MaWhoo and Lwah Ndlunkulu have come together as the Zulu Queens for Isithembu. Released on August 28, 2026, the project is a combination of Maskandi with Afropop, Amapiano and other South African sounds.

MaWhoo is known mainly for her work in Amapiano and Afro-pop, while Lwah Ndlunkulu has built her career around a more traditional-influenced sound. Isithembu gives them an opportunity to explore Maskandi from a different aspect. The album was released under the Zulu Queens name, which was given by Mthandeni SK. 

One of the project’s themes is female representation. Lwah Ndlunkulu said the decision to enter a male-dominated genre was deliberate. She said:

“We intentionally entered a male-dominated genre to prove that women can do anything and succeed at it.”

Photo: @mawhoo_ / Instagram

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Isithembu shows how Maskandi can connect with younger and more diverse audiences. The album’s lead single, “Distance,” featuring Feza, was released on August 19. The song introduced listeners to the direction of the project and focused on the emotional experience of being separated from someone important. Feza’s appearance also added another female voice to the collaboration.

The album includes several names from the Maskandi scene. Feza, Izingane Zoma, Mthandeni SK and Siya Ntuli are among the artists in the project. 

While making Isithembu, the artists recorded the album in about a week during the first sessions, but the recordings were later lost, forcing them to start again. Lwah said the second recording process took roughly two to three weeks, and the pair felt the new version retained the energy they wanted.

Photo: @mawhoo_ / Instagram

The album’s cultural focus was clear at its launch. MaWhoo and Lwah appeared in modern interpretations of traditional Zulu clothing. 

With Isithembu, MaWhoo and Lwah Ndlunkulu show how Maskandi can welcome new voices while keeping its connection to Zulu culture. The project adds more visibility for women in the genre and suggests that its future can include different sounds and generations

Swae Lee and French Montana have reunited for “SUITCASE.” The song is part of Swae Lee’s debut solo album, SAME DIFFERENCE, which was released in April 3, 2026 through Eardruma Records and Interscope Records.

“SUITCASE” is the eighth track on the 16-song album and runs for 3 minutes and 52 seconds. The track was produced by TwonBeatz, QuisGOtHitz and Chad Keyz. Swae Lee and French Montana were among the credited writers

Photo: Billboard

The song centres on luxury, travel and lavish living. Swae Lee handles the melodic sections, with his smooth vocals. French Montana follows with a short rap verse that talks about wealth and international travel.

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The collaboration carries some history. Swae Lee and French Montana previously worked together on “Unforgettable,” in 2017. That song became one of French Montana’s biggest records and eventually earned Diamond certification from the RIAA. 

The official video was released on August 25, 2026. Directed by Austin McCracken, it opens with Swae Lee working at a fictional “Swae Airlines” and develops into a dreamlike sequence. Swae Lee and French Montana later appeared together surrounded by stacks of Louis Vuitton trunks.

Photo: Instagram/@swaeLee

The video arrives as Swae Lee continues promoting SAME DIFFERENCE during his European tour. According to Neon Music, the tour will make stops in Poland, Spain, the Czech Republic, Germany and Denmark, with the final performance in Szeged, Hungary. 

Nearly a decade after ‘Unforgettable,’ the two artists have reunited for another collaboration.

Rowlene’s second studio album, Some Strings Attached, explores relationships, friendship, personal change and the expectations that come with both life and a music career. The 10-track project follows her 2020 debut album, 11:11, and offers a more personal look at experiences that have shaped her in recent years.

The album’s title reflects the different kinds of connections Rowlene has experienced. In an interview with KFM Top 40, she explained that the “strings” extend beyond romantic relationships to include friendships and her career. Some of those connections have changed as she has grown, while others have challenged her expectations of where she thought she would be at this stage of her life.

Photo: Instagram/@Rowlene

Love and heartbreak remain important themes throughout the album. “Last Seen”, released ahead of the project, deals with leaving a relationship and finding yourself after it ends. The song introduced the personal direction of the album while setting up some of the themes explored in the tracks that followed.

“Hurts 2b Reminded” looks at the memories that can resurface after a relationship ends. The song also connects to Rowlene’s experiences with friendships that have changed over time. She has spoken about losing friends not through conflict, but because their lives eventually moved in different directions.

“Bittersweet”, featuring IAN LOVLY, continues the album’s focus on relationships and personal change. Released ahead of the full project, the track adds another perspective to Rowlene’s exploration of attachment and the emotions that come with relationships changing.

Photo: Instagram/@Rowlene

The album also turns towards Rowlene’s relationship with herself. “Don’t Miss You Like B4” addresses an earlier version of the singer and reflects on how her perspective has changed. The track also introduces a different sound, leaning further into pop while retaining elements of her R&B style.

That shift is part of what makes the album varied. Rowlene stays within the R&B space she has become known for, while allowing different sounds and approaches across the tracklist.

Photo: Instagram/@Rowlene

The project follows years of collaborations and solo releases. Rowlene first gained wider attention through collaborations, including Nasty C’s “SMA”, before building her own catalogue. Her songs “Cupid”, “Stay” and “I Need You” also appeared on the Blood & Water soundtrack, introducing her music to an international audience.

Since 11:11, she has continued developing her sound through singles and projects, including the 2025 EP Moments After. Some Strings Attached now brings those experiences together in a project centred on relationships, change and the parts of the past that can continue to influence the present.

Photo: Instagram/@Rowlene

For Rowlene, the album is not limited to romantic heartbreak. It considers friendships that have changed, relationships that have ended, career expectations that have shifted and the process of becoming more comfortable with who she is now.

With Some Strings Attached, Rowlene gives listeners a closer look at the experiences behind her music while expanding the story she began with 11:11.