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Pa Salieu Afrikan Alien [Mixtape]
Pa Salieu's Afrikan Alien [Mixtape] opens like a reclamation, folding home, family and diaspora into a sound that feels equal parts personal manifesto and pan-African pop statement. Across two professional reviews the mixtape earned a 79.5/100 consensus score, and critics consistently point to a sense of comeback and reflection that gives songs emotional ballast as well as floor-filling energy.
Reviewers agree the best songs on Afrikan Alien [Mixtape] anchor its themes. NME and Pitchfork both praise “Belly” as a plaintive homecoming number; critics also highlight “Afrikan Di Alien (feat. Black Sherif)” as a counselling, philosophical centerpiece and single out “YGF” and “Ya Zee” for their immediacy and melodic craft. Professional reviews note how Salieu blends Afrobeats, Afro-grime and pop textures, turning setbacks into songs of redemption and framing the record as both reflective and kinetic.
While both reviews commend sharpened lyricism and the mixtape's pan-African ambitions, they stop short of calling it flawless, instead celebrating growth - a comeback that refines earlier cheeky bravado into something wiser and more expansive. For readers asking "is Afrikan Alien [Mixtape] good" or "what are the best songs on Afrikan Alien [Mixtape]," the critical consensus favors “Belly”, “Afrikan Di Alien (feat. Black Sherif)”, “YGF” and “Ya Zee” as the mixtape's standout moments. Below, detailed reviews unpack how those tracks map Salieu's journey between home, philosophy and diasporic swagger.
Critics' Top Tracks
The standout songs that made critics take notice
YGF
1 mention
"the tape’s heart, though, lies in its most straightforward moment."— Pitchfork
Belly
2 mentions
"‘Belly’ – the soulful track he used to signal his big comeback – is a laidback song"— New Musical Express (NME)
Ya Zee
1 mention
"Those who listen to the tape will be rewarded tenfold when they discover ‘Ya Zee’ – an earworm in every sense of the word."— New Musical Express (NME)
the tape’s heart, though, lies in its most straightforward moment.
Track Ratings
How critics rated each track, relative to this album (0-100). Only tracks that made critics feel something are rated.
Intro
Afrikan Di Alien (feat. Black Sherif)
Belly
Ya Zee
Soda (feat. Byron Messia)
Round & Round
Dece (Heavy)
Allergy
Big Smile (Pose For Me) [feat. ODUMODUBLVCK]
Regular
YGF
What Critics Are Saying
Deep insights from 3 critics who reviewed this album
Critic's Take
In his light-stepping, panoramic way Will Pritchard singles out the best songs on Afrikan Alien by turns: the plaintive opener “Belly” feels like a homecoming line, the winter-bop “Soda” is irresistibly cosy, and the tape’s therapeutic heart is plainly “YGF”. Pritchard writes with a fond, measured eye, praising how Pa tweaks familiar global styles into something personal and pan-African. The review casts these tracks as the mixtape’s clearest triumphs, showing why fans asking "best tracks on Afrikan Alien" will point to “Belly”, “Soda”, and “YGF”.
Key Points
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The best song, "YGF", functions as the mixtape’s emotional center with gospel-backed release.
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The album’s core strengths are its pan-African fusion, vivid personal themes, and concise, persuasive production.
Themes
Critic's Take
There is a clear sense of rebirth on Afrikan Alien [Mixtape], where Pa Salieu turns his setbacks into striking songs - the best tracks here are the transcendent “Afrikan Di Alien” and the soulful “Belly”, with earworm pop like “Ya Zee” also standing out. The reviewer consistently praises Salieu's sharpened lyricism and philosophical turns, noting how “Afrikan Di Alien” plays counsellor while “Belly” fuses Afro-pop and melodic rap into an irresistible comeback statement. Even the kinetic Afro-grime of “Dece (Heavy)” and the angelic falsetto on “Round & Round” reinforce why these are the best songs on the mixtape, showing growth without abandoning cheeky bravado.
Key Points
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The best song is “Afrikan Di Alien” because it is called transcendent and acts as a counsellor with philosophical lyrics.
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The album’s core strengths are sharpened lyricism, philosophical depth, and a successful fusion of Afrobeats and Afro-grime.