Two-time Grammy Award winner and global pop sensation Tyla continues her ascent within the music industry with the release of her latest single, “Is It Love.”
Serving as the third official track from her highly anticipated sophomore studio album, A*Pop, the release builds upon the momentum established by her previous standalone singles, “She Did It Again” (featuring Zara Larsson) and “Chanel.”
The single arrives during a busy period for the South African artist. Last week, Tyla performed at the Mawazine Festival in Morocco. This followed her involvement in the launch festivities for the FIFA World Cup, where she performed South Africa’s national anthem during the opening ceremony in Mexico City. She also shared the stage with American rapper Future in Los Angeles to debut the official tournament anthem, “Game Time,” highlighting the intersection of international sports and contemporary music.
What distinguishes Tyla’s growing discography is her ability to command dance floors while maintaining emotional vulnerability. “Is It Love” exemplifies this duality. In the chorus, she addresses romantic uncertainty with absolute sincerity, questioning the validity of affection absent of shared emotional stakes. This heavy thematic weight is paired with a club-ready rhythm, creating a contrast that makes her larger-than-life pop persona feel remarkably intimate and grounded.
This emotional thread continues in the accompanying music video, directed by Aerin Moreno. Initially, Tyla is depicted performing intricate, high-energy choreography inside a vibrant, blue-tinted apartment. However, as the song evolves, the environment physically deteriorates — marked by shattered glass and flooding water — mirroring her internal despondency. The video concludes with a scene in which a romantic interest looks on from outside a window, underscoring an emotional distance despite physical proximity.
References to the album were introduced earlier this year through set designs in her “Chanel” music video and hints shared around the Grammy Awards, where she won her second Best African Music Performance award. Recent promotional activities have also included a cover feature in i-D magazine’s Beauty Zine. A*Pop is expected to be one of several notable pop releases this year.
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Filipino-American hip-hop star, MBNel released his highly-anticipated album “Forever II” via Muddy Boyz and EMPIRE.
Filipino-American hip-hop artist MBNel has released his new album, “Forever II,” via Muddy Boyz and Empire.
The album pays homage to the first project MBNel ever released at the beginning of his career, “Forever I” (2018), and focuses on Nel’s evolution as a man, father and artist. The project features his single “Internet” and follows “Ashtray” with O Side Mafia, which reached No. 15 on Spotify Philippines, No. 25 on YouTube Trending and has accumulated more than 10 million streams.
MBNel grew up in Stockton, California, a city that has influenced much of his music and songwriting. A first-generation Filipino-American, he drew from his experiences growing up amid poverty, gang activity and violence, turning those experiences into material for his music.
The “MB” stands for Muddy Boyz — a name rooted in Stockton’s “Mudville” nickname — and Mattie Boys, named after Mattie Harrell Park where his crew came up. Through raw storytelling, melodic pain, and street honesty, MBNel built one of the strongest independent fanbases to come out of Northern California.