Money Badoo announces new project 4PLAY amid rising international profile

The project, developed through travel and cross-border collaborations, is described as a shift in her artistic direction, combining alternative R&B, electronic production, hip hop and pop influences. It explores themes of identity, emotion and self-expression, moving between atmospheric and more assertive, rhythm-driven tracks.

The release includes previously issued singles RUDEBOI, $tranger and Madonna, and further develops the artist’s reputation for blending genre boundaries while maintaining a consistent vocal and stylistic identity.

4PLAY follows a series of international performances, including showcases in Germany and at the UK’s Great Escape Festival. Germany has emerged as one of her strongest streaming markets, reflecting broader audience engagement with African artists working outside mainstream commercial formats.

Money Badoo was previously selected as a Jägermeister Global Pass Ambassador and has received support from the SAMPRA Development Fund, initiatives aimed at supporting emerging independent artists.

“4PLAY is the most honest reflection of where I am creatively right now, playful, emotional, and completely uninhibited,” Money Badoo said. “It was shaped through travel, collaboration, and exposure to different creative worlds. It pushed me to trust my instincts and create without limits.”

She added that the project’s international reception has reinforced her belief in the global reach of authentic artistic expression. “What’s been most exciting is seeing people from completely different places connect with the music. Germany becoming one of my strongest markets showed me that authenticity travels, people connect with what feels real, no matter where they are,” she said.

Her management team at SJNCo said the project represents a key milestone in her artistic development.

“4PLAY represents a defining moment for Money Badoo. It captures years of growth, experimentation, and collaboration while reflecting an artist fully in control of her creative direction,” the team said.

The project positions Money Badoo within a growing wave of African artists gaining international attention through alternative and experimental approaches to contemporary music, as global audiences increasingly engage with genre-fluid sounds.

Known for her distinctive visual style and cross-disciplinary approach to music, fashion and youth culture, she continues to build a profile at the intersection of multiple creative spaces.

4PLAY is presented as both a cohesive body of work and an exploratory project, reflecting a transitional phase in her career as she expands her international footprint.

Contributors: Nomfundo Radebe, Lucky Mqoboli and Mndeni Mahlangu