Tyla’s Debut Album Earns Spot on Rolling Stone’s “Greatest Albums of the 21st Century” List

Grammy Award-winning South African singer Tyla continues to make history on the global stage. Her self-titled debut album, Tyla, has been listed among Rolling Stone’s “250 Greatest Albums of the 21st Century So Far,” a major recognition for the young star whose rise has been nothing short of phenomenal.

Released in March 2024, the album landed at number 240 on the list, joining some of the most celebrated works of the century. Rolling Stone’s editors praised Tyla’s sound for its bold mix of amapiano, afrobeats, hip-hop, and pop, calling her a refreshing voice redefining what global music can sound like.

“After taking the world by storm with Water, South African artist Tyla’s debut rocked the intersection of dance and Afropop,” the publication noted. Rolling Stone journalist Mankaprr Conteh added, “Every track carries a piece of her continental home,” highlighting how Tyla’s music remains deeply rooted in her African heritage while appealing to international audiences.

The review described Tyla as a “young star” who effortlessly blends global influences with local rhythms, celebrating African culture in every beat. Her unique sound and charisma have positioned her as one of the leading voices of a new generation of African artists making waves worldwide.

Tyla’s success story doesn’t stop there. Her breakout single, “Water,” also secured a place on Rolling Stone’s “250 Greatest Songs of the 21st Century So Far,” ranking at number 135. Released in July 2023, the viral hit sparked the famous “Water Dance Challenge” on social media and dominated global charts.

“Water” peaked at number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100 and reached the top 10 in several countries, making Tyla the highest-charting African female solo artist in Billboard history. The song has since surpassed one billion streams across platforms — a staggering achievement for the 23-year-old star.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Tyla (@tyla)

The singer is set to satisfy her “Tygers” after weeks of teasing her new single, “Chanel.” She took to Instagram to announce that the highly anticipated track will drop on October 24, sending fans into a frenzy.

She wrote: “CHANEL OCT 24. NEXT FRIDAY PRE SAVE LINK IN BIO for the girls fighting me onlineeeee!!!! We did our big one .”

Tyla also teased a few catchy lyrics from the upcoming track: “If you say you love them, put them in Chanel.”