Three years away from album duty felt like forever in Afropop time—but Mayorkun has used the pause like a seasoned chess‑master.
On May 2, 2025, the self‑styled Mayor of Lagos pressed play on his third studio project, Still The Mayor, sending a jolt through playlists from Lagos Island to London’s Peckham High Street.
It’s less a “return” than a coronation tour. The 12‑track set re‑introduces Adewale Mayowa Emmanuel as a sharper, more experimental storyteller who knows exactly where the dance‑floor’s sweet spot lies. Gone is the wide‑eyed rookie of 2018’s The Mayor of Lagos; in his place stands an artist comfortable enough to gamble with R&B falsettos, rap cadences, and highlife guitar licks—all within the same three‑minute burst.
All‑Star Guest List, Zero Filler
Mayorkun doesn’t hog the spotlight—he curates it. Long‑time label boss Davido slides onto “Blessings on Blessings (B.O.B)” with the swagger of a benevolent kingmaker, while Fireboy DML doubles down on chemistry across “Innocent” and the gem‑sparkled “Diamonds.” Ghana’s King Promise drapes silk vocals over “Weekend Fever,” Rotimi lends stateside polish, and breakout voices Dremo, Olive the Boy, and Michii keep the lineup unpredictable.
Accra’s Sneak‑Peek & Streaming Takeover
Before the world could hit “pre‑save,” Mayorkun flew the project to Accra on June 7, 2025 for a velvet‑rope listening party that packed out with King Promise, Camidoh, and half the city’s trend charts. By June 13, Still The Mayor was live on every major DSP, racking up midnight‑stream‑crashes and TikTok dance challenges before breakfast.
Sound of a Seasoned Risk‑Taker
Across the album, you’ll find amapiano log drums kissing vintage Afrobeats horns, or trap‑leaning 808s cuddling with Yoruba talking drums—genre borders feel more like guidelines. Even the pensive “Reason 2 Japa” flips the emigration conversation into a bounce‑worthy anthem that still pricks conscience.
Road Ahead: “Mayorkun & Friends”
Next comes the “Mayorkun & Friends” tour, launching in Ghana and snaking through Africa’s biggest arenas before a rumored European leg. If the album is a throne, the tour is the victory lap—proof that the Mayor’s office isn’t up for election anytime soon.
Still The Mayor doesn’t just reclaim a title; it raises the bar for what an Afropop blockbuster can sound like in 2025. Long live the Mayor—Lagos and beyond are still under his groove‑laden jurisdiction.
