Tyla A*POP
Consensus is still forming across 3 professional reviews. Tyla's A*POP channels sun-soaked sultriness and Afropop ambition into a collection that often favors melodic simplicity over maximalist flash. Critics coalesce around confident highlights such as “CHANEL”, “MR. NONCHALANT” and “IS IT LOVE” while also noting moments of restraint that suggest an artist refining her inter
The best song, "MR. NONCHALANT", stands out for its bold, Christina Milian-esque bravado and memorable lyrics.
NME voices disappointment in occasional surface-level lyrics and missed ambition, while other reviews frame the record as a purposeful refinement that balances commercial reach wit
Best for listeners looking for sun and sex, starting with CHANEL and MR. NONCHALANT.
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Full consensus notes
Tyla's A*POP channels sun-soaked sultriness and Afropop ambition into a collection that often favors melodic simplicity over maximalist flash. Critics coalesce around confident highlights such as “CHANEL”, “MR. NONCHALANT” and “IS IT LOVE” while also noting moments of restraint that suggest an artist refining her international pop vocabulary rather than abandoning her South African roots.
Across three professional reviews, A*POP earned a 76.67/100 consensus score, with reviewers consistently praising the album's blend of amapiano rhythms, R&B warmth and pop hooks. The Guardian and Clash single out “CHANEL” and “MR. NONCHALANT” for their mood shifts and playful confidence, and Clash and The Guardian also flag “IS IT” and “IS IT LOVE” as examples of Tyla's strengthened melodic instincts. Critics note recurring themes of confidence versus vulnerability, genre crossover, and cultural assimilation as the record negotiates global Afropop appeal.
Responses are measured rather than rapturous. NME voices disappointment in occasional surface-level lyrics and missed ambition, while other reviews frame the record as a purposeful refinement that balances commercial reach with intimate moments like “FEEL SOMETHING” and “DOUBLE BLIND”. Taken together the critical consensus suggests A*POP is a rewarding step for Tyla: not a seismic reinvention, but a sunlit, often irresistible statement that confirms her as a crossover presence worth following.
Below, read the full reviews to see why critics praised particular tracks and where they called for greater daring from Tyla.
Critics' Top Tracks
The standout songs that made critics take notice
CHANEL
3 mentions
"tracks like ‘Chanel’, ‘Mr. Nonchalant’ and ‘Right Now’ showcase the playful confidence"— Clash Music
MR. NONCHALANT
2 mentions
"tracks like ‘Chanel’, ‘Mr. Nonchalant’ and ‘Right Now’ showcase the playful confidence"— Clash Music
IS IT
2 mentions
"Is It’ arrives as a natural continuation of the story she has been building"— Clash Music
Opening with ‘Is It Love’, the South African star immediately settles into the qualities that have become central to her artistry
Track Ratings
How critics rated each track, relative to this album (0-100). Only tracks that made critics feel something are rated.
IS IT LOVE
THAT GIRL
KISS
IS IT
FAIRYTALE (feat. Liquideep)
DOUBLE BLIND
FEEL SOMETHING
RIGHT NOW
MR. NONCHALANT
SHE DID IT AGAIN (feat. Zara Larsson)
CHANEL
CRAZY OF ME (feat. MaWhoo)
I DON'T CARE (feat. Babalwa M)
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What Critics Are Saying
Deep insights from 4 critics who reviewed this album
Critic's Take
Tyla rides a heady mix of sun, sex and sultriness across A*POP, and the best songs - notably “MR. NONCHALANT” and “CHANEL” - show her ability to shift moods with effortless charm. The reviewer's eye lingers on “MR. NONCHALANT” for its Christina Milian-esque, paparazzi-ready brazenness, and on “CHANEL” for its intoxicating fusion of R&B, amapiano and pop, where she "sits back" on P2J's beats. Even shape-shifting moments like “KISS” are praised for keeping Tyla central, proving the album's best tracks are those that let her distinctive voice lead. Though some mid-album moments drag, the standout songs make A*POP feel like a bold statement of intent for a developing superstar.
Key Points
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The best song, "MR. NONCHALANT", stands out for its bold, Christina Milian-esque bravado and memorable lyrics.
Themes
Critic's Take
Tyla approaches A*POP with a quiet assurance, leaning on songs like “IS IT LOVE” and “IS IT” to show how her melodic instincts have strengthened. The review’s voice spots an artist refining rather than chasing, noting tracks such as “CHANEL”, “MR. NONCHALANT” and “RIGHT NOW” for their playful confidence. Intimate moments like “FEEL SOMETHING” and “DOUBLE BLIND” add emotional weight, balancing the album between desire and independence. Overall the critic frames the best tracks as those that marry simplicity with purpose, making the best songs on A*POP feel inevitable rather than engineered.
Key Points
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The best song is the opener “IS IT LOVE” because it establishes Tyla’s understated confidence and irresistible melodies.
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The album’s core strength is balancing playful confidence with intimate vulnerability while rooting pop ambition in South African identity.
Themes
Critic's Take
Kyann-Sian Williams writes with a measured, slightly disappointed eye, noting that while opener “IS IT LOVE” shows emotional heft, much of the album drifts into surface-level declarations. The reviewer praises the moments where amapiano, R&B and glossy pop collide into earworms, even as she laments the record's caution and missed ambition.
Key Points
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The best song(s) balance Tyla's amapiano roots with sleek pop hooks, making “Is It”, “Chanel” and “She Did It Again” the album's strongest moments.
Themes
Critic's Take
The review situates Tyla's A*POP within a larger Afropop conversation about assimilation and global crossover, noting how the genre's polyrhythms have been folded into Western pop pathways. The critic emphasizes historical lineage rather than singling out specific tracks, so readers searching for the best songs on A*POP will find context about the album's place in Afropop more than track-by-track praise. This piece reads as a measured cultural critique, explaining why listeners might look for standout moments but reminding them to listen for the album's broader stylistic choices.
Key Points
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No individual tracks are discussed, so no best song can be identified from this review.
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The review highlights Afropop's global assimilation and the album's relevance to that ongoing shift.