Yemi Alade Drops Surprise EP After Three-Year Silence

Yemi Alade has released a surprise 6-track EP titled "Woman of Steel II" following a three-year break from new music, immediately trending across Nigerian social media.

After three years of near-silence in terms of new releases, Nigerian music queen Yemi Alade has surprised fans with a 6-track EP titled "Woman of Steel II." The EP dropped without prior announcement at midnight and immediately began trending across all major Nigerian music platforms.

The project features collaborations with Davido, Burna Boy, and rising star Ayra Starr. Production credits include Pheelz, Kel-P, and Grammy-winning producer Metro Boomin, who worked on the track "Steel Heart." The EP blends Afropop with elements of highlife and amapiano.

Lead single "Dance for Me" features a music video filmed in the ancient city of Benin, showcasing Edo cultural elements including the traditional Ewu dress. The video garnered 2 million views on YouTube within 12 hours of release.

Alade addressed fans in an Instagram Live session, explaining the three-year hiatus. "I needed to find my authentic sound again," she said. "The pressure to constantly release was affecting the quality of my music. This EP represents who I truly am as an artist."

Music critics have been largely positive. Pulse Nigeria described the EP as "a triumphant return that cements Alade place among Nigeria musical elite." Rolling Stone Africa gave it 4/5 stars, calling the Davido collaboration "the Afrobeats duet of the year so far."

The EP has already broken streaming records on Boomplay, where it received 5 million streams in the first 24 hours. Spotify Nigeria reported it as the most-streamed release of the week within 6 hours. Alade management has announced a national tour beginning in August.