ELS; MBN360 Entertainment
Nigerian Afrobeats star CKay has confirmed that Ghanaian singer King Promise will appear on his highly anticipated third studio album, Banger Boy, which drops this Friday, August 7, 2026.
The collaboration is one of several high-profile guest appearances on the 12-track project. King Promise features on the track “Zero,” listed as the tenth song on the official tracklist. Other featured artists include Mavo on “Body (danz),” Kidd Carder on “African Girls,” Phyno on “Para,” and Maleek Berry on “Sexy.”
CKay, whose real name is Chukwuka Ekweani, first rose to global prominence with the viral hit “Love Nwantiti.” The song, originally from his 2019 EP CKay the First, exploded internationally through remixes and social media, charting in multiple countries and introducing a wider audience to his smooth blend of Afrobeats, R&B, and melodic pop.
Subsequent releases such as the 2021 EP Boyfriend, the 2022 debut album Sad Romance, and the 2024 follow-up Emotions solidified his reputation as one of the leading voices in contemporary African music.
Banger Boy marks a new chapter. In recent comments, CKay has described the project as “real street dance music,” drawing from his experiences living in various Lagos neighborhoods including Surulere, Ogba, and Gbagada. He has spoken about wanting to create something distinct from the amapiano wave that has dominated much of the continent’s dance music scene in recent years.
The album leans into a moodier, more rebellious energy-pairing emotional songwriting with club-ready production, electric guitars, and house influences. The title itself references the Nigerian slang meaning of “banger” as something loud, explosive, and slightly disruptive.
The project arrives after a string of successful singles that have built anticipation. “Body (danz)” featuring Mavo became a streaming standout, while more recent releases such as “African Girls” and “E Clear” have kept momentum high heading into the album launch. “E Clear” in particular was positioned as the final single ahead of the full project, showcasing CKay’s signature melodic sensibility against cinematic production.
King Promise’s appearance adds a notable West African cross-border dimension to the album. Born Gregory Bortey Newman in Accra in 1995, the Ghanaian artist has built a career blending Afrobeats, highlife, and R&B. He first gained attention with early singles such as “Oh Yeah” and later scored major success with tracks including the Wizkid-assisted “Tokyo.”
His albums As Promised (2019), 5 Stars (2022), and True to Self (2024) have established him as one of Ghana’s most consistent and internationally visible artists. In 2025 he was named Artiste of the Year at the Telecel Ghana Music Awards, capping a period of strong commercial and critical recognition.
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he pairing of CKay and King Promise continues a long tradition of Nigerian-Ghanaian musical collaboration that has helped expand the reach of Afrobeats and related styles across Africa and beyond. Their respective strengths-CKay’s emotive, melodic delivery and King Promise’s smooth, highlife-inflected vocal style suggest “Zero” could become one of the album’s standout moments.
Tracks on the Album
The full tracklist for Banger Boy includes: “NDA,” “Body (danz)” (feat. Mavo), “African Girls” (feat. Kidd Carder), “Shege,” “Badaminton,” “Para” (feat. Phyno), “Ppower,” “Raba,” “Sexy” (feat. Maleek Berry), “Zero” (feat. King Promise), “E Clear,” and “Bye Bye.”
Production credits involve a range of collaborators, with recording taking place at Boyfriend Music Studios in Lagos. Executive production is credited to CIXXX, with A&R handled by Joseph Salubi. The album is released under CKay Holdings LLC in exclusive license to AWAL Recordings.
Banger Boy arrives at a moment when Afrobeats continues to command significant global attention. Artists from across the continent are increasingly finding audiences far beyond traditional markets, driven by streaming platforms, social media virality, and growing demand for African music in international charts and festivals.
CKay’s shift toward a more street-oriented, dance-focused sound while retaining his melodic core positions the album as both a personal evolution and a potential commercial statement.
Fans have already begun circulating the tracklist and promotional artwork across social media, with particular interest in the King Promise collaboration and the presence of established names such as Phyno and Maleek Berry.
The album cover imagery and visual aesthetic lean into a bold, sunset-toned, somewhat cinematic style consistent with the project’s more mature and rebellious tone.
With Banger Boy set for release on August 7, CKay is preparing to enter what he has framed as a new era one defined by louder energy, emotional vulnerability, and an expanded sonic palette. The inclusion of King Promise and the other featured artists highlights the collaborative spirit that has long powered the growth of contemporary African popular music.
As the countdown to the release continues, listeners across Nigeria, Ghana, and the wider global Afrobeats community are waiting to hear how these new collaborations land.
