Music
NE-YO Return to SA for Two October Concert
NE-YO will visit South Africa in October 2026 for his upcoming tour. He will perform at two cities in the country. The announcement has excited music lovers who have looked forward to see him perform live. These concerts are part of his South Africa tour.
The first concert will be in Cape Town on 17 October 2026 at the Grand Arena, GrandWest. The next day, he will perform in Pretoria at the SunBet Arena,Pretoria.

Photo: Instagram
NE-YO was born Shaffer Chimere Smith and rose to fame in 2005 when he released his debut album In My Own Words. The project featured the single So Sick, which was a huge success. He followed with a string of hit albums and singles, including Sexy Love, Because of You, Closer, and Miss Independent.
NE-YO has written and co-written songs for Usher, and Jennifer Hudson. He has songwriting credits in Rihanna’s Unfaithful and Beyoncé’s Irreplaceable.
Read Also: After a Decade, J. Cole Brings Global Fall-Off Tour to South Africa
Organisers note that audiences may hear material from his upcoming project, Highway 79. Newer releases are also expected to feature in the set list. .
Vertex Events is promoting the concerts and has a good reputation of bringing international artists to their fans.

Photo: Instagram
It’s Executive Director, Thato Segaole, said,
“Giving the audiences a chance to experience a talented and respected artist such as NE-YO is a great pleasure for our team. We look forward to producing live shows of a great stature that will create endless talkability”
With a career spanning more than two decades, and multiple Grammy Awards, his October performances in Cape Town and Pretoria are expected to be successful. For many fans, the concerts will provide an opportunity to experience NE-YO perform live on South African stages.
Music
Cassper Nyovest and Nasty C Release New Single ‘Lil Mama’
South African rappers Cassper Nyovest and Nasty C have joined forces for a new single titled “Lil Mama”, bringing together two artists who have played important roles in the country’s hip-hop scene.
The collaboration brings together two different generations of South African rap. Cassper Nyovest rose to prominence in the 2010s with charting albums, major live performances and a catalogue of songs that helped establish him as one of the country’s most commercially successful hip-hop artists.

Photo: Instagram/@nastyc
Nasty C, who emerged as one of the leading voices of a younger generation of South African rappers, has built his career through acclaimed projects, international collaborations and a sound that blends traditional hip-hop with melodic influences.
“Lil Mama” arrives as another release from two artists who have consistently remained part of conversations around South African rap. Their collaboration highlights the different styles they bring to the genre, with Cassper’s commanding approach meeting Nasty C’s precise lyricism and adaptable flow.

Photo: Instagram/@casspernyovest
The track also reflects the changing nature of South African hip-hop, where established artists and newer voices continue to collaborate across different sounds. Both rappers have built strong individual identities over the years, making their first joint release a notable moment for fans of the genre.

Photo: Instagram/@nastyc
For listeners who have followed their careers, “Lil Mama” offers an opportunity to hear two recognised names in South African rap share the same track. The single adds to the ongoing story of a genre that continues to evolve through new collaborations and creative partnerships.
Music
Tyla Officially Releases A*POP
Tyla has released her highly anticipated second studio album, APOP. The 14 track project arrived on July 24, 2026, through FAX Records and Epic Records. The album follows several weeks of teasers and singles.
APOP* features 14 songs, including “CHANEL,” “IS IT,” “IS IT LOVE,” and “SHE DID IT AGAIN” featuring Zara Larsson. There are collaborations with South African artists MaWhoo, who appears on “Crazy of Me,” Babalwa M on “I Don’t Care,” and kwaito group Liquideep on “Fairytale.”
Other tracks in the album are;
- THATGIRL
- KISS
- IS IT
- FAIRYTALE
- DOUBLE
- BLIND
- FEEL SOMETHING
- RIGHT NOW
- MR. NONCHALANT
- HOT TUBS

Photo: Instagram
Read Also: Tyla Drops ‘Is It Love’ Ahead of Upcoming Projects
Ahead of the release, Tyla says APOP is not just an album title. She has used the phrase to define her own musical identity, especially amapiano. The singer presents the album as a reflection of her own sound and music direction. She said ;
“A*POP, African Pop … is literally me trying to extend the idea of what an African pop star looks like and what an African pop star sounds like,” she says. “I think that sometimes when you’re from somewhere you’re expected to look a way or sound a way. I’ve seen things where they’re like, ‘Oh, Tyla’s not African enough,’ and I’m like, what is African enough?”
The album has international and African producers. While pop remains key to the project, amapiano log drums, Afrobeats percussion, and R&B melodies were obvious. This combination supports Tyla’s goal of creating a unique style.

Photo: Instagram
To celebrate the release, Tyla hosted a fan listening event in New York City before making promotional appearances. The launch campaign featured fashion inspired by early 2000s pop culture. The visuals and performances have helped introduce the APOP era to fans around the world.
Since winning a Grammy Award, expectations for her second album have been high. With a mix of global collaborations, APOP positions Tyla to strengthen her place in the international pop market without neglecting her African roots.
Music
Rihanna Surprises Fans With Her First Live Performance in Years at Jay-Z’s Concert
Rihanna made a surprise return to the stage during Jay-Z’s “Extra Innings” concert at Yankee Stadium in New York. She delivered her first major live performance in years. The appearance excited fans as they watched two top artists perform together.
This was Rihanna’s first major public live appearance since her Super Bowl halftime show in 2023. She kept a low profile, focusing on her businesses and family life.

Photo: Roc Nation
Rihanna joined Jay-Z during the final night of his three-show Yankee Stadium concert series on July 12. The event celebrated Jay-Z’s career and featured several guests.
The singer walked onto the stage to perform “Run This Town,” the 2009 collaboration between Rihanna, Jay-Z and Kanye West. The performance brought back memories.
Read Also: Rihanna and A$AP Rocky, so cozy while filming new music video at new york!
After performing alongside Jay-Z, Rihanna continued with her hit song “Bitch Better Have My Money.” The performance allowed fans to see the superstar return to a live stage.

Photo: Roc Nation
Rihanna spoke to the audience about being away from performing for a long time.
Y’all know I’m rusty, right? It’s been a while. Y’all with me right now?” she said.
Before leaving, she told the audience,
“I missed this shit, y’all! New York, I love you guys!”
The concert faced some challenges before the performances began. The show started several hours late after a security issue. Reports said fans were kept waiting outside while officials handled the situation before the concert could begin.

Photo: Roc Nation
Jay-Z apologized when he climbed the stage.
“They closed the door for you guys’ safety and everyone’s safety outside. I don’t want to start the music and people get trampled.
“I’m really sorry for the inconvenience, but I had to make sure everyone was OK,” Jay-Z continued. “I appreciate your patience.”
Beyoncé, Usher, Pharrell Williams and Teyana Taylor also performed at the concert.. However, Rihanna’s surprise performance remained the biggest moment due to her time off music.
Rihanna and Jay-Z have come a long way. Rihanna was signed to Jay-Z’s label. Their latest reunion showed that their connection remains strong.
Rihanna’s appearance at Yankee Stadium shows she still has it in her. It was a rare return from one of the world’s biggest music stars and a reminder of the excitement that surrounds any future project from the singer.
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