Tyla Discusses World Cup Collaboration With Future and Dismisses Romance Rumors: ‘Calm Down!’

Grammy-winning sensation Tyla brought more than just culinary curiosity to the kitchen during her recent appearance on Quen Blackwell’s popular YouTube series, Feeding Starving Celebrities.

The South African powerhouse teamed up with Blackwell to whip up a traditional menu rooted in her heritage, featuring savory bobotie paired with chakalaka, rich malva cake, and refreshing rooibos peach tea punch. Amidst the cooking process, the conversation flowed naturally into topics ranging from her high-profile FIFA World Cup collaboration with Future to her perspective on artificial intelligence in the modern music industry.

Delving into the creative direction of her latest project, A-Pop, Tyla described the album as a seamless fusion of the diverse musical genres that shaped her formative years and ultimately inspired her artistic journey. She highlighted how African rhythms, R&B, pop, and house music coalesced to form a distinct sound that honors her cultural roots.

The discussion inevitably touched upon the meteoric rise of her breakout global smash, “Water,” which soared to No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2024. Reflecting on the whirlwind transition to international stardom, Tyla confessed that adapting to such sudden fame was initially surreal.

“I come from a very simple life. I was not a rich kid,” the songstress shared. “There was no blueprint for me, really. Not many people manage to achieve this path coming from where I’m from.”

Later in the episode, Tyla recounted the origins of her FIFA World Cup anthem “Game Time,” featuring Future. After a brief initial meeting at the Met Gala, the collaboration fell into place naturally through the tournament’s curation team. While fondly remembering their 2026 World Cup performance, she quickly laughed off lingering tabloid rumors regarding any romantic involvement.

“He’s extremely laid-back, so we were just vibing on stage,” Tyla clarified. “People tried to spin it into something more. Calm down—I’m a working woman!”

Providing one of the episode’s most introspective takeaways, Tyla weighed in on the contentious integration of artificial intelligence within the creative arts. Despite the rapid technological shift, she remains optimistic about human artistry.

“Honestly, I feel like it’s only going to make authentic music far more valuable,” she noted.

As the session neared its conclusion, Blackwell subjected her guest to the show’s signature rapid-fire interrogation segment. Under the metaphorical spotlight, Tyla addressed online chatter regarding her track “Chanel” and accusations concerning similarities to Yung Miami’s work. Tyla firmly dismissed the claims, explaining that the track—alongside its underlying concept and lyrics—was brought to her independently by songwriter Badriia “Bibi” Bourelly.

Bringing the culinary session to a close, the conversation shifted toward high fashion and the emotional toll of monumental moments, such as her widely praised 2026 Met Gala appearance.

“In this industry, things move at such a relentless pace that it’s difficult to process everything in real-time,” she reflected. “Often, I won’t fully feel the magnitude of a moment until I’m completely alone, and then I just think, ‘Wow, the universe really has my back.’”

Capping off the interview, Blackwell playfully hinted at potential future musical ventures before wrapping up the episode.

The complete episode of Feeding Starving Celebrities is available to stream below via YouTube.

Source