Ayra Starr Drops New Album Starrgirl, Her Third Studio LP
Nigerian singer-songwriter Ayra Starr released her highly anticipated third studio album, “Starrgirl,” on Friday, August 14, marking her first full-length project since 2024’s “The Year I Turned 21” and one of the most anticipated Afrobeats releases of the year.
Released through Mavin Records, Roc Nation, and Republic Records, the 16-track project caps a rollout that stretched back well over a year, beginning with her Grammy-nominated collaboration with Wizkid, “Gimme Dat,” in April 2025. The album’s arrival comes just days after the singer revealed she had returned to rehearsals following a period of recovery from major surgery, ahead of a scheduled performance on NBC’s TODAY show.
The full tracklist includes “Dangerous,” “Amazing” featuring kwn, “Gimme Dat” featuring Wizkid, “Pressure” featuring Leon Thomas, “Tornado,” “Midnight in New York,” “Hot Body,” “Ms. Paper” featuring Theodora, “Dance,” “Where Do We Go,” “Who’s Dat Girl” featuring Rema, “Misunderstood,” “Letter To God,” “Heaven Baby” featuring ZAYN, “Treasure,” and a closing remix of “Hot Body” featuring Danny Ocean. Among the collaborations, the pairing with British singer ZAYN on “Heaven Baby” has generated particular buzz online as an unexpected but well-received crossover.
Speaking about the album’s direction, Starr described “Starrgirl” as a reflection of her artistic versatility and personal growth, explaining that the project captures her existing in multitudes rather than being confined to a single sound or identity. The description marks a deliberate evolution from her earlier work, following comments she made in a March 2025 interview in which she explained she was moving away from being fixated on being strictly an “album artist,” choosing instead to create music with less pressure and more room for experimentation.
That shift shaped much of the album’s extended rollout throughout 2025 and 2026, which included the summer anthem “Hot Body” in July 2025, her first official collaboration with fellow Mavin Records star Rema on “Who’s Dat Girl” in October 2025, “Where Do We Go” in March 2026 timed to Women’s History Month, and the Latin-percussion-inflected “Tornado” in June 2026, which she first previewed live during her NPR Tiny Desk performance.
“Starrgirl” follows Starr’s acclaimed 2021 debut, “19 & Dangerous,” and her 2024 sophomore album, “The Year I Turned 21,” which peaked at number four on the US Billboard World Albums Chart and produced singles including “Rhythm & Blues,” “Commas,” and “Santa.” With “Starrgirl,” the 24-year-old continues to build on her position as one of Africa’s leading global music exports, further extending her international profile following high-profile appearances and collaborations throughout 2026, including her role on the “Children of Blood and Bone” film soundtrack alongside fellow Nigerian stars Tems and Burna Boy.
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