Timaya has released his 8th studio album titled, “Gladiator,” a 13-track project with collaborations with some of the
industry’s biggest names, including Tiwa Savage, Olamide, Phyno, and Grenadian soca star Mr. Killa. The album follows his 2020 release, “Gratitude.”
Earlier
this year, Timaya teased the album by releasing two singles—“Dey
Your Dey” in
February and “In My Head” featuring Tiwa
Savage in
April.
With
“Gladiator,” Timaya solidifies his
legacy as a leading figure in Afropop, blending modern techniques with his
signature dancehall-infused style. Across the album, his versatility is on full
display, reaffirming his role as an industry OG who continues to shape the
soundscape while staying true to his roots.
The Tiwa Savage
collaboration, “In My Head,” stands out as a dance-ready track where Timaya
takes on the role of the unattached lover, backed by pulsating claves,
sun-soaked piano chords, and an electric guitar that hums with energy.
Hylander-produced
“Compozure” brings together elements of South African house and Nigerian
highlife, with Timaya’s playful lyrics—delivered in pidgin, Yoruba, and melodic
ad-libs—flowing effortlessly over the beat as he serenades a love interest.
The anthemic
track “Sweet Us” taps into Nigerian street culture, its call-and-response hook,
“As e dey sweet us, e dey pain dem/As e dey pain dem, omo e dey sweet us,”
reflecting a popular political taunt in Nigeria, set against a galala beat
inspired by Jamaican dancehall.
Stream the new album below:
