As Amaarae develops her sound, we get a better understanding of her and her life. BLACK STAR, her latest release, helps the artist connect with her Ghanaian roots — and through that — her identity.
The Origins
Following the pre-released singles “Girly-Pop!” and “S.M.O.”, Amaarae came out with her latest release BLACK STAR on August 8. Known for her fusion of pop, R&B, and afrobeats, the artist blends topics of gender, sexuality, and her explorations.
Amaarae first got critical acclaim for her 2020 album, The Angel You Don’t Know. Subsequently, “Sad Girlz Luv Money” gained popularity on TikTok, and a year later Kali Uchis featured on a remix of the track, that charted globally.
The artist first debuted in 2017, and over the years has gradually attained notoriety in her space. Following the announcement of her second album Fountain Baby, Amaarae was set to be the first Ghanaian to appear on NPR Tiny Desk.
Carrying this spirit forward, Amaarae became the first of Ghanaian origin to perform a solo set at the 2025 Coachella Music Festival. During the performance, she announced her new album BLACK STAR, and shaved her head in-stage — a move that aptly premised her release.
The Tracklist
The album features 13 tracks, with a run-time of 44 min 12 sec. It includes:
- Stuck Up – (02:31)
- Starkilla (with Bree Runway & Starkillers) – (03:08(
- ms60 (with Naomi Campbell) – (02:28)
- Kiss Me Thru The Phone pt 2 (with PinkPantheress) – (03:38)
- B2B – (04:17)
- She Is My Drug – (03:28)
- Girlie-Pop! – (02:03)
- S.M.O. – (04:30)
- Fineshyt – (03:40)
- Dove Cameron – (02:33)
- Dream Scenario (Charlie Wilson) – (04:59)
- 100DRUM (feat. Zacari) – (03:44)
- FREE THE YOUTH – (3:08)
Amaarae: Critical Reception
Fans on Reddit have some interesting things to say:
Omg I didn’t even know a new album was coming, album of the summer??
Excellent contender for AOTY, it’s fresh and exciting. If RENAISSANCE consolidates the history of club and house music, BLACK STAR charts its future.
For “S.M.O”, one individual said:
Ok this dark tropical synth vibe is SO cool. Amaarae always eats on production.
Easily, this album has met the audience with well-intended reception. Many have claimed that this is a contender for the upcoming award-season as well. By collaborating with Naomi Campbell, Pink Pantheress, and others, Amaarae has taken trendsetting for the media-space seriously. So, do find the album on your preferred streaming platform, and give the tracks a listen!
