Nigeria’s global Afrobeats princess Ayra Starr’s forthcoming album ‘The Year I Turned 21’ to release this Friday

Kicking off what promises to be the beginning of a groundbreaking and remarkable era, GRAMMY Award-nominated global Afrobeats phenomenon Ayra Starr shares the news of the release of her forthcoming second full-length album, ‘The Year I Turned 21’ on May 31, which Mavin Records/Republic Records will release. Recently, she released her new track ‘Bad Vibes’, which finds her firing on all cylinders and has already garnered over ten million streams. A steady Afrobeats groove sets the pace as her smooth vocals coast over the beat. A hypnotic hook takes hold, and Nigerian phenomenon Seyi Vibez pulls up for a head-turning cameo. Together, they tap into undeniable chemistry, delivering a worldwide Afrobeats anthem. Additionally, she collaborated with Rvssian and Rauw Alejandro for their smash global hit ‘Santa’ that has already amassed over twp-hundred million streams worldwide.

She quietly laid the foundation for this chapter with ‘Commas’ earlier this year, which has already exploded with over 100 million streams worldwide. Meanwhile, the song attracted acclaim worldwide. Billboard touted it among “Afrobeats Fresh Picks”, going on to proclaim, “Over a swelling string arrangement and bubbling percussion, she delivers a personal message of resilience for those who need it most – including herself.” OKAYAFRICA applauded how “her sultry vocals and magnetic presence carry the weight of a seasoned professional”, and CLASH attested, “Serving as a reset, her new single ‘Commas’ opens a fresh chapter in her work.” HotNewHipHop put it best, “While her career is still young, she is arguably a ‘Starr’ already.”

Ayra Starr is signed to Nigerian label Mavin Records and her music is distributed by Republic worldwide.

Earlier this year, she received her very first GRAMMY nomination in the category of Best African Music Performance for her global smash ‘Rush’, which topped the UK Afrobeats Chart and became her highest charting single on the UK’s Official Singles Charts, peaking at No. 24, certifying Silver.

It was one of many career milestones she marked in 2023 which include making the BBC’s Sound of 2024 list and being nominated for MOBO Awards’ Best African Music Act for the second time. This year so far, Ayra Starr has been nominated for three BET Awards including Best New Artist, Best International Act and BET Her for ‘Commas’.

Last year also saw Ayra Starr embark on her sold-out, first headline tour—’21: The World Tour’—which spanned North America, Africa, Australia and Europe. The London show earned praise from The Guardian, which stated: “[The] West African star underlines her superstar potential… despite her age, she has a substantial and varied catalogue, allowing multiple energies and vibes to seamlessly coexist here.”