Niniola, the Nigerian singer known for danceable hits like “Sicker” and “Maradona,” adds spark to “Love Me,” the latest track from the producer Juls.
Like many Juls songs, “Love Me” is a deft hybrid of traditional instrumentation and modern programming. A saxophone plays skronking lines, cutting and slicing through the track; a guitar picks out a series of pretty riffs that bound forward and then come to a sudden halt, like a car speeding up to a stop sign. But the tone of the programmed bass line, hollow and slightly ominous, nods to the dance style known as amapiano, which became popular only recently.
In a statement, Juls described “Love Me” as “spiritual” and called Niniola “one of my favorite African artists.” “I threw in some elements of South African amapiano,” he added. “It’s all about the global sound of Africa for me right now.”
“Love Me” follows on the heels of “Chance,” a Juls track featuring Projexx and Tay Iwar. Both songs are set to appear on an album from Juls later this year. The producer has been putting out music regularly for close to a decade, working with stars like Mr. Eazi, Wizkid, Burna Boy, and more; his last release, the Happy Place EP, came out in 2020.
Niniola reached a new level of international fame when Beyoncé paid tribute to “Maradona” on The Lion King: The Gift. She put out her sophomore album, Colours and Sounds, in 2020.
Monaleo has steadily built a strong connection with listeners over the past few years. She is an MC known for sharp lyricism and a high level of energy that shows up on every record. 2026 is shaping up to be an important year for her, with growing speculation that a larger project may be coming soon. That idea feels even more likely with the arrival of her latest release, “Crossroads Freestyle.” The brief, one minute track landed on YouTube on Tuesday and has already been getting a lot of positive reactions. Once again, Monaleo leans into her confidence, delivering tight verses over a smooth, consistent beat. It is a solid release that fans will definitely want to tap into.
Release Date: April 14, 2026
Genre: Hip-Hop
Album: N/A
Getting cake by the pound, I'm greater than britain
I'm greater than Alex on top like a attic (Uh-uh)
You pushing for Clipse I'm peeping a Malice
But fear ain't a factor I'm up for the challenge
The queen of my palace from Houston, not Dallas
