Music
Tyla Set to Perform South African National Anthem at FIFA World Cup 2026 Opener
Tyla is set to bring South African pride and star power to football’s biggest stage as she performs the national anthem ahead of South Africa’s opening match against Mexico. Taking place at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, the performance forms part of FIFA’s opening ceremony celebrations. This will see Tyla represent her country at an international event. FIFA confirmed it as part of the tournament’s opening ceremonies.
She will sing the South African anthem while Mexican music icon Alejandro Fernández performs Mexico’s national anthem. The ceremony launches the World Cup event, where 48 teams compete against one another.

Photo:Instagram
Bafana Bafana comes against Mexico in what will be a repeat of the opening game of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. This time, South Africa returns to football’s biggest stage with Tyla leading the way with the anthem.
Read Also: Tyla & Future Release New World Cup Anthem “Game Time”
FIFA’s opening ceremony in Mexico City contains a line up of international stars. Shakira and Burna Boy will perform their song “Dai Dai“, with J Balvin and Belinda also listed among participating artists.
Tyla’s collaboration with FIFA goes beyond the opening ceremony. In May, she and American rapper Future performed on “Game Time,” one of the official songs of the 2026 World Cup. The track is associated with FIFA’s.

Tyla – Instagram
Reports suggest Tyla’s World Cup appearances are beyond Mexico City. She is also scheduled to participate in other tournament-related celebrations. This includes performances linked in Los Angeles alongside artists such as Katy Perry, Rema, LISA and Future.
Tyla’s performance is expected to draw significant attention during the World Cup opening ceremony. With billions of viewers expected to tune-in for the tournament’s opening match, the appearance is set to provide a global platform for the singer while also displaying South African culture.
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.
Music
Beyoncé Releases ‘Morning Dew (Donk)’ in Surprise Release
Beyoncé has released ‘Morning Dew (Donk)’ without prior announcement, giving fans their first new solo song since 2024’s Cowboy Carter. The track arrived over the Fourth of July weekend in the United States and quickly drew attention across streaming platforms and social media.
The release also launches the 20th anniversary celebrations for B’Day, Beyoncé’s second solo studio album, which was released in 2006 and featured hits including Irreplaceable, Déjà Vu and Ring the Alarm. According to information released alongside the song, Morning Dew (Donk) was recorded during the B’Day sessions but did not make the final track list. It will now appear on the album’s upcoming anniversary edition, nearly 20 years after it was first recorded.

Beyoncé – Instagram
The song reunites Beyoncé with longtime collaborators Pharrell Williams, The-Dream and Darius Dixon, who share writing credits. Production was handled by Beyoncé and Pharrell Williams.
To accompany the release, Beyoncé shared a lyric video featuring archival footage filmed by photographer and director Cliff Watts during the B’Day era. The black-and-white visuals show the singer during a 2007 photo shoot, linking the newly released track to the period in which it was originally recorded.

Beyoncé – Instagram
Rumours about a song titled Donk had circulated for years after references to the track appeared in music industry databases, but it was never officially released. Its arrival resolves long-running speculation surrounding the recording while adding another chapter to the B’Day anniversary celebrations.
The release also comes as fans continue to speculate about Beyoncé’s next studio project. Following Renaissance and Cowboy Carter, many have been expecting the third instalment of her planned trilogy. While Morning Dew (Donk) is a previously unreleased recording from the B’Day sessions rather than a preview of a new musical direction, it arrives at a time when interest in her next project remains high.

Beyoncé – Instagram
By opening the B’Day anniversary celebrations with an unreleased recording from the vault, Beyoncé has revisited an important chapter of her career while giving listeners a chance to hear a track that remained unfinished business for nearly two decades.
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