"Hot Body" is a song by Nigerian singer Ayra Starr, released on 25 July 2025, through Mavin Records and Roc Nation. Produced by Ragee with additional input from The Elements and mixed by Johnny Drille, the track blends Afrobeats with dancehall and pop influences. It was issued as a standalone single during a period of international recognition for Starr, following her Roc Nation management deal, a supporting slot on Coldplay's Music of the Spheres World Tour, and her charting collaboration with Wizkid on "Gimme Dat".
Musically, "Hot Body" is characterized by a percussion-driven groove, layered synths, and a sultry vocal delivery. Critics described the single as a celebration of bodily freedom and agency, with Billboard calling it a steamy slow-wine groove and The Native noting how Starr projects "relaxed certitude" while turning youthful swagger into "sensual elegance."[1] Its accompanying music video, directed by Claire Bishara, was filmed in Los Angeles and features Starr leading an all-female dance crew in yacht and beach settings, evoking imagery from late 1990s and early 2000s R&B videos.[1]
The single received widespread acclaim from African and international music outlets for its production and Starr's vocal performance, with further highlight by Rolling Stone as one of the Afropop releases shaping the summer of 2025.[2] Publication HotNewHipHop praised Starr's self-confidence and rich-girl flexes, and Le Monde Afrique described the song as a "concentrate of sensuality."[3]
Background and release
Ayra Starr gained international attention with her 2021 debut album 19 & Dangerous, which established her as a central figure in Afrobeats and contemporary African pop. By 2023, she had broken into the global market with "Rush", a Grammy-nominated single that entered the UK Singles Chart and broadened her reach beyond Africa. Her growing profile led to a management deal with Roc Nation in 2025 and live appearances as an opener on Coldplay's Music of the Spheres World Tour, milestones that positioned her as one of Afropop's most visible global ambassadors.[4][5] In April 2025, Starr collaborated with Wizkid on "Gimme Dat", a single that sampled Mary J. Blige and Wyclef Jean's "911". The track charted in Nigeria, the United Kingdom, and the United States, where Billboard reported that it debuted at number six on the U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart, marking the highest debut for a Nigerian female artist in the chart's history. The single's reception further cemented her reputation as a crossover act.[6]
Amid this wave of recognition, Starr released "Hot Body" on 25 July 2025, through Mavin Records in partnership with Roc Nation. The track was produced by Nigerian hitmaker Ragee with additional production from The Elements, and mixed and mastered by Johnny Drille. Starr later explained that the single had originally been scheduled for release earlier in the year but was postponed while she filmed a movie in South Africa and finalized its outro. She described her goal for the track as making "timeless" music that would not feel bound to trends.[7]
Composition and lyrical interpretation
According to Digital Music Pool, "Hot Body" runs at 96 beats per minute in the key of D♭ minor (Camelot 12A), aligning with its midtempo, groove-driven style. It was released in multiple formats on 25 July 2025, including clean, a cappella, and instrumental versions, reflecting its adaptability for both radio and club use.[8] Critics situate the track at the crossroads of Afrobeats, dancehall, reggae, and pop. Billboard highlighted it as music "for slow whining on a humid summer night," while Afrobeats Magazine wrote that the production blends "hypnotic Afrobeats percussion with pulsing synth bass[...]."[9][10]Xmag and Style Rave commended its magnetic, dancefloor-ready sound and noted how the "layered yet airy" mix left space for Starr's voice to cut through with clarity.[11][12] Writing for OkayAfrica, Tšeliso Monaheng said the song exemplified the genre-fluid experimentation propelling Afropop's global reach. The arrangement relies on a minimalist palette of handclaps, deep synth-bass, and occasional guitar flourishes.[13]The Native's Damilola Animashaun likened its rhythm to an "incantation," adding that Starr projects "relaxed certitude" while turning youthful swagger into "sensual elegance." Top40-Charts noted how the guitar textures weave seamlessly into the groove.[1][14]The Netng added that its design extended beyond audio, inspiring the launch of an online dance game themed around the single.[15]
Vocally, Starr delivers with sultry poise and restraint. HotNewHipHop observed that "from the opening bars, her confidence shines through," pointing to playful lyrical flexes such as "flexing her Porsche."[16]Euphoria Magazine characterized the track as a softer, pop-leaning turn compared with her harder Afrobeats moments,[16][17] while antiMusic called her phrasing "flirty and fiery," identifying it as one of her most compelling performances.[18] Starr herself framed "Hot Body" as part of a new "sexy era," explaining in a Capital Xtra interview that she wanted to move past earlier discomfort with presenting themes of sexual attractiveness in her music: "Before I used to be shy, but now I don't feel cringy. I'm very comfortable in my skin." She described the recording session with producers Ragee, Dino Vader, and The Elements as unusually relaxed, recalling that it was built on "just vibes" rather than her typical meticulous studio rituals. Starr said she added the outro late in the process to "get it to a certain point where I loved it."[19] Lyrically, "Hot Body" celebrates bodily freedom and agency. Beyond status signifiers such as her Porsche reference, Starr positions desirability as empowerment, a perspective that Le Monde Afrique described as a "concentrate of sensuality."[3]OkayAfrica pointed out its emphasis on female autonomy, while The49thStreet praised its energy but questioned whether her reliance on racy imagery might eventually necessitate a rebrand.[20][21]
Critical reception
"Hot Body" received acclaim from music critics. Robin Murray of Clash described it as a "scorching, sweat-drenched piece of sensual alt-pop," noting that the production palette leaned between Afrobeats and R&B.[22] Writing for Rolling Stone's "Made in Africa" column, Mankaprr Conteh placed the single within a broader cultural moment, regarding it as part of a "Summer of Sexy" trend in Afropop and dubbed the track a "strip tease of a song."[2] Boluwatife Adeyemi of The Native welcomed the release as a "sweetly erotic summer jam," comparing Starr's vocal delivery to "an enchantress performing a magic trick."[23]
Culture Custodian's Naomi Ezenwa believed the track evocative of earlier Afropop, stating that Starr "turns up the sensuality with a flirtatiousness that brings to mind predecessor Tiwa Savage's explosive debut—sexy, precise, but always fun." Ezenwa also commended the song's atmosphere, writing that it "channels humid nights and a languid, late-night dancefloor rhythm."[24] Rosheen Ansari of New Wave Magazine similarly appreciated the release, pointing out Starr's "signature sultry, honeyed vocals" and calling the blend of elements "the perfect pop-dancehall hit single."[25] In a year-end review for OkayAfrica, Emmanuel Esomnofu deemed "Hot Body" a pivotal release, remarking that Starr "has been inching closer to the song that takes her from scenic superstar to an international one, and 'Hot Body' pushed her further in that direction." Esomnofu lauded its "sassy, cute vibe" and complimented her "ever-reliable songwriting."[26]
Starr and an all-female ensemble aboard a yacht in a scene from the music video.
The music video for "Hot Body" was directed by Claire Bishara and filmed in Los Angeles. It was executive-produced by Peter Famosa, Michael Onafowokan Jr and Richie Igunma, with styling by Ronnie Hart and choreography led by Pablo Pauldo and Isaiah Reid.[30]
Synopsis
The video opens with aerial shots of turquoise ocean water and lush greenery before revealing a man paddling on a surfboard. In one sequence, a woman reclines on a sandy beach in a green bikini beside a vintage radio, surrounded by palm trees. Later scenes shift to a luxury yacht, where Starr appears at the helm wearing a white captain's hat adorned with gold trim and star-shaped accents, paired with a white top. On the yacht's deck, she lounges in a white bodysuit embellished with cascading gold chain fringe alongside an all-female crew in swimwear; a dancer performs on a pole in the background. Additional yacht interiors show her moving around a pole in the cabin. Beach sequences feature Starr in a mint-green sequined bikini top with a pink and purple sarong, dancing solo on the shoreline. Overhead shots capture choreographed group routines in the sand, with Starr in a white swimsuit surrounded by her dancers. The video concludes with Starr performing against the backdrop of the Nigerian flag, wearing a green and white bikini that mirrors its colours.
Reception
Hot Body premiered on YouTube on 5 September 2025 and surpassed 100,000 views within hours of its release, reaching one million views within days. Critics noted that the visual drew heavily on the luxury and glamour of late 1990s and early 2000s R&B and hip-hop videos;[1]That Grape Juice's Sam identified a deliberate homage to Aaliyah's "Rock the Boat".[30] Zaria Davis from Where Is The Buzz described the clip as "summer fantasy personified,"[31] while Afrobeats Magazine wrote that the video rejects the male gaze, instead depicting "women reclaiming that energy for themselves, owning their shine, and setting the tone for what empowerment looks like in 2025."[32]BellaNaija praised it as "glamorous, unapologetic, and quintessentially Ayra Starr", pinpointing its portrayal of "carefree dancing, beachside fun, and a celebration of beauty, friendship, and freedom."[33]
Live performances
Starr debuted "Hot Body" live on 27 July 2025 during Coldplay's Music of the Spheres world tour stop in Miami.[34]Chris Martin introduced her to the crowd, stating: "This is Ayra Starr from Nigeria. She is going to be the world's biggest pop star soon." Footballer Lionel Messi and his wife Antonela Roccuzzo were in attendance; Starr later posted on X: "I just performed Hot Body on stage with Coldplay!! And Messi was in the audience."[35] On 24 August 2025, she performed the song as part of a four-song set at Notting Hill Carnival on the Rampage stage.[36]
On 27 September 2025, Starr performed "Hot Body" at the Global Citizen Festival in Central Park, New York City, before an audience of over 60,000.[37] The song appeared alongside "Gimme Dat", "Goodbye (Warm Up)", "Sability", and "Rush"; she closed with a mashup of "All the Love" and Coldplay's "Strawberry Swing".[38] Later in the evening, she returned to the stage with Rema as a surprise guest, performing "Rush", "Calm Down", and "Baby (Is It a Crime)"; the pair then asked the crowd to raise their phone torches in support of energy access across Africa, one of the festival's core initiatives.[39] In November 2025, Starr delivered a rendition of "Hot Body" at the Tidal Rave Festival in Ghana; media outlets described it as one of the event's standout moments, praising her vocals and choreography.[40]
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