R. City – Pray Ft. Ayra Starr

R. City are brothers Theron and Timothy Thomas from the US Virgin Islands. Before releasing their own records, they wrote for other artists, and their song Locked Away with Adam Levine was a major hit for them.

Ayra Starr was born on 14 June 2002 and signed to Mavin Records after Don Jazzy noticed her online. Her song Rush brought her a Grammy nomination, and she has since collaborated with artists around the world, including Wizkid on Gimme Dat.

Putting a Mavin star on an R. City record connects two communities that share a lot of musical ground, and it gives Nigerian listeners an extra reason to pay attention.

R. City joins Ayra Starr on “Pray”, a collaboration that brings together the group’s Caribbean pop background and the Nigerian singer’s contemporary Afropop identity. Ayra Starr, born Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, came into the spotlight after signing with Mavin Records in 2021, following her discovery by Don Jazzy on social media.

Her rise has been shaped by records such as “Away” and “Rush”, with the latter becoming one of the defining releases of her early career. Her 2024 album, The Year I Turned 21, further strengthened her international profile and made her the first Nigerian female artist to debut on the Billboard 200.

R. City, the songwriting and production duo from the US Virgin Islands, built its reputation through Caribbean-influenced pop and songwriting work for major international acts. Their own catalogue includes “Locked Away”, featuring Adam Levine, a record that helped establish their ability to carry island influences into mainstream pop.

The pairing brings two different career backgrounds into the same release, with Ayra Starr representing a Nigerian music scene that has continued to expand internationally. The title points towards prayer as a central idea, giving the collaboration a more reflective framing than a straightforward party record.

The addition of Ayra Starr infuses “Pray” with nice lyricism and soothing vocal lines, complementing R. City‘s signature flair and creating a song that balances groove and emotion. Stream and Download Below.

Download MP3 (3.7 MB)