Tyla A*POP
Released Jul 24, 2026 FAX Records/Epic
Consensus forming 4 professional reviews Updated Oct 7, 2026
Broadly positive consensus
Consensus is still forming across 4 professional reviews. Tyla's A*POP arrives as a sun-soaked, sultry bid for global pop status that leans into polished production and Afropop rhythms as much as personal flirtation.
How ChoruScore worksCritics' Top Tracks
The songs critics returned to most
MR. NONCHALANT
2 critic mentions
“tracks like ‘Chanel’, ‘Mr. Nonchalant’ and ‘Right Now’ showcase the playful confidence” — Clash Music
IS IT
2 critic mentions
“Is It’ arrives as a natural continuation of the story she has been building” — Clash Music
CHANEL
4 critic mentions
“Queenmaking single "Chanel" appears near the end here—still catchy as it was when it came out last October,” — Pitchfork
Full critic consensus
Tyla's A*POP arrives as a sun-soaked, sultry bid for global pop status that leans into polished production and Afropop rhythms as much as personal flirtation. Critics largely agree the record hits its stride on a handful of songs—“CHANEL”, “IS IT”, “IS IT LOVE” and “MR. NONCHALANT”—which marry amapiano and R&B motifs with bright pop hooks, even when the album at large favors restraint over full-throated reinvention. With a 75.5/100 consensus score across 4 professional reviews, the critical reception frames A*POP as a confident, if measured, step forward for Tyla.
Across professional reviews, critics consistently highlight the record's genre-blending and mainstream ambition. Reviewers praised the way tracks like “CHANEL” and “MR. NONCHALANT” fuse amapiano grooves and glossy pop production to spotlight Tyla's vocal charm, while pieces such as “IS IT” and “IS IT LOVE” underscore her melodic simplicity and sensuality. Several critics note the album's thematic through-lines—sex, sun, confidence, and cultural assimilation into Afropop globalization—arguing that the strongest moments come when Tyla lets texture and restraint serve emotional clarity rather than spectacle.
Not all critics are uniformly celebratory. Some reviews point to mid-album drift and a cautious approach that undercuts the record's stated ambitions, suggesting A*POP refines rather than revolutionizes Tyla's pop instincts. Still, the consensus suggests the record is worth attention for its standout tracks and for staking Tyla's claim in a transcontinental pop conversation. Below, the detailed reviews unpack where the album's polished sheen pays off and where greater risk might have yielded a more decisive breakthrough.
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 5 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
The review frames these best tracks on A*POP as evidence of Tyla sharpening her pop instincts rather than reinventing them, a progression that makes the album enjoyable if not revolutionary. Overall, the critic positions these songs as the album’s standout moments within a consistently polished pop landscape.
Key Points
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FAIRYTALE succeeds by reframing Tyla’s breathy vocals with minimal guitar and bass, making it the album’s smartest production moment.
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A*POP’s core strengths are its polished pop production and seamless blending of Afropop and amapiano rhythms with mainstream pop ambition.
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.