f there was any lingering doubt that South African superstar Tyla is the blueprint for the modern global pop icon, the UK charts just settled the debate.
The Grammy-winning singer is currently on an absolute tear. Her explosive cross-continental collaboration with Swedish pop sensation Zara Larsson, "She Did It Again," has officially locked down the Number 1 spot on the UK Official Afrobeats Chart for an incredible 8 consecutive weeks.
But instead of kicking back and coasting on her historic chart run, Tyla is keeping her foot firmly on the gas. Just days after a massive performance alongside Future at the World Cup opening ceremony in Los Angeles, she has blessed fans with her highly anticipated third single, "Is It Love."
Here is a breakdown of how Tyla is dominating the summer airwaves and building an ironclad runway for her upcoming sophomore album, A*POP.
8 Weeks at the Top: The Power of "She Did It Again"
Released as a lead indicator for her next musical era, "She Did It Again" has proven to be an unstoppable force in the United Kingdom. Bringing together two powerhouse vocalists, the track blends a nostalgic, early-2000s pop essence with a heavy, modern Afro-infused bassline.
To hold the Number 1 position on the UK Official Afrobeats Chart for two straight months is no small feat—especially as the track faces fierce competition from a wave of massive summer releases. The song’s sticky hook ("I got ya like uh-ohhh...") and its high-energy, Y2K-inspired music video have made it a permanent fixture across TikTok edits, radio rotations, and peak-set club playlists worldwide.
"Is It Love": A Fresh Dynamic R&B Twist
Just as fans were settling into the groove of "She Did It Again," Tyla shifted lanes completely with the release of "Is It Love."
Moving away from the pure club-ready Amapiano textures that characterized her earliest hits, "Is It Love" serves up an incredibly dynamic, guitar-driven R&B and pop hybrid. Produced by hitmakers P2J and Cole Ostrin, the song highlights Tyla’s vocal maturation as she sings about the raw intensity of passionate romance, asking the ultimate toxic-love question: "Is it love if you don't cry, cry, cry?"
Accompanied by a sleek, water-filled music video directed by Aerin Moreno, the single captures a beautiful, nostalgic vibe reminiscent of early Rihanna, proving that Tyla can conquer traditional Western R&B just as easily as she commands African rhythms.
The Countdown to A*POP Is On
With "She Did It Again" dominating the charts and "Is It Love" rapidly climbing global streaming playlists, the stage is perfectly set for July 24, when her sophomore studio album A*POP officially drops via Since '93/Epic Records.
Currently balancing a massive summer festival run across Europe—including headline slots at Afro Nation Portugal and the Mawazine Festival—Tyla isn't just representing South Africa on the world stage; she is entirely redefining what it means to be a global pop star.
Are you still blasting the Zara Larsson collab, or has the soulful guitar rhythm of "Is It Love" taken over your playlist? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!