"Commas" is a song by Nigerian singer Ayra Starr from her second studio album, The Year I Turned 21 (2024). It was produced by Ragee, London and AoD, and features afropop instrumentation with lyrics in Pidgin and Yoruba. Starr wrote the song across multiple drafts, saying she worked through around "fifteen versions" of the lyrics and melody before arriving at what she described as a "high vibrational" track intended to boost confidence and emotional well-being.[1]
"Commas" was released through Mavin Records on 2 February 2024 as the second single from The Year I Turned 21, with Republic Records handling international distribution. The lyrics combine faith-rooted affirmations, firm personal boundaries and references to financial success, using the written comma in large numbers as a metaphor for continued progress.[2] Starr has called the track a "love letter" to people who once rejected her, drawing in part on a moment of personal reflection during a holiday in Barbados when she realised the extent of her achievements and the guilt she sometimes felt about enjoying them.[1]
The single received positive reviews from music critics, who praised its uplifting message and Starr’s vocal performance, though some commentators argued that its streamlined, radio-friendly structure made it less emotionally intricate than some of the album’s more vulnerable tracks.[3] Commercially, "Commas" reached number one on the UK Afrobeats Singles Chart for seven non-consecutive weeks, peaked at number six on the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs, and appeared on national charts in Nigeria, the Netherlands and Suriname. It was certified double platinum in Nigeria by the TurnTable Certification System of Nigeria and gold in Canada by Music Canada, and had surpassed 100 million global streams by April 2024.[4] A lyric video directed by Mikey Oshai was issued alongside the single, followed by two live performance videos released in April and July 2024.[5]
Background and production
Ragee(pictured) co-produced "Commas" and developed its original beat.
"Commas" was released in early 2024 as Ayra Starr’s first single of the year, arriving at a moment when she was gaining wider international recognition following the success of "Rush" and her nomination for the inaugural Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance. While touring, giving interviews, and shaping the early direction of her second studio album, the track began to take form.[6] Producer Ragee created the beat, which was initially intended for another artist before that collaboration stalled.[7] Around the same time, Mavin Records A&R executive Vader reached out requesting new material for Starr. Ragee sent the unused beat, and Vader responded promptly, informing him that Starr had already recorded over it and that the instrumental fit the direction she was pursuing. Ragee later said that the speed with which she connected to the beat signaled the beginning of their creative rapport and led to further sessions for her upcoming projects.[7]London and AoD further contributed to the production.[8]
Starr described the development of "Commas" as one of the most demanding writing periods of her career. In a Genius "Verified" interview, she said she created around "fifteen versions" of the song, repeatedly rewriting and restructuring it because she felt earlier drafts did not fully capture what she wanted.[9] Collaborators considered the track finished long before she did, but Starr continued refining lyrics, melodies, and phrasing until the song matched the tone she imagined. She said she often grows tired of her own music during the revision process, yet "Commas" remained energizing to her even after months of work, which made her believe she had created something meaningful. Starr related this feeling to a moment of personal clarity she experienced during a vacation trip to the Carribean. She recalled watching the sunset from a pool, realizing the significance of her accomplishments, and understanding why certain lines in the song, including reflections on hard work and ambition, held deep personal weight for her. In later interviews, Starr said that "Commas" arose from her instinct to make what she called "high vibrational" music,[9] meaning songs she writes to steady herself emotionally and maintain confidence during moments of pressure or uncertainty. She performed much of the track in Pidgin and said that using her mother tongue allows her to express herself authentically.[10]
Release and promotion
"Commas" was released on 2 February 2024 through Mavin Records, with distribution in partnership with Republic Records, as Starr's the second single from her sophomore studio album The Year I Turned 21. It was issued to major digital music and streaming platforms worldwide. In accompanying press materials, the track was introduced as a mid-tempoafropop song that combines affirmational lyrics with a reflective tone, and Starr described it as a "love letter" to people who had rejected her, saying she wanted listeners to feel they could "increase the commas in anything they do in life."[11]
Artwork
The cover art for "Commas" was first revealed on 1 February 2024, when Starr posted the image on X with the caption "Commas 2/2/24", announcing both the artwork and the single’s release date.[12] Later that day, Mavin Records shared the same image on its account, writing that it would be "out tonight". The artwork was designed by Scry Town, who served as creative director, with styling by Yanderejan and behind-the-scenes photography by Maeetrix. It depicts Starr seated on a white desk in a studio set decorated with greenery and flowers, wearing a pastel pink outfit and looking upward beneath the cursive title "Commas" written above her. Plants and floral arrangements appear around the desk, on a shelving unit to the left, and across the floor, alongside objects such as books, papers, a floor lamp, and a vintage-style computer monitor positioned in front of the desk.[13]
Marketing
Starr first teased "Commas" in January 2024 by posting a short audio and visual snippet on social media, which attracted fan engagement and speculation about a new era.[5][14] The single’s rollout coincided with the week of the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, where Starr attended as a nominee in the inaugural Best African Music Performance category for "Rush". During interviews conducted around the time of the events, including a segment with Billboard, she discussed "Commas" as part of a slate of new music planned for 2024. Online music outlets such as Clash Music, OkayAfrica and other Afrobeats-focused publications covered the release. Social media activity formed a major part of the promotion.[14] The refrain "steady increasing the commas" was used as the basis of a TikTok dance and caption trend, with fans circulating videos under hashtags associated with the single.[15][16] Starr regularly reposted fan-made clips on Instagram Stories and other platforms, and a widely shared video of American rapper 21 Savage listening to and miming along to "Commas" further broadened its visibility outside genre-specific audiences.[17]
Promotional videos
No official music video was released for "Commas", but a lyric video directed by Mikey Oshai was issued on Starr's YouTube channel on 2 February 2024, coinciding with the single's release.[5] The clip shows Starr in a softly lit pastel room, writing and singing along as the lyrics appear on screen. On 23 April 2024, Starr released a live performance video of "Commas" featuring a full band of instrumentalists. She announced the video on TikTok, writing "Commas live version out nowww!!" The performance showcased a more elaborate production than the lyric video, with Starr accompanied by musicians throughout the recording.[18]
In July 2024, Starr released a second live performance video in partnership with Vevo, recorded at the company's studio as part of her selection for the Vevo DSCVR Artist to Watch programme. Directed by Skyler Brown and released on 29 July 2024, the session was described by outlets such as Side Makini as capturing Starr's "raw energy and soulful voice." The video credits list Mavin Global Holdings and Republic Records as the copyright holders.[19] Starr incorporated "Commas" into her setlists shortly after its release. She performed the song at festival appearances and album-related shows, and it featured in her support slots on Coldplay's Music of the Spheres World Tour and on selected dates of Chris Brown's 11:11 Tour, where she used it as one of the songs introducing material from The Year I Turned 21 to arena and stadium audiences.[20]
Composition and lyrical interpretation
"Commas" is a mid-tempoafropop and R&B song with elements of soul. It is written in the key of D♭ major and has a tempo of 100 beats per minute in common time (4/4). The track's harmony is built around a four-chord progression of B♭ minor–G♭ major–D♭ major–G♭ major, set over a smooth, syncopated groove with light electronic textures, layered nylon-string guitar figures, melodic violin lines, string pads and warm sub-bass.[21] The recording runs for 2 minutes and 37 seconds and follows a start–intro–verse–verse–chorus–verse–chorus–chorus–outro structure, with Starr’s lead vocal moving from conversational low phrases in the verses to a brighter, melismatic delivery in the hook, supported by stacked backing vocals in the later choruses.[22] Lyrically, the song centers on her reflections on hardship, faith, and self-assured success, framed through a recurring money metaphor.[2] In the opening lines, delivered in Pidgin, she asks "Na which kind life wey I never see?," suggesting that she has already "seen everything" and endured challenging circumstances.[1] She immediately grounds her resilience in spirituality with "I carry God, so I fear nothing," which a number of reviewers read as crediting her rise to a protective faith rather than luck alone.[23][24] Across the chorus, the phrase "steady increasing the commas" uses the written symbol of a comma in large numbers as shorthand for material and personal growth; critics described the refrain as a statement of continuous advancement in her career and life.[5][25] In press comments, Starr called "Commas" a "love letter" to people who had rejected her, indicating that its confident tone is directed as much toward past doubters as toward listeners who might draw strength from its affirmations.[5]
Throughout the record, Starr juxtaposes images of ease and luxury with lines that hint at their emotional cost. In one verse she references travelling on vacation to places such as Barbados and ties that setting to a realization that her success had made earlier sacrifices "worth it."[1] At the same time, she has said she sometimes feels guilty enjoying such moments because she did not grow up with material abundance which underlies the song's emphasis on checking and balancing "everything inside my mind" and refusing to take progress for granted.[1] Certain lines articulate firm boundaries around her energy and time: "Energy wrong, I log off" and "I’m allergic to isokuso" state her willingness to withdraw from situations that undermine her well-being.[23][26] She defined "isokuso" as "rubbish talk" or gossip, explaining that the word is her way of rejecting projection and negative speech.[1] Elsewhere in the song, she sings "They never know I kala," using a local term she glossed as being intelligent and street-smart, and pointed out that the lyric addresses the way people underestimate her because of her appearance. Phrases like "Draw tattoo, make I live my life" are, in her own account, symbolic of breaking away from restrictive expectations formed in childhood.[1] The song’s refrain "Dreams come true if na fight / Fight the fight, make you no go tire" functions as both encouragement to listeners and a personal mantra. Starr has said that while she performs "Commas" for an audience, this specific line is directed at herself, reminding her of the effort it took to stand on stage and that she must keep going even when the process feels exhausting.[1]Billboard's Kyle Denis concluded that the track continues a thread in her work of focusing on "getting her money up" and distancing herself from draining influences.[27]Premium Times' Nosakhale Akhimien offered a more critical assessment, arguing that its streamlined, radio-ready approach leaves it somewhat less emotionally intricate than some of the more vulnerable songs on The Year I Turned 21.[3]
Starr's use of Pidgin and Yoruba expressions carries both cultural and political weight. She has stated that singing predominantly in Pidgin represents her commitment to her background and to "a whole continent" within global pop music.[1] She clarified that exclamations like "Ajé" function as casual address among friends, and that it has become a recurring stylistic marker in her music.[1] She has also said that it means a great deal to her that listeners who do not speak Pidgin seek out the meanings of words like "isokuso" so they can use them in their own speech, interpreting this interest as validation of her decision to write in her linguistic vernacular rather than conform to external expectations.[28] In an interview with Mina Llona on The Heat (Sirius XM), Starr used the term "high vibrational" to describe "Commas", explaining that she originally wrote it to make herself feel better and more empowered; reviewers have generally read the song in the same way, as a declaration of faith-rooted resilience and focused ambition delivered through an accessible afropop hook.[10][25]
Reception
"Commas" received positive reviews from music critics, who praised its uplifting production and Starr's vocal delivery. Robin Murray of Clash Music described "Commas" as a "bubbler" with "pristine but low-key" production and "subtle songwriting infused with soulful allure". He characterized it as being about embracing confidence, adding that Starr had learned to stop chasing her dreams and allow them to follow her. Murray felt that the lyric "See my fire burning bright... steady increasing the commas" exemplified the song's assertive tone.[29] Zachary Horvath of HotNewHipHop called the song a "beautiful track about reaching your goals" and praised it as "stunning" with "peaceful instrumentation that includes string sections and a strumming guitar". He added that Starr's voice "will leave you in a trance the whole way through."[25]
Writing for Afrocritik, Hope Ibiale described "Commas" as a track that "captures her success story" while functioning as "an inspiring bop that might resonate with listeners because of the words of affirmations". She concluded that the song "can effortlessly fit into different playlists", suggesting its broad appeal.[30] Nelson C.J. of OkayAfrica, in a year-end assessment, praised the track as "soft, introspective and artfully playful", highlighting "Starr's ability to flip simple existential concerns into impressive, danceable tracks."[31]
In a year-end feature for Culture Custodian, Patrick Ezema praised "Commas" for its "catchy lyrics and infectious vibe" and wrote that it confirms Starr as "a true sabi girl of pop culture."[32] Gabrielle Nicole of Complex ranked it at number 27 on the magazine’s list of the best songs of 2024, saying the track captures the year’s "unbothered and thriving essence" and pinpointed how Starr’s blend of English, Pidgin and Yoruba underlines lines such as "smallie wey dey mighty" and "Na which kind life wey I never see? / I carry God, so I fear nothing / steady increasing the commas" as expressions of spiritual assurance and unapologetic self-celebration.[33] For Vulture's year-end songs list, Alex Suskind called "Commas" the year’s "sweetest-sounding tell-off", describing it as a cross-genreearworm in which Starr pairs declarations like "I carry God so I fear nothing" and "Energy wrong, I log off" with a vocal delivery that, in his view, "hugs the melody like a soft pillow."[34]
In the United States, "Commas" debuted at number six on the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs for the week of 13 February 2024.[14] It remained in the top ten for six consecutive weeks and spent eight weeks on the chart overall. The song was ranked at number 15 on Billboard Year-End U.S. Afrobeats Songs of 2024.[14] In Nigeria, it entered the TurnTable Top 100 at number 67 for the chart week of 26 January–1 February 2024 and later climbed to a peak of number two, spending 19 weeks within the top 20.[35] It ranked at number 11 on TurnTable End of the Year Top 100 of 2024. On 14 October, it was certified double Platinum by the TurnTable Certification System of Nigeria (TCSN). In Canada, "Commas" received a Gold certification from Music Canada.[36]
In the United Kingdom, "Commas" debuted at number one on the UK Afrobeats Singles Chart for the week of 17 February 2024, becoming Starr’s first chart-topping entry on the listing. It spent seven non-consecutive weeks at number one and 13 weeks in total on the chart before exiting on 11 May 2024.[37] Elsewhere in Europe, the track entered the Dutch Single Top 100 at number 83 for the week of 16 March 2024, peaking at the same position and remaining on the chart for nine weeks.[38] In Suriname, it reached number five on the Nationale Top 40 for the chart week of 18–25 April 2024.[39]
Its early streaming performance, with the track surpassing 100 million streams across all platforms by April 2024, contributed to Starr’s selection as Spotify's Equal Africa and Equal Global artist for May 2024.[40] The song also appeared on other year-end lists, including Complex's ranking of the best songs of 2024, where it placed at number 27, and Google's list of the top songs of 2024 in Nigeria.[41] As of 11 March 2025, it has accumulated over 100 million streams on Spotify.[4]
↑Suskind, Alex; Curto, Justin (4 December 2024). "The Best Songs of 2024". Vulture. Archived from the original on 4 December 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
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