album appearing several hours later than its scheduled midnight debut.
Despite the hiccups, the rollout generated massive buzz online, amplified by the album’s striking pastel-pink cover art and a matching capsule collection from Bieber’s clothing brand SKYLRK.
A Double Album with 44 Tracks
Swag II arrives as a double album, featuring 23 brand-new songs alongside the 21 tracks from Swag. Together, the project runs for more than two hours, offering fans a marathon of Bieber’s evolving sound.
While Swag leaned heavily into R&B textures, its sequel embraces a more pop-oriented direction. Bieber’s vocal performances shift from soulful ballads to high-energy anthems, showing both his versatility and confidence as a performer.
Collaborations Across Genres
The new record is loaded with star-studded collaborations:
Tems brings her soulful Afro-fusion touch to “I THINK YOU’RE SPECIAL”.
Hurricane Chris injects Southern flair into “POPPIN’ MY S***”.
Eddie Benjamin delivers one of the most intimate moments on “OPEN UP YOUR HEART”.
Gunna, Cash Cobain, Bakar, Druski, Sexyy Red, Dijon, Lil B, and Marvin Winans all make appearances across various tracks.
The album’s production credits are equally diverse, with names like Mike Will Made It, Carter Lang, Dijon, Mk.gee, and Buddy Ross shaping its eclectic sound.
Beyond its collaborations, Swag II reflects Bieber’s current life stage; balancing global superstardom with his journey into fatherhood and self-discovery. Many songs highlight themes of intimacy, healing, and creative rebirth, contrasting with the swagger-heavy energy of its predecessor.
Despite release delays on certain platforms, Swag II is already climbing the charts and sparking discussions across social media.
Key Fact Box:
Artist: Justin Bieber
Album: Swag II
Release Date: September 5, 2025
Format: Double album (44 tracks, 2 hrs 11 mins)
Notable Features: Tems, Gunna, Bakar, Hurricane Chris, Eddie Benjamin, Sexyy Red
Making it to Complex’s top album of 2024 ahead of Gunna, Charlie XcX, Glorilla, J.Cole, and Kanye West (Ye) are part of Nigeria’s greatest music talent exports, Tems and Ayra Starr.
Sitting at number 14 is Tems ‘Born in the Wild, and Ayra Starr’s ‘The Year I Turned 21’ is at number 12.
14. Tems, Born in the Wild
Released on the 7th of June, in the article it was stated “But even when Tems was behind the scenes, she faced betrayal and growing pains, which tested the resilience that encapsulates her storytelling on Born In the Wild. She flawlessly makes a 1997 Seyi Sodimu staple her own on the amorous track “Love Me JeJe.” Elsewehere, she looks for a bad boy who can match her freak over the rhythmic acoustics of “Gangsta.” And she comes to grips with her regret of becoming a romantic avoidant when confronted by collaborator J. Cole on “Free Fall.” Tems gets real with her internal struggles and doesn’t run from herself.“
Ayra Starr is described as: “She doesn’t mince her words on opener “Birds Sing of Money,” popping off saucy lines like “I don’t watch my tone ’cause I like how I sound, bitch,” because time is, well, money. When social media tried to instigate a feud between Starr and Grammy winner Coco Jones, they joined each other and Brazilian artist Anitta on the feminist war cry “Woman Commando.” As sultry as she is sharp, Starr takes control on 21. It’s only up from here.“
Your only excuse should be that you’re on a remote island with no access to the internet and don’t notice the wave of new talents in the Nigerian music industry. The wave is led by those I will consider the latest Big 4, starring Ayra Starr, Asake, Rema, and Tems. These talents have well-crafted and mastered the art of making good music, and it’s high time they get their flowers.
The Rolling Stone’s 2024 Top Albums List, released on Monday, features Rema’s ‘Heis,’ Tems’ ‘Born in the Wild,’ and Ayra Starr’s ‘The Year I Turned 21.’
Ranking them, we have:
Rema’s second studio album, ‘Heis,‘ was ranked 11th overall. The album recently received a Grammy nomination for Best Global Album Performance.
Description: “Rema has taken to calling his own style of Afrobeats “Afro-rave,” in the tradition of Burna Boy and the like who have fought to differentiate themselves from what became a catchall for African music in general. Yet, there was no real sonic signifier for Rema’s Afro-wave — he seamlessly traverses hip-hop, house, R&B, and dancehall. Heis sounds more like a rave than almost anything Rema has made prior (excluding the excellent loosey “Bounce,” for example, raging while everything else simmers. The result is the buzzy, visceral, sweat-it-out music that no one else in the mainstream is making.”
Tems’ debut album, ‘Born in the Wild,‘ ranked 37th overall. Tems, whose voice is captivating, earned Grammy nominations for both ‘Best African Music Performance’ and ‘Best Global Music Album.’
Description: “Tems has already remade Nigerian pop in her own image. Her debut album measures the soul work it’s taken to get here. All of it has paid off on an album so rich that the listening experience is a physical one as much as it is emotional. “Wickedest” is primed for the dance floor, while the single “Love Me Jeje” is a masterpiece, soaked in the sun and major-key dopamine. Her vision is made timeless via a seamless blend of stripped-down ballads, the cool of 1990s R&B with flecks of SWV and Sade, joyous high life, Afro-dance music like amapiano, and rugged hip-hop.”
Ayra Starr’s sophomore album, ‘The Year I Turned 21,′ ranked 53rd on the list according to Rolling Stone.
Rolling Stone describes it as: “With the follow-up to her 2021 debut, Ayra Starr asserts a musical maturity that could be considered far beyond her years, but perhaps more aptly serves as a reminder of the emotional depth, logical prowess, and enviable passion young people often possess. Across it, Starr refreshes tried-and-trueAfrobeats elements with the type of songwriting that SZA fans flock to, darting between Nigerian Pidgin, Yoruba, and English with endless finesse and attitude in all three languages.”
I, for one, am glad for the recognition of Nigerian musical talents on a global stage, and this should continue for a long time. Last year the list featured legends like Mr. Eazi, Burna Boy, Adekunle Gold, and Asake.
Temilade Openiyi, professionally known as Tems, is one of Africa’s finest musical songwriters and singers. A talent with so much recognition has no album, but everything will change in May 2024. Tems plans to publish her first studio album.
In 2018, her first published song, Mr. Rebel, was released. Her debut EP, “For Broken Ears,” alongside “If Orange Was a Place,” contributed significantly to the industry.
She is featured in Wizkid Essence and the remix of the same featuring Justin Bieber. During the 2024 Coachella, Tems performed with both Wizkid and Justin Bieber.
Many fans are so eager and excited for her first album to drop. See the trailer below:
Temilade Openiyi, Tems, is a force and talent in the music industry – with no album, she has won multiple awards and international recognition. This year alone she was recognized by Billboard in Billboard Women in Music.
It is a popular culture for artists to release an album in less than two years of gaining recognition, but that wasn’t the case for Tems. She has two EPs; “For Broken Ears” and “If Orange Was A Place.”
Tems recently featured on South African rising star, Tyla’s album “Tyla” in the song No. 1.
This year the world is ready to experience a new side of Tems on her album, whenever it drops.
