With record-breaking hits, an alluring stage presence and cinematic music videos that always get us talking, it’s hard not to believe that Tyla’s global superstardom was etched into the pop culture timeline. Over the past year, the Grammy-winning South African musician has commanded international stages like Coachella, made striking appearances at the Met Gala and become a fixture on global charts—all while staying grounded in her roots. She’s come of age in real time, thrust into viral fame with her 2023 breakout single Water, and now continues her pop-R&B reign with WWP, a mixtape that captures the spirit of summer in four breezy tracks.
Short for We Wanna Party, WWP is a nod to a popular South African groove chant—a phrase instantly recognisable to anyone who’s ever heard the buzz of Joburg nightlife. Tyla distils that energy into this self-assured, flirtatious follow-up to the deluxe edition of her debut album. But this isn’t simply an interlude. WWP is a clear statement: Tyla is still dancing, still glowing, and still in control of her narrative.
Where her debut album saw her navigating love, heartbreak, and identity through slick pop-R&B, WWP lets loose. It’s not particularly concerned with cohesion, and that’s the point. Each track stands on its own—individually more potent than as a whole, serving as sonic postcards from a young woman revelling in her moment.
The mixtape opens with DYNAMITE, a steamy collaboration with Nigerian heavyweight Wizkid. Produced by P.Priime, the song is a seductive, club-ready anthem powered by breathy harmonies and palpable chemistry. The vocal synergy between the two artists is undeniable, and Tyla’s Mzansi inflections—most notably her cheeky line “take it to my posie, we can finalise”—add layers of local charm. It’s a track that beckons the body into motion, wrapped in a kind of street lingo that defines her sonic brand.
That balance between the sultry and the playful continues on MR. MEDIA, where Tyla addresses the double-edged sword of fame with a shrug of resignation. “No matter how hard I try/ I can never get it right,” she sings with airy nonchalance, as if fame itself were a minor inconvenience. The track is boosted by Amapiano flourishes and cascading melodies that keep it firmly in her soundscape. LeeMcKrazy’s unmistakable tag “ba re ke Lemeke”—a beloved cue for many South African listeners—cements the track’s cultural specificity, offering a wink to home even as she performs for the world.
BLISS and IS IT, the project’s two lead singles, laid the groundwork for the project’s sonic direction. IS IT is a carefree anthem of flirtation, anchored by hypnotic drums and a melodic hook that lingers long after the song ends. Tyla sounds completely at ease, emboldened by infectious percussion and a confidence that feels earned. BLISS, meanwhile, is dipped in euphoria and tinged with yearning. Its production pulses with the kind of dreamy urgency that defines a good summer fling—weightless, fast, and fleeting. The music video’s juxtaposition of dystopia and joy captures that same duality: even as the world burns, the party doesn’t stop. It’s a sentiment that feels right at home in post-pandemic youth culture.
What makes WWP shine is its refusal to take itself too seriously. There’s no grand thematic arc or overworked concept here—just good, clean (and slightly naughty) fun. In a pop landscape where second offerings are often overwrought attempts to prove artistic range, Tyla does the opposite. She trusts her sound, her fans, and her intuition. And the result is a project that feels like a much-needed exhale.
WWP may be short and sweet, but it’s packed with flavour, attitude, and enough groove to fuel your everyday party and late-night jam this summer.
