Asake and Tiakola’s BADMAN GANGSTA Redefines Afrobeats with Cross-Cultural Fusion

Afrobeats pioneer Asake has released his boldest single yet, BADMAN GANGSTA, a genre-blending collaboration with French artist Tiakola, distributed by gamma. This soulful yet swaggering track reflects on self-made success, merging diverse sounds, languages, and cultural perspectives into a vibrant, universally appealing anthem. Following his introspective February release Why Love, this single signals a dynamic evolution in Asake’s artistry and builds anticipation for his upcoming album, Money, announced earlier in July 2025.

Built on a nostalgic sample of Amerie’s 1 Thing, the song features Asake’s airy vocals layered over silky acoustic guitar and smoky saxophone, creating a rich, atmospheric soundscape that balances boldness with introspection. The track showcases Asake’s signature swagger while rooted in authentic emotion, pushing Afrobeats beyond traditional boundaries.

The collaboration shines through the seamless interplay of English, Yoruba, and French verses, with Asake and Tiakola trading lines that blend vulnerability and bravado. Lyrically, BADMAN GANGSTA serves as a personal anthem, embracing the grind, chaos, blessings, and gratitude of staying true to oneself.

The music video, shot in striking black-and-white, amplifies the song’s energy with cinematic storytelling, capturing Asake’s global lifestyle—from Paris Fashion Week to studio sessions worldwide. Its vintage aesthetic complements the track’s nostalgic elements while highlighting the global influence of African artistry.

Asake described the project as deeply personal, stating, “BADMAN GANGSTA is a page from my real life. It’s about owning your space, your struggles, your blessings, all at once. Working with Tiakola brought a whole new flavor to the track. We come from different places but speak the same language when it comes to vibe, feeling, and ambition.” Tiakola echoed this, saying, “I’ve been listening to Asake for a long time. He has the full package of the greats. There are a lot of similarities in our musicality and in the way we create. Above our different languages and cultures, the message in our music is universal, and our chemistry natural.”

With BADMAN GANGSTA, Asake continues to redefine Afrobeats, blending diverse musical influences while maintaining emotional depth and authenticity. The collaboration with Tiakola underscores the power of artistry to bridge cultural divides, creating a shared human narrative. As a precursor to the Money album, this release affirms Asake’s vision for a genreless, boundary-breaking future for music, cementing his status as a leading voice in global artistry.

Source: African Publicity