New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Maintaining incredible momentum this year, GRAMMY-nominated global Afrobeats popstar Ayra Starr serves up a slick and sexy new single entitled "Gimme Dat" featuring WizKid out now. Marking a creative reunion, the boundary-breaking songstress previously joined forces with the Nigerian megastar when she featured on his fan favorite international anthem "2 Sugar" back in 2022.
Drawing inspiration from Mary J. Blige and Wyclef Jean's 2000 global hit "911", the VybeO and Mikabeatz co-produced anthem is set to put you on a nostalgic path that leads you back to the new wave of modern pop and Afrobeats.
Once again, they harness the same sizzling chemistry on "Gimme Dat." The track's thick bassline locks down a head-nodding tempo accented by tropical drums. Bringing island flavor to Afrobeats, Ayra Starr and WizKid engage in a vibrant call-and-response, culminating on a chantable chorus. From the simmering dancefloor-ready verses to the scorching stadium-size hook, it has all the ingredients of a worldwide banger.
Earlier this month, she unveiled the music video for "All The Love." Right out of the gate, it eclipsed over a million views in less than a week.
With an action-packed year ahead, for her acting debut, she was recently unveiled as one of the cast of the highly anticipated film Children of Blood and Bone, a book adaptation by Tomi Adeyemi. Additionally, taking the stage, Ayra Starr is scheduled to take over Summer Jam 2025 as a headliner on June 20th at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. She will share the stage with the biggest names in hip-hop including A Boogie Wit da Hoodie, Gunna, GloRilla, Muni Long, Asake, and many more.
In other big news, Ayra Starr made history as "the first Nigerian female artist to receive a RIAA Latin Diamond certification" in recognition of her 2024 smash "Santa" with Rvssian and Rauw Alejandro.
Her impact only continues to magnify. Last year, she supported Coldplay on the "Music of the Spheres" World Tour. Plus, she joined forces with Coldplay and The Weirdos for an unforgettable performance of "GOOD FEELiNGS" on TODAY. Ayra Starr has now amassed over 3 billion global streams. Following her sold-out first world tour last year, she made her Glastonbury Festival debut on the Pyramid Stage, building on the incredible momentum around the album release.
In 2024, Ayra Starr released her critically-lauded sophomore album The Year I Turned 21 via Mavin Records / Republic Records. Listen HERE. The album earned the top 5 biggest opening day streams for a Nigerian album and biggest opening day for a Nigerian female on Spotify.
The singer bagged three BET Award nominations for Best New Artist, Best International Act and BET Her for "Commas." It capped off a breakout year, which saw Ayra Starr earn her first GRAMMY nomination for Best African Music Performance for "Rush" as well as making BBC's Sound of 2024 listand being nominated for MOBO Awards' Best African Music Act for the second time. Her defining debut album 19 & Dangerous, now sits at a staggering 500 million streams.
Ayra Starr's position as one of Africa's hottest stars has seen her collaborate with some of music's biggest names including Wizkid, Stormzy, David Guetta, Kelly Rowland, Tiwa Savage, Aya Nakamura and Leigh-Anne. She also marked her first Latin music crossover hit "Santa" with Rvssian and Rauw Alejandro as well as collaborated with India's most prominent and influential Punjabi singer, rapper and producer AP Dhillon on "Bora Bora."
Since debuting in 2021, Ayra Starr has quickly become one of this generation's most undeniable new voices in music. Renowned for her anthemic Afrobeats tracks and unapologetic style; the Beninese-Nigerian artist has amassed critical acclaim from tastemaker press, a huge international following and over 3 billion global streams. Following the release of her defining debut album 19 & Dangerous; her position as Africa's hottest rising star has seen Ayra Starr tapped for collaborations with some of music's biggest names including Wizkid, Stormzy, Tiwa Savage and Leigh-Anne, to name just a few. Ayra Starr has gained major traction over the last few years, but vaulted to the forefront of Afrobeats with 2022's "Rush," which garnered over 800 million global streams and attracted R&B icon Kelly Rowland on a high-powered remix. Recognized as a phenomenon in 2023, she notably garnered a nomination for "Best International Act" at the BET Awards as well as two MTV VMA nominations in the category of "Best Afrobeats Song" for both "Rush" and WizKid's "2 Sugar" [feat. Ayra Starr]. Additionally, she received a GRAMMY nomination for Best African Music Performance for "Rush," which marked her as the first and youngest Nigerian female artist to be nominated in that category. She also garnered a Soul Train Award nomination in the Best New Artist category and a Billboard Music Award for Top Afrobeats Song. In 2024, Ayra Starr was nominated for three BET Awards including Best New Artist, Best International Act and BET Her for "Commas." She also starred in her Dare to Dream Amazon documentary, and became the first Afrobeats artist to be named Amazon Music's Breakthrough Artist. Beyond praise from UPROXX, Variety, Conde Nast Traveler and more, she has also graced the covers of Teen Vogue and FAULT Magazine. Stay tuned for more from Ayra Starr who will continue to bring Afrobeats to the forefront here in the U.S. and around the world.
