Billionaire songstress Rihanna sees boundless potential in Nigerian singer Ayra Starr, affirming her capability to conquer both the male and female realms of the music industry.

Rihanna, renowned for her global influence, commended Ayra’s distinctive voice, noting its broad appeal to audiences of all genders.

“Ayra’s deep voice resonates with both boys and girls,” Rihanna stated confidently, expressing her conviction in Ayra’s future dominance in the music world.

Ayra Starr revealed her enlightening encounter with Rihanna at the Authentic Woman event in the UK during a recent interview with Billboard.

Reflecting on their interaction, the ‘Rush’ crooner shared, “We got to hang out after the event. Just spending time with my idol, the person that inspired me to do all of this, was the most amazing thing. She gave me so many pointers and advice.”

Ayra, known for her distinct vocal timbre, admitted to concerns about her voice’s reception, to which Rihanna offered empowering reassurance.

“I love my voice, but I know I have a very deep voice like, ‘Is that a man?! Is that a boy?!’ Rihanna was like, ‘You have the type of voice that can take over the males and take over the girls. You are here to take over both sides of the industry.’

‘And I was like, ‘You think so?’ She’s like, ‘Yes! Yes!’ I was like, ‘Thank you so much!’ She was like, ‘That’s your superpower.’ I was like, ‘I never thought of it like that. Thank you.’ She just put everything into perspective for me.’

With Rihanna’s encouragement and guidance, Ayra Starr stands poised to redefine industry norms and inspire a new generation of artists.

Singer and songwriter, Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, known professionally as Ayra Starr, has said that as long as Afrobeats artistes stick together and continue propelling the music, the genre will continue to thrive.

She stated this during an interview with French origin magazine, ELLE, a worldwide women’s magazine that offers a mix of fashion and beauty content, and society and lifestyle. The Nigerian international sensation spoke on being an Afrobeats superstar and her upcoming second album.

She also bared her mind on the global success of the Nigerian sound, Afrobeats, a West African music genre that involves the combination of West African musical styles from mainly Nigeria such as the traditional Yoruba and Igbo music and highlife with American funk, jazz, and soul influences.

Commenting on the possibility of the genre getting watered down and losing its originality due to international collaborations and its rising global appeal, the Bloody Samaritan crooner said “as long as Afrobeats artistes stick together and continue propelling the music, the genre will continue to thrive.”

“It’s not fair at all; people want to put negativity on Afrobeats because it has become so mainstream. The generations of African artistes who worked to this extent for people like me to be able to be global with this sound worked for this. The genre’s not being diluted, it’s becoming mainstream. People are going to want to try things and do their own versions of things.

“The key is that when we stick together as Afrobeats artistes and continue with our sound; it can never be diluted. Nobody is ever going to be able to do it like us. That’s just the truth and it’s a beautiful thing to see and lovely to hear,” she added.

On how she has been able to curate a distinctive sound in the Afrobeats space, the 19 & Dangerous singer credits this to her unique voice and her eagerness to push her sonic boundaries.

“It’s my voice. I’ve opened myself up to so many possibilities when it comes to sound because I don’t like to hold myself in a box. I’m a very proud Afrobeats artiste, but I am in different spaces and different genres, from the Spanish world to David Guetta dance music, one thing that has been very consistent in every aspect is my voice.

“It isn’t just a voice, it’s my sound and it’s distinctive from the first “yeah, yeah” you hear in my songs. Just that and people feel good. I don’t want to brag!” she said.

Ayra Starr’s The Year I Turned 21, dropped today to the admiration of fans and music buffs. According to her, the album speaks of positive feeling and greatness.

Prior to the album release, the Grammy nominee, who recently earned three nominations for the 2024 BET Awards, released three singles, Rhythm & Blues, Comma, and Bad Vibes featuring Seyi Vibez. She had on Wednesday, May 22, thrilled guests drawn from across the media and the music industry at the album listening party put together by the online music streaming service Spotify.

Speaking at the exclusively listening gig which was held in Victoria Island, Lagos, the global music star described the process of making the album as a demanding and fulfilling one that involved input from everyone on her team.

“The Ayra Starr I want to introduce is excellent, sonically amazing. This album is unique, because I’ve been evolving sonically,” she told Billboard News in an interview back in February this year.

Featuring guest appearances from Asake, Giveon, Coco Jones, Aniita, and Ayra Starr’s younger brother Milar, the album is crafted from the perspective of a 21-year-old, while it still appeals to listeners across all demographics.

Joseph Aloba, the father of late Nigerian singer, Illerioluwa Aloba, also known as Mohbad, has stated that a DNA test must be conducted on his grandson before the singer is buried.

Mohbad’s body was exhumed for autopsy days after his burial following public outcry for an investigation into his controversial death.

However, the result of the autopsy conducted on the body of the late singer is said to have been unable to ascertain the cause of his death.

Following the failed autopsy, many have been clamouring for his body to be buried.

Reacting in a recent interview with TVC, Mr Aloba vowed not to release his son’s body for burial until a DNA test is conducted on his grandson, Liam, to ascertain his true paternity.

“I have to do the DNA [on Mohbad’s son] before the burial,” he said.

“I’m doubting the [the paternity of Mohbad’s] son also. Sometimes she [Mohbad’s wife] will leave home for 3 days without the consent of the husband.”

On the allegations that he is wearing Mohbad’s clothes and trying to inherit his properties, Aloba said, “When Mohbad was alive, we were friends. If he buys clothes for himself, he would also buy for me.

“Since his death, I have never gone to his house. I have never gone there for anything. But some people misinterpreted things so whenever they see me with a shirt, they say it is Mohbad’s. Is it compulsory that it must be from my son? I have my own clothes, too.”