Ghanaian-American singer Amaarae is preparing to release her third studio album, Black Star, in August. A deeply personal project that blends African sounds, dance music roots, and unapologetic self-expression.
Amaarae is showing a new side of herself with Black Star, an album she says marks her journey into confidence, womanhood, and cultural pride. In an interview with Rolling Stone, she said, “Black Star to me is the genesis of me feeling sure and confident in myself as a grown woman, number one, and knowing exactly what my message is, how I want to tell it to the world.”
I’m taking my culture and I’m synthesising it in a way that feels unique and fresh to me… I wanted to take a genre that needs to go back home to its roots and merge that with my African roots and hip-hop and create a new world, she says.
The title reflects three layers of meaning: her persona, Ghana’s Black Star flag symbol, and the Black roots of the music genres she pulls from. At 30, she says this album is a stamp of her identity: “I’m from Ghana. I love being Ghanaian. I want to be a global symbol.”
Following the global attention of her 2023 album Fountain Baby, Black Star arrives after a string of major milestones. Amaarae has toured with Kaytranada and Sabrina Carpenter, appeared on Childish Gambino’s Bando Stone & the New World, and became the first solo female Ghanaian act to perform at Coachella.
Born Ama Genfi, her new project kicks off with the single “S.M.O. (Slut Me Out),” which boasts a bold, club-ready energy, while another standout, “Star Killa,” features her chanting drug-fueled lyrics. Despite pushback from industry insiders, Amaarae stands by her choices. “Sometimes, it’s just nice to say the thing as it is,” she explains.
Her goal is nothing short of a global breakthrough. Both critically and commercially. “My soul can’t rest,” she says, “until I feel like I’ve made a project that resonates worldwide.”
“Above all,” Amaarae declares, “I’m a Black fucking star.” Amaarae’s third album is set to be released on the 7th of August.
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