Justin Timberlake Covers Tyla’s “Water” During His Memphis Show

South African artist Tyla’s song “Water” was performed by American singer-songwriter and record producer Justin Timberlake at an event for African Americans in Memphis.

Social media users shared a video of Justin Timberlake delivering his Verizon of the popular hit “Water” by South Africa’s Tyla while standing on a raised platform in the midst of the audience. Though the song had the crowd giddy with anticipation, what really stood out was how well-known African music was outside of Africa.

Before launching a solo career, 42-year-old Justin Timberlake—fondly known as the Prince of Pop—rose to stardom as a member of the wildly popular boy band NSYNC. He has received multiple accolades from Brit, Billboard, IheartRadio, Emmy, and even the Grammy.

His acknowledgment of Tyla as a pop artist is crucial to understanding the development of African pop music. Tyla has had a fantastic year in 2022, starting with the release of Water, which catapulted her into global recognition.

She is presently up for multiple prizes, such as iHeartRadio’s and the Grammys. She’s also scheduled to play Coachella 2024, further elevating her to a worldwide scale.

And while she gears up for the release of her highly anticipated debut album, “Water” continues to climb the Billboard Hot 100 chart, currently peaking at #7.